Review » This weekend's Utah Symphony concerts are full of happy surprises.

A rarely performed Beethoven symphony » You can't blame orchestras for focusing on Beethoven's Third, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Ninth symphonies -- they're all undisputed masterpieces. The Fourth, it turns out, is another gem, incorporating bits that will remind you of each of those more famous Beethoven symphonies.

Thomas Wilkins, latest in a parade of potential music-director candidates to appear in Abravanel Hall, led the orchestra in a lean and propulsive performance. Wilkins favored small conducting gestures, and the orchestra responded with appealing understatement. The symphony's second movement, in particular, had an almost chamber-music texture. Of the many deft solo moments from the orchestra, Lori Wike's florid bassoon solos were especially delightful.

One of the least self-indulgent performances of a Rachmaninoff concerto in memory » The soloist in Rachmaninoff's sprawling Piano Concerto No. 2 is the unfailingly musical Jon Kimura "Jackie" Parker, a pianist who is more than equal to Rachmaninoff's notoriously daunting virtuosic demands. But here's the best part: Parker doesn't let on that it's difficult. The orchestra's accompaniment, under Wilkins' assured direction, was pleasantly warm, but thankfully never gooey.

Billy Joel on the same program as Beethoven and Rachmaninoff » Amid stamping, whistling and shouts of "bravo" from the capacity crowd -- and after Wilkins pulled out the piano bench to give him an extra nudge -- Parker encored with an impeccable performance of Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Major, then followed up with a sparkling transcription of Billy Joel's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant."

The evening opened with the lively urban vibe of James Beckel's "Toccata for Orchestra."

A last note: If you have tickets for tonight's performance, it would be well worth your while to show up about an hour early to hear Wilkins' engaging preconcert lecture in the First Tier Room.

Catherine Reese Newton is a music critic. Contact her at creese@sltrib.com or 801-257-8616. Send comments about this review to livingeditor@sltrib.com.