Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances

When I first started listening to classical music, my favorite composer was Mozart.  I think much of his music is light, airy, and beautiful; easily accessible for a beginner.  When I became a bit more knowledgeable about classical music my taste grew more sophisticated.  I became a fan of the Russian composers because, to me, their music is so passionate.  Luckily last night's Utah Symphony concert featured two of my favorites:  Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff!  Let me tell you, I was definitely ready for a relaxing evening listening to beautiful music!  The orchestra began with Carl Nielsen's Symphony No. 6, which concluded the Nielsen Symphony Cycle.  I have enjoyed getting to know a composer I was unfamiliar with this season and I particularly enjoyed this piece because it prominently featured the woodwind section (I played the clarinet in school).  Next the orchestra played Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations, featuring Matthew Zalkind on solo cello (Zalkind is the son of two current Utah Symphony members).  I thought he was amazing.  Towards the end of the piece, the solo cello played a theme (echoed by the clarinet) that was so hauntingly beautiful I held my breath!  I think Tchaikovsky's music is so emotional.  The concert concluded with Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances and I absolutely loved this piece.  In my opinion it is very evocative of Russia and, once again, it heightened my anticipation for a trip to Russia this summer.  I also really enjoyed all of the percussion in this piece.  This concert was a wonderful conclusion to a very enjoyable 2013-2014 season and a lovely start to the long Memorial Day weekend.

Lunch at Little America

Yesterday the principal of HHS took the student body officers and me to lunch at Little America, a gorgeous hotel in downtown Salt Lake City.  It was so much fun to be able to leave school in the middle of the day and have lunch in such a beautiful place.  It was also really great for me to hear them reminisce about how much fun they had this year.  Our principal had each of them share one of their favorite memories.  I think my favorite memory is when we made a giant black and yellow pinata in the shape of a "C" (we played Cottonwood High School for Homecoming). It was enormous and it took us several days after school to make it out of papier-mache.  Then it took an epic feat of engineering to hang it in the gym for the football players to smash during the assembly.  We all prayed that it would stay up long enough and it actually did!  We are all still very proud of it!  Our principal told the students that they could order anything they wanted from the menu without worrying about the price.  They all ordered steak!  He also told them they could order dessert and I had the most delicious cheesecake ever!  I am so proud of these students and I am really glad I had the opportunity to work with them.  It has been a lot of work but it has also been so much fun.  I will miss them!

Note:  When I got back to school that afternoon, the new student body officers designed and ordered their sweaters for next year.  Everything starts all over again...

Sweet Charity at PTC

This is the first year in quite a while that I didn't get a five-play season ticket to Pioneer Theatre.  Ironically, it is the first year that I've gone to all seven plays!  When the 2013-2014 season was announced last year, only one of the plays appealed to me; however, I ended up seeing all of them in spite of myself.  I'm so glad I did!  I saw Something's Afoot because it was just after Homecoming and I desperately needed an outing that wasn't school related!  It was hilarious.  I saw Other Desert Cities because a colleague recommended it to me.  It was incredibly thought-provoking.  I took Sean and Tashena to Elf - The Musical because Sean absolutely loves the movie.  It was magical!  I saw A Few Good Men because a friend who I hadn't seen for a long time wanted to see it.  I thought it was very powerful.  Much Ado About Nothing was the production that originally piqued my interest and I really enjoyed it but, interestingly enough, it was probably my least favorite this season.  I saw Deathtrap because I was intrigued by all of the buzz in the media.  It contained one of the best plot twists I have ever seen!  Finally, I decided to see Sweet Charity last night because the rest of the season had been so good.  I loved it!  I saw this musical several years ago when the Broadway touring production, starring Molly Ringwald, came to Salt Lake City but PTC's version surpassed it.  Nancy Lemenager was absolutely amazing as Charity Hope Valentine, a girl a little tarnished but still hoping to find true love.  I laughed and laughed at her antics while she was stuck in Vittorio Vidal's closet.  The big song and dance numbers were spectacular, especially "Big Spender."  Karen Azenberg, Pioneer Theatre's artistic director, was recently quoted in the Deseret News saying that she wants to offer "something that the audience doesn't think it wants, but guess what, [they] just might have a good time."  I didn't think I would like this season but I certainly had a good time.  I'll trust you next year, Karen!

