CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Continuing yet another stellar season of bringing live classical music to Southern Utah, the Southwest Symphony will next enthrall audiences with the exquisite beauty and thrilling power of 19th-century composers.
Music director Lucas Darger conducts the Southwest Symphony, St. George, Utah, March 1, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Southwest Symphony, St. George News
Featuring Mussorgsky’s dynamic and emotionally charged “Pictures at an Exhibition,” the concert is set for Friday, April 5, at the Southwest Symphony‘s new temporary home in the Desert Hills High School performing arts auditorium. Additionally, the symphony will be joined onstage by the Zion Youth Symphony for an energetic side-by-side pre-show performance of “Conga del Fuego Nuevo” from Mexican composer Arturo Márquez.
“We provide an extraordinary amount of educational opportunities to youth musicians for an orchestra of our size,” music director Lucas Darger said. “Every year, our spring concert sells out. People love it.”
Written in 1874, “Pictures at an Exhibition” depicts a tour of an exhibition of artworks by architect and painter Viktor Hartmann, a close friend of Mussorgsky’s who had died suddenly during the previous year. Each movement of the suite is based on an individual piece of art. The Southwest Symphony will perform Ravel’s 1922 adaptation of the work, which remains the best-known and most widely performed version.
“The whole thing is a masterclass in orchestration and how to use the orchestra’s different instruments as different colors to paint a picture,” Darger said.
Further exploring the grandeur of the Old World masters, the Southwest Symphony will also perform “In the Steppes of Central Asia.” Borodin’s majestic and evocative 1880 composition portrays a peaceful interaction between Europeans and Asians by way of blended ethnic melodies.
Concertmaster Rachel France plays a solo with the Southwest Symphony, St. George, Utah, March 1, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Southwest Symphony, St. George News
Leah Keyes, the Southwest Symphony’s 2024 Young Artist Competition gold medalist, will also join the symphony for Gordeli’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” in what promises to be an unforgettable experience for music lovers of all ages. Open to students from middle school through college, the Southwest Symphony’s annual Young Artist Competition was created to highlight the extraordinary talent of Utah’s youth musicians and provide invaluable live performance opportunities.
“We’re always looking for ways to showcase our youth,” Darger said. “These experiences will be with them for the rest of their lives.”
The symphony has relocated to Desert Hills High School for the remainder of their 2023-24 performance season while Utah Tech’s Cox Performing Arts Center undergoes long-awaited renovations. Tickets are expected to sell out, so don’t wait to reserve your seats.
The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. The approximate runtime is 90 minutes, with no intermission. Children younger than age 5 are not permitted.
Ticket prices range between $15.50 and $38 depending on the section. Discounts are available for students and seniors, as well as attendees who buy four or more tickets to the same performance. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Utah Tech ticket office at 435-652-7800.
Don’t miss your chance to be swept away by the power and beauty of live orchestral music during the Southwest Symphony’s 43rd performance season. This fascinating and diverse series of concerts explores everything from centuries-old masterpieces to contemporary compositions.
Pianist Jeffrey Biegel performs with the Southwest Symphony, St. George, Utah, March 1, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Southwest Symphony, St. George News
The legendary songbook of the Queen of Soul will come to life during the season finale on May 3 and 4. The Southwest Symphony will be joined onstage by acclaimed vocalist and Broadway star Capathia Jenkins as well as soul musician Ryan Shaw, a three-time Grammy nominee, for electrifying performances of Aretha Franklin’s greatest hits. This unforgettable evening of music will have you dancing in your seat and singing along to the timeless classics that defined a generation.
Originally assembled as a handful of local musicians seeking a venue for sharing classical music with the community, the Southwest Symphony is now an auditioned group of about 80 professional and skilled amateur performers. Alongside renowned guest soloists, the passionate musicians and staff work tirelessly to produce quality concerts every season.
“We’ve got a really supportive and volunteer-driven community that cares about and believes in what we’re trying to accomplish,” Darger said. “We’re fortunate to have a lot of people willing to help make it happen.”
Visit the Southwest Symphony website for more details on upcoming shows and to learn how your support helps advance the performing arts in Southern Utah.
Event details
What: Southwest Symphony presents “Pictures at an Exhibition.”
When: Friday, April 5, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Desert Hills High School, 828 E. Desert Hills Drive, St. George.
Tickets: $15.50-$38.
Resources: Website.
Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.
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Resources
Southwest Symphony | Telephone: 435-767-9800 | Email: info@swsutah.org | Website.
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