A year of contradictions for classical music

The year 2005 proved to be full of contradictions for classical music in Salt Lake City.

On the one hand, classical music is flourishing in our community, thanks in large part to the Virtuoso Series and the NOVA Chamber Music Series.

Since its inception five years ago, the Virtuoso Series has brought to Utah some of the most sought-after artists and groups on the international scene.

This year it brought to the stage of Libby Gardner Concert Hall such stellar artists as pianist Angela Hewitt, violinist Hilary Hahn, cellist David Finckel and his wife, pianist Wu Han, as well as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble. And what has been particularly gratifying is that the concerts in the series have been more frequently sold out this year than in past years — a trend that hopefully will continue.

NOVA has been a staple in our city for more than two decades now. And with artistic director Corbin Johnston, it has been infused with new blood. Johnston, who started his second season as director in September, has brought new ideas to the series, which can only ensure its artistic health and durability.

One of the most innovative and, at the same time, daring concerts that NOVA presented was the all-Ives program last month. It was innovative because of the manner in which some of Ives' most significant chamber music (including the Piano Trio and the Second String Quartet) was presented — seamlessly, without a break, and with a thematic continuity that underscored the creativity and unity of his music. The concert was daring because even today, nearly a century after some of this music was written, audiences still find it disturbing and disconcerting.

The year also saw the debut of a new ensemble, the Sonolumina Chamber Orchestra, which premiered at the Park City and Salt Lake City Music Festival's new fall festival in October and at the Cathedral of the Madeleine's St. Cecilia's Day concert in November.

Calling Sonolumina new is somewhat misleading, however. It's actually the old Cathedral Chamber Orchestra that's been rechristened and reorganized and brought under the umbrella of the Park City festival.

I've always felt we could benefit from having a professional chamber orchestra independent of the Utah Symphony, and Sonolumina has the potential of filling this void. Consisting of some members of the symphony, along with some of the most talented local freelance musicians, Sonolumina brings a quality and consistency to its concerts that has been lacking in the other chamber ensembles that have come and gone over the years.