Utah Symphony to Feature Violinist Stefan Jackiw Playing Mendelssohn Violin Concert in E Minor Led by Guest Conductor Jun Märkl

Violinist Stefan Jackiw will join the Utah Symphony in a performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor led by guest conductor Jun Märkl, a returning favorite of the Utah Symphony. The performances takes place on February 5 and 6 at 7:30 PM at Abravanel Hall, and also include Weber's Overture to Der Freischütz, Stravinsky's Pétrouchka, and Falla's "Ritual Fire Dance" from El amor brujo. Tickets, priced from $18 to $80, are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787.

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor is widely considered one of the most beloved staples of the violin repertory. This composition will never disappoint an audience, as its haunting melodies take the senses on a musical journey, traversing an arc of poetic sadness to sheer joy. A stylistic feature of this piece to note is the "ricocheting" bow of the soloist, which oscillates at high speeds over the strings of the violin in order to highlight the arpeggios, while the E minor melody is played in conjunction by the orchestra.

The violin soloist for this performance, Stefan Jackiw, is regarded as one of the most noteworthy artists of this age. His stylistic performances captivate his audiences by combining his immaculate technique with his poetic nature. Mr. Jackiw made his European debut at age 14, playing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra. This performance was featured on the front page of London's Times, and now almost 15 years later, he will grace Abravanel Hall with what is expected to be an even more spectacular performance of the very same piece.

Renowned maestro Jun Märkl will make his return to Abravanel Hall for the second time this season. As the Principal Conductor for the Basque National Orchestra and the Pacific Music Festival, he is also well known for his Music Directorships of the Orchestre National de Lyon and MDR Symphony Orchestra Leipzig. Mr. Märkl has held guest conducting engagements with other top orchestras, including the Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Munich Philharmonic.

RELATED EVENTS

Violin Masterclass with Stefan Jackiw
Join Utah Symphony's guest violinist Stefan Jackiw onstage for an afternoon violin masterclass. The class will take place on February 4 from 4-6 PM at Abravanel Hall. No purchase necessary, as this masterclass is free and open to the public. Come take advantage of this phenomenal opportunity to learn from one of the greatest violinists of his generation.

"Finishing Touches," Jun Märkl & Stefan Jackiw Rehearsal

Come watch guest artists conductor Jun Märkl and violin soloist Stefan Jackiw at their final rehearsal before the weekend performance. Mr. Jackiw will play excerpts from Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor. Other compositions from this weekend's repertoire include pieces written by the likes of Carl Maria von Weber, Igor Stravinsky, and Manuel de Falla. Rehearsal takes place February 5th beginning at 10 AM at Abravanel Hall.

Pre-Concert Lecture
Utah Symphony Vice President of Artistic Planning Toby Tolokan offers a preconcert lecture prior to each performance starting at 6:45 PM in the First Tier Room at Abravanel Hall. Lectures are free to all ticket holders.

Utah Arts Alliance "Connect" artwork

On February 5 and 6, the Utah Arts Alliance "Connect" program will have the works of three local artists, Zach Franzoni, Troy Forbush, and Jeovanni X, on display in the Abravanel Hall lobby. They are the finalists of the 2015 "Connect" visual arts program which provides a free, monthly opportunity for emerging artists to showcase their work, vote on art submissions, network with fellow artists, and engage with the community. Connect is a program of the non-profit Utah Arts Alliance, and occurs every 2nd Friday of the month at Urban Arts Gallery, in the Gateway (137 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101). For more info, contact michael@utaharts.org. www.UtahArts.org.

PROGRAM

The Utah Symphony presents
Jackiw plays Mendelssohn

Abravanel Hall, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah
February 5 & 6, 2016 | 7:30 PM

Jun Märkl, Conductor
Stefan Jackiw, Violin

Weber Overture to Der Freischütz

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor
I. Allegro molto appassionato
II. Andante
III. Allegretto non troppo- Allegro molto vivace

INTERMISSION

Stravinsky Pétrouchka
I. The Shrovetide Fair
II. Pétrouchka's Cell
III. The Moor's Cell
IV. The Fair (towards Evening)

Falla "Ritual Fire Dance" from El amor brujo

CONCERT SPONSORS:

75th Anniversary Signature Sponsor: George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation
Conductor Sponsor- Jun Märkl: Miller Family

Tickets, priced from $18 to $80, are available for purchase through www.utahsymphony.org or by calling (801) 355-2787. Tickets increase $5 on the day of the performance. Student and Under 30 tickets are available for $10 and $15 on the day of the show.

About Utah Symphony

Founded in 1940, the Utah Symphony performs more than 175 concerts each season and offers all Utahns easy access to world class live musical performances of the world's greatest music in the state's top venues. Since being named the orchestra's seventh music director in 2009, Thierry Fischer has attracted leading musicians and top soloists, refreshed programming, drawn increased audiences, and galvanized community support. In addition to numerous regional and domestic tours, including the Mighty 5 Tour of Utah's National Parks, the Utah Symphony has embarked on seven international tours and will perform at Carnegie Hall in Spring 2016 coinciding with the orchestra's 75th anniversary celebrations. The Utah Symphony has released more than 100 recordings, including the new release of Mahler Symphony No. 1 in Fall 2015. 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. In addition to performances in its home in Salt Lake City, Abravanel Hall, and concerts throughout the state of Utah, the Utah Symphony participates in Utah Opera's four annual productions at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and presents the six-week Deer Valley Music Festival each summer in Park City, Utah. With its many subscription, education, and outreach concerts and tours, the Utah Symphony is one of the most engaged orchestras in the nation. For more information visit www.utahsymphony.org.

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