Cho to conduct Bach Concertos

In the couple of years that David Cho has been the Utah Symphony's assistant conductor, he hasn't had many opportunities to do much other than pops.

On Thursday, however, he'll be on the podium as the Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra plays three of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (The remaining three will be performed in May.) Due to a wrist injury, Jason Hardink will not perform the harpsichord for the concert. He will be replaced by Mark Kroll.

Cho is delighted to be able to conduct them. "I'm looking forward to it," he told the Deseret Morning News. "I've done selected movements from several concertos, but I've never conducted any of them complete."

Cho said it was coincidental the six concertos were divided up between odd and even works for the two concerts. "We had to take into consideration the length of the pieces and the soloists."

Playing solo parts Thursday will be concertmaster Ralph Matson and principal flute Erich Graf. "We're so lucky to have so many musicians who want to play," Cho said.

Symphony pianist Jason Hardink was going to be the harpsichord soloist in the Fifth, but a recent injury to his wrist makes it doubtful he will have recovered enough to take on the concerto's large virtuosic keyboard part by the time rehearsals are under way.

In the other two concertos, Cho will conduct from the harpsichord. A pianist, Cho has been practicing diligently on the piano's older cousin. "The two are similar, but after fours hours on the harpsichord, it's really hard to go back to the piano." Hardink has been offering some helpful tips on playing the harpsichord and on how to bring out nuances on the older instrument.

Thursday's program will be played without intermission. "It's only 47 minutes of music," Cho said, "but I will be talking in between the pieces and sharing with the audience some facts about them. I'm going to try and make it interesting."

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If you go . . .

What: Utah Symphony Chamber Orchestra, harpsichordist Mark Kroll, David Cho, conductor

Where: Abravanel Hall

When: Thursday, 8 p.m.

How much: $25-$35

Phone: 355-2787 or 888-451-2787

Web: utahsymphonyopera.org

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E-mail: ereichel@desnews.com