Utah Symphony sets 2010-11 lineup

SALT LAKE CITY — Any doubts that the Utah Symphony is heading in new artistic directions with its new music director was quashed Tuesday.

At a news conference in Abravanel Hall, Thierry Fischer, who was appointed the Utah Symphony's music director last September, unveiled the 2010-11 season.

While there are quite a few well-known works and audience favorites in the upcoming season lineup — including the Tchaikovsky and Sibelius violin concertos, the Brahms Second Piano Concerto, and symphonies and concertos by Schumann, Beethoven and Mozart — there are also a number of works that will test the audience's mettle.

Among them are Ives' Symphony No. 2, Adams' massive "Harmonielehre" and Bartok's Second Violin Concerto.

But there is a purpose to the new season's programming.

"This is the first artistic direction I want to take with the orchestra," Fischer said. "We have a lot of challenges in front of us, and I can't wait to get started."

First and foremost, Fischer wants to expand the orchestra's repertoire. In part, he will do this with introducing works that either haven't been played here before or have been played only infrequently, along with symphonic warhorses.

In programming the 2010-11 season, Fischer said he based his decisions in part on symbols

"As you know, I believe in symbols," he said. "To that end, the orchestra will be playing Haydn's first symphony, Mozart's first symphony and Beethoven's first piano concerto. These symbolize opening the doors to this wonderful repertoire. And even though they are early works, they are demanding for a symphony orchestra."

Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven are a major element in this season's concert repertoire — and will figure prominently throughout Fischer's tenure as music director, he said. "The early classical period is very important for any orchestra to play."

This season, the orchestra will also play Haydn's Symphony No. 59 ("The Fire") and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and the Symphonies Nos. 40 and 41.

New to the Utah Symphony will be the complete score of Berlioz's "Romeo et Juliette"; Tippett's oratorio "A Child of Our Times"; Ives' Symphony No. 2; and Adamo's harp concerto, "Four Angels."

As far as guest conductors go, the Utah Symphony will be bringing in some new names. Among them are early classical music exponent Nicholas McGegan, the young and upcoming Pascal Rophe and the veteran Mario Venzago.