Salt Lake City — The Utah Symphony’s Finishing Touches programs offer a rare and intimate experience for audiences, allowing them to observe the final stages of the rehearsal process. Set in the grandeur of Abravanel Hall, attendees get a firsthand look at how the conductor and musicians collaborate to bring a performance to life. Rather than a polished, completed concert, audiences witness the real-time adjustments, discussions, and nuanced artistry that shape each piece before the final show. This behind-the-scenes access creates a deeper appreciation for the music, as attendees can see how the conductor fine-tunes dynamics, pacing, and emotional expression.
Additionally, the Finishing Touches programs offer a convenient early-morning option, with rehearsals typically beginning around 10:00 AM. This timing is perfect for those looking to start their day with inspiring music or for individuals who may prefer a daytime cultural experience instead of a traditional evening concert. The informal nature of the rehearsal allows for a relaxed atmosphere, where attendees can enjoy the music without the typical concert hall formality, creating an educational and enjoyable start to the day.
Concert Listing
Friday, December 6, 2024 / 10:00 a.m. / Abravanel Hall
(123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah)
PERFORMERS:
Fabien Gabel, conductor
Changyong Shin, piano
Utah Symphony
PROGRAM:
BRITTEN: Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes
SHOSTAKOVICH: Piano Concerto No. 2
TCHAIKOVSKY: The Tempest
KORNGOLD (arr. Patrick Russ): The Sea Hawk Suite
Thursday, March 20, 2025 / 10:00 a.m. / Abravanel Hall
(123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah)
PERFORMERS:
David Danzmayr, conductor
Madeline Adkins, violin
Utah Symphony
PROGRAM:
JESSIE MONTGOMERY: Overture
GLAZUNOV: Violin Concerto
RACHMANINOFF: Vocalise
DVORÁK: Symphony No. 8
Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2
Friday, May 16, 2025 / 10:00 a.m. / Abravanel Hall
(123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah)
PERFORMERS:
Christoph Koncz, conductor
Alessio Bax, piano
Utah Symphony
PROGRAM:
MOZART: Symphony No. 35
SAINT-SAËNS: Piano Concerto No. 2
BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
TICKETS start at $21
50% STUDENT & UNDER-30 DISCOUNT
PURCHASE NOW:
· Online: utahsymphony.org
· USUO mobile app
· By Phone: USUO Patron Services, (801) 533-NOTE (6683)
· In person: 123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
· ArtTix outlets
Season Sponsor for Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation.
About Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera connects Utah communities through great live music and is the flagship arts organization of the Intermountain West. USUO’s 87 full-time symphony musicians and five opera Resident Artists perform for more than 400,000 citizens in Utah and the Intermountain region each year, presenting more than 175 symphonic and chamber music performances; week-long runs of four fully produced operas; and music education programs for students and adult learners. The organization’s statewide service includes tours featuring outdoor performances against the backdrop of Utah’s natural beauty as well as education offerings—most recently, the six-stop Music Elevated Tour in August 2023.
Founded in 1940 and one of just 17 year-round professional orchestras in the U.S., the Utah Symphony performs at downtown Salt Lake City’s Maurice Abravanel Hall, at its Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City, in Utah Opera productions, and at venues throughout the state of Utah. The symphony has embarked on seven international tours and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2016 in honor of its 75th anniversary season. The orchestra’s celebrated recording legacy includes more than 100 recordings; in April 2023, its latest album featuring Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles—a work inspired by three scenic Utah locations—was released to great international acclaim. Thierry Fischer, who led the Utah Symphony as Music Director from 2014 to 2023, was named Music Director Emeritus beginning in the 2023-24 season.
Since 1978, Utah Opera has provided citizens with distinguished and entertaining productions at Salt Lake City’s historic Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre—showcasing emerging and established artists, celebrating traditional works, and championing new works and the American operatic tradition. Utah Opera is one of just six opera companies in the U.S. with full production capabilities, including in-house costume design, set building, and props studios; the company currently has costumes for 50 productions and 19 full sets in its inventory. Utah Opera’s Resident Artist program is nationally recognized for providing invaluable career-training opportunities for professional singers and collaborative pianists.
USUO leads in music education, with interactive and immersive education programs that engage and inspire tomorrow’s musicians and music-lovers. In the community, in classrooms, and in our venues, these programs serve 130,000 students, teachers, and adult learners annually and reach every school district in Utah on a three-year rotation.
For more information about Utah Symphony | Utah Opera and its Deer Valley Music Festival, visit usuo.org, utahsymphony.org, utahopera.org, and deervalleymusicfestival.org.