Beethoven's Violin Concerto, Messiaen & Ravel

Last night was the final Utah Symphony concert of the 2021-2022 season and it was a great one to end with!  The orchestra and soloist Veronika Eberle began with Concerto for Violin by Ludwig van Beethoven and it was absolutely brilliant!  I loved the opening of the first movement because the timpani is so dramatic and the themes played by the oboe, clarinet, and bassoon are very lyrical.  I also really enjoyed the third movement because it features a hunting theme played by the horns.  Many have called this concerto "unplayable" but Eberle seemed to have no difficulty with it.  It was fun to watch her bow flying up and down the strings and I especially enjoyed the extended passage she played at the end of the first movement.  She received the most enthusiastic standing ovation I have heard all season and it was much deserved!  After the intermission, the orchestra, once again, played two movements from Des canyons aux etoiles (From the Canyons to the Stars) by Olivier Messiaen with Jason Hardink on piano, Keith Carrick on xylorimba, and Eric Hopkins on glockenspiel as soloists.  These two movements represent the stars seen from the cathedrals of red rock found in the natural parks of Utah.  I loved all of the percussion, especially the chimes.  This piece will be performed in its entirety at the O. C. Tanner Amphitheater near Zion National Park in a few days (go here for tickets and information).  The concert concluded with Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2 by Maurice Ravel.  I had never heard this piece before and I loved it!  The music was commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes and tells the love story of the goatherd Daphnis and the shepherdess Chloe.  I especially loved the flute solo as Chloe dances for Daphnis and the all of the percussion used in the bacchanale featured in the dramatic conclusion.  I enjoyed this concert immensely and I highly recommend getting a ticket for the same program which will be performed again tonight (go here).

Note:  This is the first season that I subscribed to the entire Masterworks series and, even though I had to miss a few concerts because of family responsibilities, I thoroughly enjoyed every one!  I renewed my subscription for next season and I am really excited (go here for more information about next season).