Andre Watts Performs Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto with Utah Symphony This Weekend

Under the baton of guest conductor Hugh Wolff and with guest pianist André Watts, the Utah Symphony will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5. Commonly called "Emperor," this composition is bookended with two works by the great American composer Aaron Copland, "Fanfare for the Common Man" and Symphony No. 3 this weekend, March 6 and 7 at 8 p. m. in Abravanel Hall. Tickets, priced from $18 to $69 ($10 for students), are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787.

One of today's most celebrated pianists, André Watts' career was launched at the age of 16 debuting with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Leonard Bernstein. "The New York Times"described, "His pianism is so perfect -- at a distance it reminded me of Rubinstiein's -- that after a while one accepted it as the most natural thing." Mr. Watts is a regular guest with major summer music festivals including the Hollywood Bowl and Tanglewood as well as frequent performances with major orchestras around the world including appearances in New York, Los Angeles, Minnesota, Dallas, Hong Kong, Germany, and Spain.

Having conducted major orchestras around the world such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre National de France, to name a few,

Hugh Wolff is one of America's leading conductors. Mr. Wolff studied with Olivier Messiaen in Paris and receiving degrees from Harvard and Peabody Conservatory. He has also held positions with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, and is currently Director of Orchestras at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Of his upcoming performances with Mr. Watts, with whom he has worked, Mr. Wolff stated that he expects "to have a real meeting of the minds and hearts."

Three years before Beethoven's death, in 1809, his fifth and final piano concerto, nicknamed "The Emperor Concerto," was premiered. Almost entirely deaf by that time, Beethoven was in his "heroic" period and wrote for the piano repertoire an unprecedented piece. He blends brilliance with quiet and mixes virtuosity with the sweet and lyrical, making this work one of Beethoven's most beloved piano compositions.

Also on the program are two pieces by Aaron Copland: "Fanfare for the Common Man" and Symphony No. 3. Copland's works capture the American sound and are widely used to portray patriotism. During World War I conductor Eugene Goosens asked British composers for fanfares to begin each orchestral concert. The result was so successful that during World War II he decided to repeat his procedure but with American composers. Copland's Fanfare, showcasing the brass of the orchestra, was inspired by Vice President Henry A. Wallace's 1942 speech where he proclaimed the dawning of the "Century of the Common Man." This same theme is used as the primary thematic material in Copeland's Third Symphony.

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).

PROGRAM:

The Utah Symphony presents

André Watts Plays Beethoven 5

Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah

March 6-7, 2015 | 8 p.m. | Abravanel Hall

Hugh Wolff, Conductor

André Watts, piano

Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man

Ludwig van Beethoven: Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 73, "Emperor"

André Watts, Piano

INTERMISSION

Aaron Copland: Symphony No. 3

Tickets, priced from $18 to $69 ($10 for students), are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787. Tickets increase $5 on the day of the performance.

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony is dedicated to offering orchestral performances that span the traditions of the past and challenge possibilities for our present and future audiences. Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, the orchestra's parent organization, reaches 450,000 residents in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 155,000 students annually. The orchestra presents more than 70 performances each season in Abravanel Hall, participates in the Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Capitol Theatre, in addition to numerous community concerts throughout Utah and the annual outdoor summer series -- the Deer Valley Music Festival -- in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged full-time orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org.

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