the mommy avenger

Last night, we were invited* to see Marvel Studios’ Black Panther at the Utah Symphony. An amazing kickoff to a brand new season loaded with exciting performances. This was the first performance of the Films in Concert Series, which is one of my favorites. As someone who loves hearing live music, but doesn’t fully understand the inner workings of a symphony and what I am listening for, seeing and hearing a live symphony accompany a movie is a wonderful way to enjoy the talents of all those musicians and not feel out of my league. In fact, I recommend it to everyone.

The Films in Concert Series takes a wide array of movies that audiences of all ages will be interested in and plays them on the big screen with subtitles while below the screen, the entire symphony is on stage playing their instruments in harmony, recreating the movie’s score live in front of the audience. It is always amazing to me to feel the music this way. What may have been background music in the movie becomes front and center and you are fully encompassed in the sounds. Last night, especially, was a spectacular performance. Conducted by Benjamin Manis and featuring an Oscar- and Grammy-winning score composed by Ludwig Göransson, we were also graced with a phenomenal performance by Massamba Diop playing the Tama. The Tama drum is a traditional instrument from Senegal that is called a “talking” drum because of its ability to replicate the sounds of human speech. Massambia Diop is world famous for his mastery of the instrument and we were witnesses to that last night. It was a very special treat to see live.

The entire audience was thoroughly entertained for an extraordinary experience that we didn’t want to end. I was so impressed and loved being there.

I love taking my kids to the Films in Concert Series because it is a fabulous introduction to the symphony. Not only do we get to enjoy a great movie on the big screen, but it is elevated by gorgeous music resonating throughout Abravanel Hall. It is an experience like no other and not to be missed.

Throughout the 2023-24 season, Films in Concert performances share the magic of movies on the big screen as the world-class musicians of the orchestra perform every note live to picture. The symphony synchronizes its performance to be right on beat with the film, which is no simple task. To ensure the live music is perfectly timed to the film projection, the conductor wears a specially designed earpiece that provides the exact tempo through soft clicks. In addition, a small light box and stopwatch are attached to the podium to provide a visual reminder of the passing measures, helping the conductor keep the musicians right on cue with the action on screen.

As a result, audiences don’t just see and hear the film; they feel it. The orchestra’s performance heightens the drama, intensifies the suspense, and deepens the emotions, making for an electrifying cinematic journey. 

For a complete listing of Films in Concert performances, please visit utahsymphony.org/tickets/films-in-concert. I personally can not wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II and Love Actually!

Be sure to check out their site and book your tickets in advance for some great upcoming entertainment with the Utah Symphony.

About Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera connects Utah communities through great live music and is the flagship arts organization of the Intermountain West. USUO’s 87 full-time symphony musicians and five opera Resident Artists perform for more 450,000 citizens in Utah and the Intermountain region each year, presenting more than 175 symphonic and chamber music performances; week-long runs of four full operas; and music education programs for students and adult learners. The organization’s statewide service includes tours featuring outdoor performances against the backdrop of Utah’s natural beauty as well as education offerings—most recently, the six-stop Music Elevated Tour in August 2023.

Founded in 1940 and one of just 16 year-round orchestras in the U.S., the Utah Symphony performs at downtown Salt Lake City’s Maurice Abravanel Hall, at its Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City, for Utah Opera productions, and at venues throughout the state of Utah. The symphony has embarked on seven international tours and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2016 in honor of its 75th anniversary season. The orchestra’s celebrated recording legacy includes more than 100 recordings; in April 2023, its latest album featuring Messiaen’s Des canyons aux étoiles—a work inspired by three scenic Utah locations—was released to great critical acclaim. Thierry Fischer, who led the Utah Symphony as Music Director from 2014 to 2023, was named Music Director Emeritus beginning in the 2023-24 season. 

Since 1978, Utah Opera has provided citizens with distinguished and entertaining productions at Salt Lake City’s historic Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre—showcasing emerging and established artists, celebrating traditional works, and championing new works and the American operatic tradition. Utah Opera is one of just six opera companies in the U.S. with full production capabilities, including in-house costume design and set-building; the company currently has costumes for 50 productions and 19 full sets in its inventory. Utah Opera’s Resident Artist program is nationally recognized for providing invaluable career-training opportunities for professional singers and pianists.

USUO leads in music education, with interactive and immersive education programs that engage and inspire tomorrow’s musicians and music-lovers. In the community and in classrooms, these programs serve more than 91,000 students annually and reach every school district in Utah on a three- to five-year rotation.

^{*we were invited to facilitate a feature, all opinions are my own*}