Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2

I was so excited for last night's Utah Symphony concert because the program included one of my favorite pieces performed by an exciting young soloist!  The orchestra began with the Utah premiere of Foggy Moon Over the Gorge by Matthew Jackfert (who was in attendance last night).  This piece was inspired by the New River Gorge National Park and Reserve in West Virginia and I really enjoyed it because it is very evocative of the ethereal atmosphere found there.  I especially liked the themes played by the piccolo, vibraphone, marimba, and glockenspiel because they sounded so otherworldly.  The orchestra continued with Symphony No. 2 by Alexander Scriabin.  I had never heard this before (I had never even heard of this composer before last night) but I loved it because it is incredibly lush and represents the struggle to overcome an obstacle.  I was particularly struck by the mournful theme played by the solo clarinet at the beginning of the first movement and by how it is developed throughout the rest of the piece to become joyful and then, finally, triumphant in the final movement.  The piece I was most looking forward to came after the intermission when the orchestra was joined by Alexander Malofeev for Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  I love the chords played by the piano at the beginning of the first movement because they sound so quintessentially Russian.  I also love the swelling melodies that are played back and forth between the orchestra and the piano in the second movement.  This movement always males me swoon because it is so romantic and full of yearning.  The themes in the final movement continue to build in intensity until they reach an electrifying conclusion and the audience leapt to their feet in appreciation for Malofeev's emotional performance (I always love hearing Rachmaninoff interpreted by a Russian soloist).  This was an incredible evening of music and I highly recommend getting a ticket to tonight's performance of the same program (go here) but act quickly because Rachmaninoff always brings the crowds to Abravanel Hall!