Fans of the movies “The Illusionist” and “The Prestige” take note: a magician is coming to Salt Lake City. Lyn Dillies, a professional illusionist, is performing with the Utah Symphony on Nov. 16 and Nov. 17 at Abravanel Hall.
Dillies has been performing magic since childhood, when she watched magicians such as Bill Bixby on television and played with tricks bought from stores to wow friends and family. For 23 years, illusion has been her passion. Certainly, it’s a lucrative career. Who doesn’t like to watch elephants appear out of nowhere or watch difficult escapes from locked boxes? “Magic at the Symphony” aims to kill two birds with one stone.
“‘Magic at the Symphony’ is an innovative program that I developed in the late ’90s,” Dillies said in a video interview posted on her website. “It combines my magic with classical music. It creates an exhilarating experience for the audience. I wanted to take my show in a really artistic, cultural direction and it also attracts new audiences to symphonies.”
The concept of bringing magic to large audiences is not new — thanks largely to the work of Harry Houdini and the long line of magicians both before and after him — unlike the concept of performing with a symphony orchestra. Granted, there is plenty of music that makes a magical spectacle even more fantastic, as composers have never limited themselves to composing proper, respectable pieces (Where’s the fun in that?). The world of classical music abounds with pieces that are pure fantasy, sometimes so much so that variations of the word “fantasy” are a part of the title. Combining this fantastic music with magic gives it a new edge for modern audiences.
Dillies’ illusions — disjointing a human in a box and making animals appear from nowhere — benefit from music in the background — it adds an element of intrigue. A rising crescendo can lend anticipation to the act (this trick is used extensively in scary movies and action films, as well as in theatrical performances).
“The music enhances the magic, and the magic enhances the music,” Dillies said. It’s easy to put on, too: symphonies typically need one rehearsal with Dillies before they are ready to perform. The dress rehearsal can be low stress because the performance follows the symphony, with Dillies and her assistants moving in time with the beat of the music.
The musical program for the evening is full: pieces include Edvard Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain” and Wolfgang Mozart’s “The Impresario Overture,” to name a few. It’s all music that adds to the magical feeling of the evening. The Utah Symphony is in high form this season, so a wonderful performance can be expected from them.
The performance is Fri., Nov. 16 and Sat., Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets cost between $20 and $50 and can be purchased by calling 801-533-NOTE or 1-888-451-2787, going to the Abravanel Hall box office or visiting www.utahsymphony.org. Check out Lyn Dillies’ site, www.magicoflyn.com, for more information on the illusionist.