I Can't Wait for Summer Vacation!

Sometimes the closing of the school year is hard.  This year is proving to be more difficult than usual so I am concentrating on all of the fun things that I hope to do this summer.

Deer Valley Music Festival

When it gets really hot in the valley, it is nice to head up to the mountains at the Deer Valley Resort and hear the Utah Symphony play under the stars!  You can bring a blanket and a picnic and sit on the hill or there are seats available near the stage.  This is one of my favorite things to do in the summer and we have heard the orchestra play the 1812 Overture (complete with real cannons) several times.  The pictures above are from last year's Bravo Broadway concert, which was fantastic.  I just got my tickets in the mail for the Music of U2 and I am beyond excited!  Go here for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets.

Utah Shakespeare Festival

The Utah Shakespeare Festival is held every summer on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City (a four hour drive south of Salt Lake City).  It is another one of my favorite things to do.  Sometimes Marilyn and I spend several days and see every play and sometimes we go down for one day and see a couple.  Once I drove down to see Hamlet and then drove straight home.  It was worth it.  The pictures above are from the 2010 production of Macbeth, which was awesome.  This year I am really excited to see Into the Woods (they produce non-Shakespeare plays, too) and Twelfth Night. I'm not going to lie, I'm also excited for the raspberry tarts!   Go here for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets.

Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Tuacahn is a natural amphitheatre made out of red rock in St. George (about six hours south of Salt Lake City).  They perform several musicals in repertory every summer and you can also purchase tickets to a pre-show dinner.  The above pictures are from the 2012 production of Hairspray.  My very favorite production here was Les Miserables because they used the terrain beyond the stage for the epic battle on the barricade.  It was amazing.  This year my student body officers are going to leadership camp at Dixie State University and we get to see The Little Mermaid.  Go here for a complete schedule and to purchase tickets.

Sundance Summer Theatre

Sundance Summer Theatre, in conjunction with the Utah Valley University Theatre Department, has produced a musical at the Sundance Resort for the past several years.  Seeing a musical in the mountains is always a great way to beat the summer heat.  We have seen The Sound of Music (Marilyn sang along with the actors), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Annie Get Your Gun.  Marilyn and I may or may not have squealed when we found out they are doing Fiddler on the Roof this year.  Go here for tickets.

The Utah Symphony also makes an appearance at the Sundance Resort.  Near the Fourth of July they perform a program featuring patriotic music (think John Philips Sousa).  I took my cousin Merry to this concert last year and we both enjoyed it.  I'm thinking of going again.  Go here for more information.

Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series

Red Butte Garden is an amazing venue for outdoor concerts.  This picture is from the Crosby, Stills, & Nash concert in 2012, which was fabulous (even though I was probably the youngest person there).  This year I am going to see Natalie Cole and I am really excited about it.  Go here to check out this year's lineup and to purchase tickets (many shows are already sold out because members have priority to purchase tickets before the general public).

With all of these amazing events to look forward to, maybe I can make it through these next few weeks until summer vacation.  Maybe.

London

I told my sister we could travel anywhere she wanted when she graduated from the University of Utah.  After she did that in May of 2010, she informed me that she wanted to go to London.  I was not very enthusiastic about her choice because I had already been to London three times and I wanted to go somewhere new.  But a promise is a promise and Marilyn and I ended up having such a great time!  Here are some highlights.

Big Ben

Houses of Parliament

London Eye

Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Royal Mews.  I loved the Glass Coach that Princess Diana rode to her wedding in and the Gold State Coach the Queen rode to her Coronation in.

Tower Bridge

Tower of London

Day trip to Stonehenge

Bath Cathedral on a day trip to Bath

The Roman Baths on a day trip to Bath

Windsor Castle

Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle

St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

Westminster Abbey

St. Paul's Cathedral

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace Gardens

The Beatles at Madame Tussauds

We saw quite a few shows in the West End but Wicked was my favorite!

Lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.  The London HRC was actually the first one I ever went to back in college.  Now I am kind of obsessed with them.  A great trip with wonderful memories with my sister!

African Safari

Canadian Rockies