Confession time: I’m not one of those people who grew up with a symphony subscription and a pair of opera glasses. I’m a mom who loves a good night out, and a night of Mozart at Abravanel Hall is about as good as it gets. If you’ve been looking for a reason to put on something nicer than leggings and leave the kids with a sitter, I’ve got one for you.
The Utah Symphony’s Mozart with Conrad Tao runs on a limited engagement November 6 and 7, with both performances at 7:30 PM., If this sounds like your kind of evening, don’t dawdle!
The program is short and sweet, and it’s built around two of Mozart’s best-loved pieces: Piano Concerto No. 20 and Symphony No. 40. The evening opens with Nuages by Linda Catlin Smith, a contemporary piece to set the mood before the Mozart begins. Conrad Tao is both pianist and conductor for the night, so you get to watch him lead the orchestra from the keyboard. Symphony No. 40 is one of Mozart’s final symphonies and one of his most popular and admired, so even if you think you don’t know it, your ears may surprise you. The symphony even suggests you might find “peak Mozart” in this pairing, which is a pretty bold promise, and I’m here for it.
So why is this one so anticipated? For starters, Tao is no stranger to the Utah Symphony. He has made an indelible mark on stages around the globe and remains the only classical artist recognized on Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” list in the music industry. Seeing an artist like that return as both soloist and conductor feels like a special treat, and for those of us who don’t get to do this every weekend, it’s the kind of evening you remember.
If you like to do your homework (or just want to feel fancy and informed), the symphony offers a pre-concert chat about the evening’s program with guest artists and symphony musicians, held 45 minutes before the performance in the First Tier Room. The concert takes place at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, so plan to arrive early, find parking, and settle in with time to spare.
You can get tickets through the Utah Symphony’s website at utahsymphony.org.
So find a sitter, dust off that good outfit, and treat yourself to a night of beautiful music.
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