Nielsen Symphony Cycle, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Pixar in Concert and More Highlight Utah Symphony's 2013-14 Season

Music Director Thierry Fischer, Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen and Associate Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic today announced the Utah Symphony's complete 2013-2014 season, in which Fischer will again conduct 12 of the 18 Masterworks performances.

Maestro Fischer will lead the orchestra through many of the season's highlights including an entire Carl Nielsen symphony cycle, a world premiere commission by American composer Andrew Norman featuring Colin Currie on percussion, an anticipated performance of Berlioz' "The Damnation of Faust" with internationally acclaimed vocalists Michael Spyres, Kate Lindsey and Roderick Williams, as well as a program commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the JFK Assassination and the 100th Anniversary of Benjamin Britten's birth.

Another season highlight will be Kulenovic conducting the Utah Symphony Special Event, Disney's "Pixar in Concert" featuring music and images from Pixar's most beloved film moments. Steichen will lead four of the five Entertainment Series performances led by Steichen and featuring artists such as Tony award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, Juno and Grammy-award winning fiddler Natalie MacMaster, as well as jazz trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling.

MORE ABOUT THE 2013-2014 ENTERTAINMENT SERIES
Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen will lead the orchestra in four of the five concerts of the 2013-2014 Entertainment Series. The dynamic and popular series will feature performances with Broadway's Brian Stokes Mitchell, trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling swinging to holiday favorites, Juno & Grammy-award winning fiddler Natalie MacMaster, A Rodgers and Hammerstein Celebration and "The Beat Goes On!" a concert featuring hits from the baby boomer era led by guest conductor Jack Everly.

MORE ABOUT THE 2013-2014 FAMILY AND LOLLIPOPS SERIES
The highlights of the Utah Symphony's Family series, for ages 12-18 conducted by Associate Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic, will include a performance exploring the magic of Harry Potter, the always popular Halloween-themed concert in October (this year themed "A Superhero Halloween") and the Utah Symphony's annual Salute to Youth and All-Star Evening performances with young Utah musicians. The Lollipops Series (for ages 6-12) will be highlighted by a performance "Tyrannosaurus Sue: A Cretaceous Concerto" written for the opening of a Tyrannosaurus Rex specimen exhibit of the same name now on display at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. The series will also include the yearly treat, "Here Comes Santa Claus" in December.

2013-2014 SPECIAL EVENTS
In addition to the annual "Messiah Sing-In," the Utah Symphony will present two special performances of Disney's "Pixar in Concert," a magical program of music and imagery from Pixar's thirteen feature films.

VIVACE AND CADENZA
Utah Symphony | Utah Opera offers two social and networking organizations for classical music enthusiasts, Vivace and Cadenza.

Vivace, which will celebrate its ninth season in 2013-2014, is for young professionals looking for an enriched classical music experience. Subscribers receive discounted tickets to select Utah Symphony | Utah Opera performances, special program notes, and after-parties with guest artists and musicians catered by some of Salt Lake's best restaurants. The 2013-2014 Vivace series includes Utah Symphony performances on September 21, 2013 (Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture), November 23, 2013 (Remembering JFK), February 8, 2014 (Mozart and Shostakovich), March 8, 2014 (Dvorak's "New World" Symphony), April 19, 2014 (Mahler's Symphony No. 5) and Richard Strauss's chilling opera, "Salome," on October 8, 2013.

Cadenza, which will be in its fourth season in 2013-2014, is for those ages 55+ looking for an enriched classical music experience. Members receive similar benefits and dine together at local restaurants before select Utah Symphony | Utah Opera performances. The 2013-2014 Cadenza series includes Utah Symphony performances on September 13, 2013 (Beethoven's Triple Concerto), November 15, 2013 (Beethoven, Mozart & Nielsen), January 10, 2014 (Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4), February 14, 2014 (Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto), April 18, 2014 (Mahler's Symphony No. 5), May 23, 2014 (Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances), and Utah Opera's performance of" Turandot" March 21, 2014.

FINISHING TOUCHES REHEARSALS
The Utah Symphony's Finishing Touches Series will return in the 2013-2014 season with four open rehearsals. These events, which take place Fridays at 10:00 am, are a behind-the-scenes look at the orchestra during the final rehearsals. They will impress upon you the diligence and dedication that goes into each performance. They will take place on Friday, October 25, 2013 (Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25), Friday, December 6, 2013(Schubert & Tchaikovsky), Friday, February 7, 2014 (Mozart and Shostakovich) and Friday, May 23, 2014 (Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances).

Season ticket packages are now on sale. Information on becoming a Utah Symphony season ticket holder is available by calling 801-533-NOTE (6683) or visiting www.usuo.org. Tickets to individual concerts will go on sale to the general public in August 2013.

GUEST ARTISTS

CONDUCTORS
Yan Pascal Tortelier (Oct.25-26)
Hans Graf (Dec. 6-7)
Nicholas McGegan (Jan. 4-5)
Mark Wigglesworth (Feb. 28-Mar. 1)
Mark Wigglesworth (Mar. 7-8)
Andrey Borekyko (Apr. 18-19)

VIOLINISTS
Philip Setzer (Sep.13-14)
Nicola Benedetti (Nov. 8-9)
Itamar Zorman (Feb. 14-15)
Kathryn Eberle (Apr. 11-12)

CELLISTS
David Finckel (Sep. 13-14)
Matthew Zalkind (May 23-24)

PIANISTS
Wu Han (Sep. 13-14
Orion Weiss (Oct. 25-26)
Ronald Brautigam (Nov.15-16)
Inon Barnatan (Jan. 10-11)
Alexander Melrikov (Feb. 28-Mar. 1)

FLAUTIST
Emmanuel Pahud (Sep. 20-21)

VOCALISTS
Michael Spryes, Tenor (Sep. 27-28)
Kate Lindsey, Mezzo-Soprano (Sep. 27-28)
Roderick Williams, Bass (Sep. 27-28)

PERCUSSION
Colin Currie (Apr. 18-19)

UTAH SYMPHONY CHORUS
Sep. 27-28
Nov. 30 & Dec. 1
Feb. 7-8
Mar. 28-29

FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Masterworks 1

Beethoven's Triple Concerto

September 13-14, 2013 | 8 PM | Abravanel Hall

Thierry Fischer, Conductor