Think of it as "Fantasia" brought to life.
Hailed by Magic Magazine as one of the finest illusionists of modern times, Dillies was the first to perform some great illusions during her nearly 30-year career, including making two Asian elephants appear onstage.
While performing with symphonies isn't exactly an illusion (unless she can make the whole orchestra disappear), Dillies is the only magician fusing the two art forms.
"My show is always evolving. If I change something, I really think about how it will impact the audience," she said.
Dillies started practicing magic when she was 12 after seeing the TV series "The Magician" starring Bill Bixby, who used magic to fight crime. Inspired, she bought a box full of tricks from a local magic shop and carried it door-to-door around her Westport, Mass., neighborhood hoping to perform for someone.
"Magic empowered me. It gave me a lot of confidence because I was so shy as a young girl. But once I started into magic, there I was doing tricks in the lunchroom and classroom," she said.
Almost entirely self-taught, Dillies continues to explore the possibilities of magic, even releasing "Learn Magic with Lyn Dillies," a step-by-step DVD.
"I'm really working hard to inspire young girls and empower them too," she said.
Now Dillies hopes to work magic by exposing more children to orchestral music.
"It's such a great way to get kids excited about classical music. I originally got the idea . . . in the late '90s because my grandfather was a professional violinist, so I grew up listening him play," Dillies said. "Classical music is really powerful, and it really correlates with the interpretation of illusions."
During the first half of this concert, the Utah Symphony will perform a range of magic-themed pieces, including selections from John Williams' "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" score and the Witch's Ride from Engelbert Humperdinck's "Hansel and Gretel."
Dillies' magic begins after intermission with illusions such as "The Twister," in which she turns her assistant's body into a corkscrew, and "Origami," which shows her folding the box holding her assistant into a small rectangle, as the orchestra performs music she has selected.
"Magic at the Symphony" is part of the Utah Symphony's plan to offer programming for audiences of all ages.
"Admittedly, the program seems a little off the beaten path," said Jeff Bram, the orchestra's artistic director. "But we're committed and open to providing creative new programs to the public."
And what could be better than an evening of Mozart and magic?
"For me, as a performer, to be able to take magic to a different level, is so exciting and such an honor," Dillies said.
Magical notes
"MAGIC AT THE SYMPHONY WITH LYN DILLIES" is tonight and Saturday at 8 at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $20 to $50; call 801-355-ARTS or visit www.arttix.org.
