Utah Symphony and Ballet West Join Forces on Debussy's JEUX

Ballet West and the Utah Symphony will share the Abravanel Hall stage on February 26 & 27 at 7:30 PM in celebration of the Orchestra's 75th anniversary season. The performance features Utah Symphony performing Debussy's "Jeux" with dancers from world-renowned Ballet West, in choreography co-commissioned by Utah Symphony as well as music by Gottschalk, Gershwin, and Ravel. Tickets, priced from $18 to $80, are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787.

"When we decided to collaborate with other local performing organizations for our 75th anniversary season, I knew right away that Ballet West had to be an important part of our celebration," said Music Director Thierry Fischer. "We are so honored to present Debussy's 'Jeux' and other expressive works of French and American music with Ballet West. They are truly one of Utah's great artistic treasures."

Ballet West's Artistic Director Adam Sklute is also looking forward to his very first project with Music Director Thierry Fischer. Mr. Sklute, when speaking of the upcoming performance referred to the partnership as "a wonderful honor."

The repertoire features George Gershwin's An American in Paris, Louis Moreau Gottschalk's "Grande Tarantelle," followed by Maurice Ravel's Concerto in G Major for Piano and Orchestra, and Claude Debussy's "Jeux, Poème dansé" as the finale. Although this is one of Debussy's most rarely-heard compositions, the music is often described as mercurial, as the pace changes every few bars, creating a captivating interplay of movement throughout the piece.

Another exciting part of this evening is Utah Symphony's debut of piano soloist Louis Schwizgebel. Mr. Schwizgebel is internationally recognized as one of the great masters of the piano, having won the Geneva International Music Competition at the age of seventeen, and having performed around the world with the London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestre National de Lyon, Nagoya, Macao and Shanghai Philharmonic orchestras, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's (NYC) amongst others.

The choreography for the Ballet West dancers in this performance is under artistic leadership of choreographer Helen Pickett and was co-commissioned by Utah Symphony. Ms. Pickett has choreographed more than 30 ballets in the U.S. and Europe in the last decade. At these performances on February 26 and 27, Ballet West will dance "Tarantelle" choreographed by George Balanchine, "Sea Shadows" choreographed by Gerald Arpino to Ravel's Concerto in G for Piano and Orchestra, and "Games" choreographed by Helen Pickett to Debussy's "Jeux". This combination of talents is certain to deliver a mesmerizing performance for audiences.

Utah Symphony's performances with Ballet West will mark the third of the four collaborations with other Utah performing arts organizations that the orchestra has programmed during its 75th anniversary season. The first two collaborative presentations were with Utah Opera, Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Madeleine Choir School. For the Utah Symphony, each of these performances is a symbol of gratitude for their involvement in Utah's fine arts community, acknowledging their support for each of these grand institutions that help keep the arts alive and well in today's society.

For the last of the collaborations on the Utah Symphony's 75th Anniversary Masterwork Series, the Symphony will partner with the Utah Shakespeare Festival. On April 15 & 16 Abravanel Hall transforms into a theatre to feature the most tragic love story in history, Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet". For more information about this performance visit www.utahsymphony.org/15-16-season/masterworks.

RELATED EVENTS:

A Conversation on a Collaboration
Join Utah Symphony Music Director Thierry Fischer and Ballet West's Artistic Director Adam Sklute for an exclusive conversation on the crafting of their upcoming performance. This free lecture will give insight to the collaborative efforts for a unique production. The lecture will take place February 8, 2016 from 5:30 to 7 PM at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. To RSVP contact Marissa Hodges at mhodges@balletwest.org

Pre-concert Lecture
Utah Symphony Vice President of Artistic Planning Toby Tolokan offers a preconcert lecture prior to each performance starting at 6:45 PM in the First Tier Room at Abravanel Hall. Lectures are free to all ticket holders.
Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah

PROGRAM:

The Utah Symphony presents
Ballet West with the Utah Symphony

February 26 & 27, 2016 | 7:30 PM

Thierry Fischer, Conductor
Louis Schwizgebel, Piano
Gerald Arpino, Choreographer
George Balanchine, Choreographer
Helen Pickett, Choreographer
Dancers from Ballet West

Gershwin An American in Paris

Gottschalk Grande Tarantelle, Opus 67

INTERMISSION

Ravel Concerto in G Major for Piano and Orchestra
I. Allegramente
II. Adagio assai
III. Presto

Debussy Jeux, Poème dansé

Tickets, priced from $18 to $80, are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787. Tickets increase $5 on the day of the performance. Student and Under 30 tickets are available for $10 and $15 on the day of the show.

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony performs more than 175 concerts each season and offers all Utahns easy access to world class live musical performances of the world's greatest music in the state's top venues. Since being named the orchestra's seventh music director in 2009, Thierry Fischer has attracted leading musicians and top soloists, refreshed programming, drawn increased audiences, and galvanized community support. In addition to numerous regional and domestic tours, including the Mighty 5 Tour of Utah's National Parks, the Utah Symphony has embarked on seven international tours and will perform at Carnegie Hall in Spring 2016 coinciding with the orchestra's 75th anniversary celebrations. The Utah Symphony has released more than 100 recordings, including the new release of Mahler Symphony No. 1 in Fall 2015. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra's parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 155,000 students annually. In addition to performances in its home in Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, and concerts throughout the state of Utah, the Utah Symphony participates in Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and presents the six-week Deer Valley Music Festival each summer in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org.