Utah Symphony to Record, Release Three Commissions This Year

Utah Symphony Music Director Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony will record live performances of three world premiere commissions from American composers during the 2015 calendar year for release at a later date, starting with Augusta Read Thomas' world premiere of "EOS (Goddess of the Dawn), A Ballet for Orchestra" on February 20 and 21 in Abravanel Hall.

The two other new works to be live recorded and presented during Utah Symphony's 2015-16 season are a percussion concerto by American composer Andrew Norman to be performed by Colin Currie on November 6 and 7 (also to be presented during the Utah Symphony's spring 2016 concert at Carnegie Hall), and a new orchestral work inspired by Utah's National Parks by American composer Nico Muhly on December 4 and 5. All three works were commissioned by the Orchestra as part of the organization's commitment to support the creation of contemporary classical music.

In early December, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced that Utah Symphony was one of 919 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant to support Ms. Thomas' world premiere performances of "EOS."

"As an orchestra, it's our responsibility to present historical compositions but also crucial that we keep classical music alive by creating exciting opportunities for composers, musicians, and audiences in our community," said Maestro Fischer. "I am extremely pleased that we have the support of the National Endowment for the Arts in bringing fabulous composers such as Augusta Read Thomas to Utah. We are fortunate as an orchestra to be able to commission works by living composers such as Ms. Thomas, Andrew Norman and Nico Muhly. Today's music is tomorrow's culture."

Written in honor of Pierre Boulez, Ms. Thomas' "EOS (Goddess of the Dawn)" musically depicts the movements of Eos as she brings forth the new day by opening the gates of heaven, welcoming the morning air and cheering on her brother, the Sun. "I like my music to have the feeling that it is organically being self-propelled - on the spot as if we listeners are overhearing a captured improvisation," says Ms. Thomas. "'EOS' is a very kaleidoscopic score, with solos for many players, shifts in rhythmic syntax, shifts in harmony and harmonic rhythm, with distinct sections that have unique moods... each section of this ballet has its own aura."

In 2014, the Koussevitzky Music Foundation committed $20,000 towards Mr. Norman's commission and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) pledged an additional $10,000. Both grants supported the commission and world premiere of Mr. Norman's percussion concerto written for Colin Currie.

Mr. Muhly's work draws inspiration from the state's five national parks and red rock country of Southern Utah, following his visit to the region during the Orchestra's Mighty 5 Tour in August 2014. The work will feature a video installation by interactive media designer Joshua Higgason.

This will be the fifth commission and world premiere presented under the direction of Maestro Fischer, who has placed commissioning new works by contemporary composers at the core of his artistic vision. Maestro Fischer and the Utah Symphony previously commissioned a cello concerto for Jean-Guihen Queyras by Michael Jarrell and "Ellsworth 2" by Simon Holt.

Augusta Read Thomas and Vice President of Artistic Planning Toby Tolokan will present a free pre-concert chat for ticket holders each night at 7 p.m., one hour prior to the start of the performance in the First Tier Room of Abravanel Hall (123 West South Temple). The pre-concert lecture at the Browning Fine Arts Center (1901 University Circle, Ogden, Utah) will take place at 6:45 p.m.

An open rehearsal of the Utah Symphony's performance of "EOS" will take place on Wednesday, February 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Abravanel Hall. Composers and those interested in composition are invited to register to attend at www.usuoeducation.org/masterclass. Registration is required.

On Friday, February 20 at 3 p.m. at the Dumke Recital Hall in Gardner Hall at the University of Utah, Augusta Read Thomas will speak about her work commissioned by Utah Symphony in a free lecture. Learn more about this interesting piece: www.augustareadthomas.com/eos.html. Be sure to scroll down to see the fascinating artwork/map of the piece, drawn by the composer.

On Friday, February 27 at 2 p.m. in Room A-410 of the Harris Fine Arts Building at Brigham Young University, Nico Muhly will give a free Art Talk about the 75th Anniversary Commission, play samples of his work and talk about the creative process. This is open to the public.

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