Candlelight concert to offer world flavors

When Gerald Elias took over the musical directorship of the Vivaldi by Candlelight concerts earlier this year, he decided he would present programs that mirror the multinational character of the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy. "I wanted a program that reflects the vision of the council," he said.

Originally called the International Visitors Utah Council, the not-for-profit organization was founded in 1965. Since then, the council has brought international guests to the Beehive State in exchanges that involve businesses, universities, museums, religious institutions and the performing arts. The Vivaldi by Candlelight concerts are the council's annual fund- raiser.

This year, the program has a distinctly world-music flavor, said Elias. "There will still be music by Vivaldi, but I wanted to make it more of a world music event rather than just a baroque concert." Elias, who is the Utah Symphony's associate concertmaster, took over the musical directorship of the Vivaldi by Candlelight concerts from symphony colleague Barbara Scowcroft, who had been running it for nearly two decades. "I take my hat off to her for doing such an incredible job for so long," Elias said.

Elias assumed the directorship last spring, and he said he's been putting the program together since then. "I feel like Ed Sullivan instead of a musician," he quipped.

On the classical side of things, the program for Saturday's concert will include two works by Vivaldi — the Concerto in A minor for Two Violins and the Sonata in G minor for Guitar and Violin.

For the concerto, Elias will be joined by one of his students, Amanda Chamberlain. "She is a wonderful violinist," Elias said. "I've taught her since she was a sophomore in high school." He said the young violinist can look forward to a bright future. Last year she was accepted into the Tanglewood Music Institute, and in the spring she'll play the Brahms Violin Concerto with the University of Utah Philharmonia.

Accompanying Elias and Chamberlain will be pianist Marjorie Janove.

For the sonata, Elias will be paired with local guitarist Tully Cathey, who will also solo on some jazz classics.

Elias and Janove will also play David Crumb's "September Elegy." David Crumb, son of the distinguished composer George Crumb, wrote "September Elegy" in response to 9/11. Elegiac in character, the work expresses the composer's feelings about the attack, Elias said.

The rest of the program Saturday will consist of Chilean folk music and Indian music for sitar and tabla.