Thierry Fischer takes over as the Utah Symphony's music director

When Thierry Fischer signed the contract to conduct the Utah Symphony this weekend, neither he nor anyone else thought he would be returning to Salt Lake City as the orchestra's newly appointed music director.

Having conducted the Utah Symphony twice (once each in the previous two seasons), Fischer and the musicians have had a chance to discover what they can expect from each other. And, Fischer insisted, nothing will change now that he is the orchestra's music director, rather than a guest conductor.

"The change is only on paper," he told the Deseret News recently in a phone interview from his home in Geneva, Switzerland. "Everything will remain the same."

The Swiss conductor has a well-defined vision of the role of the Utah Symphony's music director. "I want to bring insight, creativity and energy to the orchestra, both onstage and off."

Fischer, as the new music director, realizes that expectations are high. He fully understands the need to solve the challenges that the orchestra faces. That solution can be best accomplished by working together, he said.

"My responsibility is to utilize the orchestra in many different ways. The orchestra is full of people with creativity and experience. They can offer initiatives and help me create an attractive vision."

Involving the community is also part of the maestro's plan to revitalize and reinvigorate the Utah Symphony.

"I want to encourage the community to be involved. A lot has to be done, but I want to give a clear message and gain the support and encouragement from the community. That will give us the desire to be better. And that desire is like a fire. You have to always tend it to keep it going."

That also applies to the musicians of the orchestra. Fischer understands there is always room for improvement, and that's something he wants to see happen here.

"I want to encourage (the players) to develop and keep getting better," he said. "I want to encourage them to take artistic risks."

Only by doing that can the orchestra improve. "We need an open-minded orchestra that is ready to do the basics — work on intonation and accuracy and develop a way of listening to each other. That will develop in the players a sense of real possibilities. It will allow us to be surprised by the incredible colors that are written on the page and that we can realize."

Fischer has made his career in Europe, where he is the principal conductor of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. His directorship of the Utah Symphony is his first appointment in the United States.