Prokofiev's Symphony No. 7

It has been a long week!  The end of the term is sometimes hard because there are lots of tests and final projects to grade and lots of students who are suddenly concerned about their grade to deal with.   Luckily, I had a Utah Symphony concert to look forward to.  Every time a student asked me what he or she could do to pass, I imagined sitting in Abravanel Hall listening to amazing music.  I love it when the concertmaster comes on stage and plays a note for the orchestra to tune their instruments.  There is such a sense of expectation followed by a hush in the audience as the conductor takes the podium.  I felt all of the tension leave my body as I sat in anticipation of the lovely concert to follow.  Last night's guest conductor (and soloist) was Ignat Solzhenitsyn.  Yes, that Solzhenitsyn!  His father is the Nobel Prize winning author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn!  Ignat is a very sought-after conductor and I admit to being the tiniest bit star-struck.  The concert began with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 18 featuring Ignat as the solo pianist and conductor.  It was quite impressive to watch because, at times, he would be conducting the orchestra with one hand while playing some intricate melody with the other.  I love the music of Mozart because I think it is light, airy, and beautiful.  I particularly like the second movement of this piece because it is so romantic.  I closed my eyes and imagined myself in Vienna.  After the intermission, the orchestra played Prokofiev's Symphony No. 7.  I always think that Russian music sounds so much better with a Russian conductor because they are so passionate!  Oh how I loved this piece!  It is melancholy and mournful but so beautiful.  I had goosebumps through all of it!  The concert concluded with Symphonic Metomorphosis on Themes of Carl Maria von Weber by  Paul Hindemith.  I was not at all familiar with Hindemith but I really enjoyed this piece.  I thought it was very playful and I particularly liked all of the percussion, especially the chimes.  I have a thing for the chimes.  I really can't say enough about the Utah Symphony!  We are so lucky to have a world-class orchestra in SLC and I think there is something for everyone this season.  I definitely recommend this concert which will be performed again tonight.  Go here for tickets and information.