There is a common saying that visitors (much like fish) stink after three days. This might be true in some cases, but not in the case of spectacular musicians. For instance, guest musicians are generally talented, busy individuals who spend their time traveling from place to place in order to perform to the widest variety of people possible. In other words, they’re just that good, which is why it is cool that the Utah Symphony has two Scandinavian performers, conductor Hannu Lintu and violinist Henning Kraggerud, coming to play.
Lintu, originally from Finland, began his musical career by learning to play the cello and piano at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki before moving on to study conducting (which is not, incidentally, just waving a baton; there is an art and science to the thing). He is in demand all over the place, and has served as artistic director to the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra (2002-2005), Turku Philharmonic Orchestra (1998-2001) and with the Bergen Collegium Musicum Chamber Orchestra (1995-1997). Likewise, Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud is in high demand, and plays as a soloist with various European orchestras, including the Oslo Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester (which the author can attest to as a truly fantastic orchestra). He’s also popular in Britain, having played in its biggest orchestras, including the BBC and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (the Beatles weren’t the only thing to come out of Liverpool).
Perhaps the fact that both musicians are good looking men is an extra draw to their performances, at least for the ladies.
These two musicians will be performing with the Utah Symphony to put on an evening of Sibelius, Schumann and Strauss. Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche opens the show, with two movements: one for strings and one for horns. Then comes Jean Sibelius’ Concerto for Violin in D minor, in which Kraggerud will rock out alongside the orchestra. It is “the only large-scale work for solo instrument and orchestra Sibelius composed,” according to the Utah Symphony Web site. The evening ends with Schumann’s Second Symphony, which encapsulates the mental state of a suffering man. Schumann suffered from mental illness and turned to music to ease his suffering. The three S’s are here for an evening of pleasure.
This performance isn’t until Oct. 10 and 11, but with guests like Lintu and Kraggerud involved, getting tickets early isn’t just smart, it’s a necessity. For those who are interested, or who don’t get tickets in time, there is a dress rehearsal on the morning of Oct. 10, open to the public. It’s a good way to see how much hard work and dedication goes into putting on each concert. Tickets for the rehearsal are $21.
Tickets for the concerts range from $16 to $60, and those wanting student discounts should call 801-533-NOTE, 801-533-6683, or visit www.utahsymphony.org. For an evening with world-class musicians, the price is certainly right.
