UTAH CHAMBER ARTISTS OPEN SEASON WITH ANNUAL ‘COLLAGE’ CONCERT

The annual “Collage” concerts at the Cathedral of the Madeleine are without question one of the most popular concerts that the Utah Chamber Artists present every year. With their blend of imaginative programming enhanced with creative lighting and staging, these concerts are visually as well as aurally stunning.

Eriks Esenvalds (Photo Credit: Aivars Krastins)

This year the focal point of the program is Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds’ Passion and Resurrection for string ensemble, choir and soloists. The 37-year-old composer compiled a text from passages culled from the Gospels, the Old Testament and Byzantine and Roman liturgies to create an evocative and reflective musical vision of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Joining music director Barlow Bradford and the UCA for these concerts is newly appointed cathedral organist Gabriele Terrone, pianist Jared Pierce and soprano Michelle Dean.

The concerts take place Sept. 22-23 at 8 p.m. in the Cathedral of the Madeleine. Admission is free; no tickets are required.

Below is an overview of the remaining three concerts in the UCA’s 2014-15 season. For more concert information and to purchase tickets log on to www.utahchamberartists.org. Tickets can also be purchased by calling 801-572-2010.

  • Dec. 8, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall: “Welcome All Wonders.” Last performed 20 years ago, a reprise of J.A.C. Redford’s Welcome All Wonders: A Christmas Celebration, for choir and orchestra, and, in addition, new carol arrangements by Barlow Bradford. (Tickets: $17 general and $12 students.)
  • Feb. 26-27, 2015, time TBA, Abravanel Hall: “Collective Voice.” Utah Chamber Artists choir, along with the University of Utah Chamber Choir and the Utah Symphony Chorus join Thierry Fischer and the Utah Symphony in premiering a major new work by Eriks Esenvalds; also on on the program are Verdi’s Four Sacred Songs and Borodin’s “Polovtsian Dances”. These concerts are featured events in the 2015 American Choral Directors Conference in Salt Lake City. (Tickets: $25 general and $15 students. There are a limited number of tickets available for these concerts.)
  • May 4, 2015, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall: “Fun, Folk, & Fancy.This concert will be comprised of lighter pieces performed by the choir and small instrumental ensembles. (Tickets: $17 general and $12 students.)