A week ago, offstage drama threatened to upstage this weekend's Utah Symphony programs, as scheduled guest conductor Roberto Minczuk was embroiled in a labor dispute with his orchestra in Brazil. Distractions were averted when Minczuk's management on Monday notified the Utah Symphony that the maestro would be staying in Rio to attend to matters there.

Enter longtime Seattle Symphony music director Gerard Schwarz, who stepped in without missing a beat.

There was one adjustment to the program: Wagner's "Flying Dutchman" Overture replaced the scheduled "Much Ado About Nothing" by Korngold. Schwarz and the orchestra opened the concert with a rollicking account in which the crash of ocean waves was particularly vivid.

Canadian violinist Karen Gomyo was the evening's soloist in a bracing performance of Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3. Schwarz's no-nonsense tempo and Gomyo's commanding technique made the Abravanel Hall crowd sit up and take notice, but there was subtle music-making at work, too; the soloist integrated unusually well with the tight, chamber-size ensemble.

The program's major work was Richard Strauss' "Also sprach Zarathustra." The orchestra wasn't always at its most precise, but its colorful performance was undeniably exciting. Concertmaster Ralph Matson contributed some especially graceful playing. Johann Strauss Jr.'s easy-on-the-ears "On the Beautiful Blue Danube" proved to be the perfect follow-up to the mighty "Also sprach." —

Utah Symphony

Music of Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss Jr., Richard Wagner and Wolfgang A. Mozart.

With • Conductor Gerard Schwarz and violinist Karen Gomyo.

When • Reviewed Friday, April 15; repeats Saturday, April 16, at 8 p.m.

Where • Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City.

Tickets • $20 to $90 at 801-355-ARTS, www.utahsymphony.org or the box office.

Running time • 2 hours, including intermission.

Learn more • Schwarz will talk about the program at 7:15 p.m. in the hall's First Tier Room.