Utah Symphony's Opening Masterworks Concerts feature Beethoven, Saint-Saens and Dvorak

Utah Symphony opens its 2017-18 Masterworks season with Music Director Thierry Fischer as he leads the orchestra from the podium at Abravanel Hall in performances of Beethoven's Violin Concerto on September 15 and 16, and Dvo?ák and the start of a cycle of all five symphonies by Camille Saint-Saëns the following weekend on September 22 and 23. Tickets are priced from $32 to $77 and can be purchased at http://www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Two guest artists will grace the Abravanel Hall stage: Augustin Hadelich returns to Salt Lake City to perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the orchestra, and Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh makes her Utah Symphony debut with Dvo?ák's Cello Concerto.

During Utah Symphony's 2017-18 season, Maestro Fischer and the Utah Symphony explore the remarkable music of Saint-Saëns, one of the late 19th century's most significant and diverse French composers. The orchestra will present all five of his symphonies throughout the Masterworks Series, starting with Symphony No. 2 on September 22 and 23. The five symphonies and several other works by Saint-Saëns will be recorded live and released by European label Hyperion on three CDs as the orchestra's sixth, seventh, and eighth recordings with Maestro Fischer. This marks the first time a U.S. orchestra has recorded and released all five of Saint-Saëns' symphonies.

On September 15 and 16 at 7:30 PM, experience the extraordinary talent of GRAMMY-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich, "an intimate performer whose self-effacing quality allows the music to soar" (Los Angeles Times), as he performs Beethoven's Violin Concerto. The program also features two of Richard Strauss' orchestral showpieces, "Don Juan" and "Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks." Tickets are $32 to $77, and can be purchased at http://www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Augustin Hadelich has established himself as one of the great violinists of today. He has performed with every major orchestra in the US, many on numerous occasions, as well as an ever-growing number of major orchestras in the UK, Europe, and the Far East. He is consistently cited for his phenomenal technique, poetic sensitivity, and gorgeous tone. Mr. Hadelich is the winner of a 2016 GRAMMY Award - "Best Classical Instrumental Solo" - for his recording of Dutilleux's Violin Concerto, "L'arbre des songes," with the Seattle Symphony under Ludovic Morlot (Seattle Symphony MEDIA).

SEPT. 22 / 23, 2017 (FRIDAY / SATURDAY) - UTAH SYMPHONY PERFORMS SAINT-SA?NS SYMPHONY NO. 2, LAUNCHING RECORDING CYCLE DEVOTED TO THE COMPOSER Cellist Harriet Krijgh makes her orchestra debut performing Dvo?ák's Cello Concerto

On September 22 and 23 at 7:30 PM, glittering French music fills Abravanel Hall as the Utah Symphony performs Berlioz' "Roman Carnival Overture" and Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 2, the first of five symphonies by the composer to be recorded live by Utah Symphony for release by Hyperion Records. Tickets are $32 to $77, and can be purchased at http://www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 533-6683.

Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh, "a shooting star on the classical music scene" (Westdeutsche Zeitung), makes her Utah Symphony debut with Dvo?ák's impassioned Cello Concerto, considered the pinnacle of the instrument's repertoire.

A pre-concert lecture free to all ticketholders will take place at all Masterworks Series performances in Abravanel Hall's First Tier Room 45 minutes prior to each performance.

The Utah Symphony presents
"Augustin Hadelich performs Beethoven's Violin Concerto"
September 15 & 16, 2017 | 7:30 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Augustin Hadelich, violin

Mozart Overture to Don Giovanni
Beethoven Violin Concerto
R. Strauss Don Juan
R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks