Ralph Matson
Ralph Matson, who has been the Utah Symphony’s concertmaster since 1985, will be this weekend’s soloist in two baroque concertos. First he’ll play Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in E flat major, op. 8, no. 5, also known as La tempesta di mare. The he’ll return for J.S. Bach’s Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041.
Along with these two works, the first half also includes Felix Mendelssohn’s overture Die schöne Melusine and Jean Sibelius’ “The Swan of Tuonela.”
The second half opens with Suites Nos. 2 and 3 from George Frideric Handel’s Water Music and concludes with the “Four Sea Interludes” from Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes.
Leading the Utah Symphony will be guest conductor Nicholas McGegan. Best known for his interpretations of 18th century music, McGegan is also a noted opera conductor. Among his many orchestras, he has led the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco for 27 years. He was also the artistic director of the Handel Festival, Göttingen from 1991-2011.
Among McGegan’s numerous guest conducting appearances has been engagements with orchestras in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia. He has also conducted at Covent Garden, the San Francisco Opera and Santa Fe Opera.
The concerts start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in Abravanel Hall. Tickets are $18-$53 and available by calling 801-355-2787 or 888-451-2787 or going online to www.utahsymphony.org. (Tickets are $5 higher when purchased on the day of performance.)