By Susan Williams
Relaxing music, mood lighting, casual dress; it”s the perfect setting for a date.
It won”t be your typical date, out on the town, but it will be something to change things up.
The Utah Symphony will perform Oct. 30 in the de Jong Concert Hall located in the Harris Fine Arts Center. Tickets are between $16 and $19, with a $5 discount available with a BYU or student ID. Senior Citizens and BYU alumni get $3 off. Tickets can be purchased at the Fine Arts Ticket Office in the HFAC, by phone at (801) 422-4322, or online at byutickets.com.
Utah Symphony has a long tradition of performing at BYU.
Jeff Martin is the arts manager for the College of Fine Arts, and said it can be difficult to find a date that works for two busy organizations, but every year it is done.
“We always have so much going on that it can be hard to find dates that work.” Martin said. “We have a large music program that it”s really important for us to expose our students to a professional orchestra.”
Crystal Young-Otterstrom is the audience development and print media manager for the Utah Symphony.
She said the setting of live classical music, played by a professional orchestra, is a chance for anyone to be introduced to the music.
“I think students should try out the symphony if they have never been before, because it is a nice way to start,” Young-Otterstrom said. “And it is better than your average dinner and a movie date.”
She said the symphony will be conducted by guest conductors throughout the season as an audition process to for the next music director. David Angus will conduct the symphony for tonight”s performance.
“Angus is exciting because he has a very dynamic and expressive style on stage,” Young-Otterstrom said. “Some call him a rock star on stage. He is definitely someone to watch.”
Jeff Bram, vice president of artistic operations for the Utah Symphony, said in an email that orchestras that play under different conductors are open to new perspectives of the music.
“Great orchestras can respond enthusiastically to the differences between conductors and it should be very obvious to the audience when the chemistry is right,” Bram said. “It is very healthy for an ensemble to get multiple perspectives from the podium. It keeps them on their toes and, more importantly, inspires them to find new life in old things.”
The Big Brass Show will conclude the evening by playing Bruckner”s “Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major.” Bruckner gave his symphony the nickname, “Romantic,” and said it shows the power of the Utah Symphony”s brass section.
Bram said the Bruckner”s piece exhibits the potential of the brass section.
“It has been often said that his music sounds like a cathedral looks – seemingly infinite spaces that inspire awe on an extra-human scale,” Bram said. “The 4th symphony is a great example of his ability to create amazingly emotional moments with even the simplest gestures.”
