In Wednesday’s (8/13) Wall Street Journal, David Mermelstein writes that the Utah Symphony “has been showing signs of resurgence…. As prelude to the ensemble’s 75th anniversary next year the orchestra has embarked on something of an intrastate barnstorming tour … with Music Director Thierry Fischer and the ensemble performing last week in close proximity to Utah’s five national parks…. The tour began on Tuesday with a concert … in Teasdale, not far from Capitol Reef National Park with its towering red sandstone cliffs…. As the sun set, the county commissioner … [noted] that the roughly 1,100 people in attendance represented about half the county’s residents. In fact, not everyone was a local. Some had traveled a few hours from neighboring counties…. Fischer appears to mean business when it comes to his orchestra’s future. Beyond improving the Utah Symphony technically, he seems intent on heightening the group’s profile. And he has the backing of its administration and major donors. He also has demonstrated an interest in new music, commissioning substantial pieces from Augusta Read Thomas, Andrew Norman and Nico Muhly. That’s a good step toward gaining the kind of attention this organization is clearly courting, as is the outreach represented by the present tour.”
Posted August 19, 2014
Pictured: The Utah Symphony performs in Teasdale as part of its “Mighty 5” tour of National Parks. Photo by Marc Estabrook
