There is a strong personal and artistic connection between Johannes Brahms and Antonin Dvorak. Dvorak admired Brahms’ music and Brahms was so impressed with the younger composer’s works that he championed him and brought him to his publisher’s attention. And while Dvorak was already enjoying some success in local circles by this time, Brahms’ support helped the Czech composer gain international fame.

Music by both will be on the Utah Symphony’s program this weekend, the last of this season’s Masterworks concerts.

Augustin Hadelich

The symphony’s associate conductor Vladimir Kulenovic (making his Masterworks’ debut) will open with two pieces from Dvorak’s Slavonic Dances, op. 72 – a work clearly modeled after Brahms’ Hungarian Dances – and close with one of the German composer’s most melodic and engaging works, the Symphony No. 2.

Augustin Hadelich makes a welcome return to Abravanel Hall this weekend, playing Dvorak’s Violin Concerto, a work that has finally found a solid place in the repertoire. Hadelich made an impressive Utah Symphony debut a year and a half ago in Béla Bartók’s Second Violin Concerto. In the intervening period, the 29-year-old German artist has been busy with engagements around the world, including appearances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Dallas Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony as well as summer

festival performances with the New York Philharmonic in Vail and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the Hollywood Bowl.

Since August 2010 Hadelich has been playing the 1723 Ex-Kiesewetter Stradivarius, on extended loan to him through the Stradivari Society.

The concerts are this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall. Tickets range from $27-$67 and are available in advance by calling 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787 or by logging on to www.utahsymphony.org. Ticket prices increase by $5 if purchased on the day of the performance.