Led by music director Thierry Fischer, the Utah Symphony will embark upon a 1,200-mile tour of Utah from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, connecting with rural communities through free outdoor performances and educational activities that pay homage to the state’s landscape and the country’s Native American heritage. The “Great American Road Trip” tour comprises three full orchestra concerts and two chamber performances at state parks and national monuments. All performances are free and open to the public.
“What better way to connect great live music with the unparalleled natural beauty and heritage of our state than for the Utah Symphony to perform outdoors in the heart of our dramatic landscape?” said Paul Meecham, president and CEO of Utah Symphony Utah Opera. “Through generous partnerships with the Utah Office of Tourism, the Utah State Legislature, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and the private sector, we are able to present unique free concerts to rural communities and visitors to Utah, and so promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Utah’s natural and cultural history.”
The orchestral program includes Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” Bernstein’s overture to Candide, the first movement of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, and two works by Davids, who will perform the second movement from his concerto, “Fluting Around,” on a traditional wooden flute. His vocal work, “Spirit Woman Song,” will be sung by Utah Opera resident artist soprano Abigail Rethwisch. Andrew Paulson, a baritone who is an emerging artist with Virginia Opera, will also perform. Chamber concerts will feature a quintet of Utah Symphony brass musicians led by principal trumpet Travis Peterson. Performances take place at the OC Tanner Amphitheater, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Bluff, Goblin Valley State Park, and Vernal.
“Concert locations were selected due to their proximity to state parks, national monuments, and other cultural and historical icons in an effort to fulfill our desire to connect with communities, including our Native American communities, throughout Utah,” explained Meecham. “We wish to align with and enhance the Utah State Office of Tourism’s goals, the mission of the Natural History Museum of Utah, and also to serve more rural and isolated parts of Utah that do not have easy or frequent access to live, professional classical music.”
Conducted in partnership with the Natural History Museum of Utah, educational outreach for the “Great American Road Trip” will complement the parks’ own nature-centric programming and engages local communities and schools through assembly-style presentations that explore the role wind can play in music making. In these presentations, the natural sciences, inclusion of local Native American heritage, and the musical arts combine to create a new lens through which to view the parks and national monuments, allowing fresh insights and experiences.
“Natural history is something we all can explore, discover, and share,” said Sarah George, executive director of the Natural History Museum of Utah. “We are delighted to be a part of this unique statewide partnership to encourage Utah residents to enjoy their natural surroundings in such a spectacular way. We are very excited to add the natural sciences to the team’s outreach efforts and provide engaging, cool, science-based activities for all ages to highlight the truly fascinating natural history that surrounds us in our state.”
Post-concert “star parties” will demonstrate the importance of limiting light pollution and introduce concertgoers to the magnificent night skies of rural Utah. These educational star-gazing events are presented in partnership with the University of Utah’s Consortium for Dark Sky Studies and the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative. At each party, the National Parks Service and Utah State Parks will help people explore the night sky through lectures provided by parks rangers and viewing opportunities on high-powered telescopes.
“The Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative and the University of Utah’s Consortium for Dark Sky Studies are honored to partner with the Utah Symphony to merge the splendor of symphonic and chamber music with the wonder of the stars,” said Bettymaya Foott, coordinator at Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative. “The star party venues are near or in accredited or aspiring International Dark Sky Parks. Indeed, Utah will soon be home to 25 International Dark Sky Parks, the greatest number of any state, province or non-U.S. country in the world. Please join us for a spectacular evening under the best quality night skies in the developed world: those over the majestic public lands of Utah.”
Attendance at each concert will be ticketed and free of charge. Tickets will be available through the Utah Symphony Utah Opera ticket office starting May 31 at 10 a.m. by calling (801) 533-6683. Based on availability, walk-up tickets on the night of each concert may be offered. More information on obtaining tickets for performances is available at utahsymphony.org.
Performance schedule
Full orchestra
August 29, 8 p.m.” O.C. Tanner Amphitheater, Springdale
August 31, 8 p.m.: Near Natural Bridges / Hovenweep National Monuments, Bluff
September 2, 8 p.m.: Split Mountain in Dinosaur National Monument, Vernal
Chamber orchestra
August 30, 6:30 p.m.: Cedar Breaks National Monument
September 1, 2 p.m.: Goblin Valley State Park
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