The symphonies of Gustav Mahler are forever associated with Maurice Abravanel and the Utah Symphony. It was during Abravanel’s 32-year tenure as music director that the symphony recorded all of Mahler’s symphonies on the old Vanguard label. It was the first time that an American orchestra had undertaken a project to record the complete symphonies, and it was also the first time that commercial recordings of the Seventh and Eighth were available.

Thierry Fischer (Photo: Scott Jarvie)

With this history, revisiting the Mahler symphonies is without question the best way to celebrate the legendary conductor’s legacy and the Utah Symphony’s 75th anniversary. Music director Thierry Fischer understands this quite well. That’s why he has decided to undertake a two-season long perusal of the Austrian composer’s nine complete symphonies.

“Whenever you hear people talking about the Utah Symphony abroad, they always mention the Mahler recordings,” Fischer said in an interview with Reichel Recommends. “What better way of honoring [Abravanel’s] legacy than by playing the complete Mahler symphonies.”

The symphonies will be played in chronological order. The first four will be played this season, starting with the First on Sept. 12-13 and concluding with the Fourth on May 22-23, 2015. Symphonies Nos. 5-9 will be performed during the 2015-16 season.

Fischer appreciates the fact that this is a massive endeavor, but he is confident that the cycle will be a success. “It is a huge artistic venture over two years,” he said, “and I feel the orchestra is ready for it.”

Although he has conducted about half of Mahler’s symphonies this will be the maestro’s first complete cycle. “I am really pleased about it,” he said. “This is going to be very, very special for the orchestra and for me.”

Other program highlights of the 2014-15 season include EOS, a new work by American composer Augusta Read Thomas, who was commissioned by the Utah Symphony to write a work for full orchestra. “[Orchestra librarian Clovis Lark] introduced me to her music,” Fischer said, adding that he is impressed with her music. “Her writing is spectral, Boulez-like.” EOS, named after the Greek goddess of dawn, will be premiered on Feb. 20-21, 2015.

Vladimir Kulenovic (Photo: Utah Symphony)

Returning in the new season after being absent for several years is the symphony’s chamber orchestra series. However, unlike the old series, the new one will only consist of two concerts and will only be played in Park City. “It was very important to me to reinstate the chamber orchestra concerts,” Fischer said.”During opera weeks, half of the orchestra is free. But a good orchestra has to play a lot together. Players have to be involved in artistic endeavors.”

Moving the series from Salt Lake City to Park City is a conscious effort to cultivate an audience in the mountain resort. “We want to increase our presence in Park City,” Fischer said.

Both concerts will be led by associate conductor Vladimir Kulenovic and take place in St. Mary’s Church, where the orchestra plays during the Deer Valley Music Festival. The first concert will be on Jan. 15, 2015, and feature an all-French program, with music by Debussy, Françaix, Poulenc and Ibert. The other concert will feature an all-Stravinsky program and will be played on May 7, 2015.

Fischer said he hopes to develop and expand the chamber orchestra series to four concerts. “It will be a gradual expansion,” he said.

Baiba Skride (Photo: Marco Borggreve)

Also new next season is an artist-in-residence program. “This is something I have wanted to do here,” Fischer said. “I want to develop closer relationships between the orchestra and [guests].” The first artists-in-residence will be soprano, and local favorite, Celena Shafer and violinist Baiba Skride, with whom Fischer has worked on many occasions, and who last appeared with the Utah Symphony last year. Shafer will sing the soprano solo in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 on Nov. 14-15 and Symphony No. 4 on May 22-23, 2015. She will also appear in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 on Dec. 5-6.

Skride will solo on two separate occasions. She’ll play Berg’s concerto on Jan. 30-31, 2015, and Beethoven’s concerto on Feb. 20-21, 2015. “Baiba is one of my preferred violin players,” Fischer said, adding that they’ve done the Berg a few times together.

Other soloists appearing with the Utah Symphony in the new season are pianists Yefim Bronfman and Marc-André Hamelin, both making long overdue return visits; pianist André Watts; and Ignat Solzhenitsyn, who will be making his Utah Symphony debut as both soloist and conductor.

Kazuki Yamada (Photo: Marco Borggreve)

Among conductors, Kazuki Yamada, will be making his Utah Symphony debut. The young Japanese conductor is currently the principal guest conductor of the Suisse Romande Orchestra. Returning to the Abravanel Hall podium for the 2014-15 season are Mark Wigglesworth, Hugh Wolff, Jun Märkl and Hugh Wolff.

The new season will be Fischer’s sixth as music director, although Fischer really considers it his fourth. “The first season I only did one week, and I wasn’t involved in programming. And in 2010-11 I was here for only two weeks.” This season Fischer will conduct 11 of the 16 Masterworks programs.

Subscription renewals and purchases are available online at www.utahsymphony.org starting Feb. 4. Current subscribers have until March 27 to renew their subscriptions or request seat changes for the 2014-15 season before seats will be released to new subscribers and subscribers requesting seat changes. Subscriptions may also be renewed or purchased by calling 801-533-6683 or by visiting the Abravanel Hall ticket office.

To request a 2014-15 Utah Symphony season brochure, call 801-533-6683, email info@usuo.org or write to ATTN: USUO Patron Services, 123 West South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.