This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A full house turned out to hear the Utah Symphony play familiar favorites in Abravanel Hall on Friday. What the crowd got was far from routine as pianist Benyamin Nuss put his invigorating stamp on George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." Utah Symphony clarinetist Tad Calcara's saucy opening glissando set the scene for Nuss' bold solo turn, which included two free-wheeling cadenzas (one of them accompanied by literal toe-tapping from the soloist). The pianist encored with an improvisation on the Henry Mancini standard "Days of Wine and Roses."
Under the direction of guest conductor Kazuki Yamada, the orchestra also gave a sauntering performance of Aaron Copland's "El Salón México" and a rollicking account of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade," highlighted by concertmaster Madeline Adkins' sparkling solos. —
Utah Symphony
Music of Copland, Gershwin and Rimsky-Korsakov.
With • Conductor Kazuki Yamada and pianist Benyamin Nuss
When • Reviewed Friday, May 5; repeats Saturday, May 6, at 7:30 p.m.
Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City
Running time • 2 hours, including intermission
Tickets • $20-$103; utahsymphony.org