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Superheroes, specters and assorted monsters will fill two Salt Lake City concert halls this week as the Utah Symphony and University of Utah Philharmonia carry on popular seasonal traditions.
"Salt Lake loves its Halloween," said Utah Symphony percussionist Eric Hopkins during a break from orchestra rehearsal and costume prep. He and his section mates have teamed up to masquerade as the Blue Man Group, toy soldiers and gold-plated trophies the past three seasons, but this year — partly because his primary partner in cosplay, principal percussionist Keith Carrick, will be out of town and will miss the concert — Hopkins is going solo. He revealed only that the costume will involve 300 purple balloons. "I'm sure I'm going to be a target for the whole concert," he said.
The Utah Symphony Halloween concerts include costume contests for audience and orchestra members, and Hopkins said the percussionists have a strong rivalry with the trumpet section. "They have brought in caskets, and they rise up like vampires," he said. Other perennial contenders include the bassoon section, who all dressed as contrabassoonist Leon Chodos one year, with the women donning fake beards; last year, led by principal bassoonist and world-champion palindromist Lori Wike, they dressed as palindromes (Taco Cat, nun and "A Santa Lived as a Devil at NASA" — maybe you had to be there).
Hopkins said he's been impressed by audience ingenuity as well. "The winning costumes have everything short of pyrotechnics," he said.
Associate conductor Rei Hotoda will lead the orchestra in a program of familiar symphonic fare revolving around "swashbuckling adventures," she said. Hotoda has conducted her share of Halloween concerts, but last year's was her first in Utah. "I loved seeing the inventive costumes," she said. "Salt Lake really gets into it. I give them a 10 out of 10." She donned Ravenclaw robes for last year's "Harry Potter"-themed concert; as for this year, "Let's just say I'm a distant, distant relative of Captain Hook, twice removed."
Hotoda and Hopkins noted that it isn't all about the costumes — the musicians take their performance seriously. "It's definitely challenging with a large costume — or any costume — to hit all the notes while looking through a mask," Hopkins said. (The magic — and possibly the cosplay — will continue Friday and Saturday when the orchestra and Cincinnati Pops conductor John Morris Russell present "Superheroes!")
Across town, Robert Baldwin, director of orchestral activities at the University of Utah, will lead the Utah Philharmonia in its 15th annual Halloween concert. Like Hotoda, Baldwin said he chooses seasonally themed music, "but it's also music you would hear on a regular concert program." This year's theme: "Ghosts of the Revolution."
Baldwin said he started the tradition at the U. around the time Halloween took off as a holiday and became "more than kids trick-or-treating — it's a two- or three-week season"; some of his current players remember coming to the Phil's Halloween show as children.
The Philharmonia doesn't sponsor a contest, but does encourage players to dress up and invite the youngsters in the audience to parade around the hall showing off their costumes. Baldwin takes his cosplay seriously, too; one of his favorites was the time he and his conducting students dressed as the Addams Family. "But one stands out that I'll never forget," he said. "The entire viola section came as me. It was uncanny. It was the only time I've had to pause before starting the piece." —
Want to hear something scary?
Halloween Spooktacular on the Seven Seas!
Conductor Rei Hotoda will lead the Utah Symphony in music of Wagner, Rimsky-Korsakov, John Williams and more. There are costume contests for orchestra and audience members.
When • Tuesday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.
Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $12-$35; utahsymphony.org
Ghosts of the Revolution
The Utah Philharmonia presents its Halloween concert, conducted by Robert Baldwin. Audience members are encouraged to come in costume, and there will be a parade for the kids.
When • Thursday and Friday, Oct. 27-28, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Libby Gardner Concert Hall, 1375 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $12.50; $9.50 for seniors and children; free for University of Utah students with ID; tickets.utah.edu
Superheroes!
John Morris Russell conducts the Utah Symphony in heroic themes from history, opera and the movies. Featured soloists are violinist Karen Ferry, soprano Abigail Rethwisch, baritone Christopher Clayton and tenor Christian Sanders.
When • Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, 7:30 p.m.
Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $15-$82; utahsymphony.org