Barlow Bradford

For their next concert, the Utah Chamber Artists will be exploring the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Leonard Bernstein

“The Long and the Short of It,” as the Feb. 28 concert is called, will focus on a longer and a shorter piece by both composers: in Mozart’s case that will be the Requiem and Laudate Dominum; and for Bernstein, the Chichester Psalms and the aria “Glitter and Be Gay.”

The Mozart Requiem won’t be the familiar one that was completed by Mozart’s pupil Franz Süssmayr after the composer’s death, however. Instead, music director Barlow Bradford decided to go with a version that was made in the 1980s. “It goes back to the manuscript sources and starts from scratch,” Bradford said.

Mozart died while working on the “Lacrymosa.” Süssmayr, who was helping him, then completed the work. But this newer version does away with Süssmayr’s contributions and basically rewrites it. “It’s about 15 minutes shorter than what you normally hear,” Bradford said. “And it’s also been reorchestrated.” The new orchestration does away with flutes, oboes and horns. Instead, it’s scored for two clarinets, two bassoons, two trumpets, three trombones, timpani and strings. “When you hear it, it makes sense,” Bradford said.

This version was recorded several years ago by Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music.

There are also several versions of the Chichester Psalms that Bernstein made. “We’re doing a version that calls for strings and brass, percussion and harp. There will be no organ,” Bradford said.

Since this season is the Utah Chamber Artists’ 20^th anniversary year, Bradford wanted it to be a retrospective of works the ensemble has done in the last two decades. “We’ve done the Requiem and the Chichester Psalms in the past,” he said. “It’s been fun revisiting old works.”

Joining the ensemble for the concert will be soprano Celena Shafer; mezzo-soprano Kirsten Gunlogson; tenor Tyler Nelson; and baritone Michael Chipman.

CONCERT INFO:

Location: Libby Gardner Concert Hall

Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28

Tickets: $15 general, $10 students, $50 family of six

Phone: 801-581-7100

Web: www.kingsburyhall.org