Creative Partner David Robertson concludes his first season with us! No guitar celebration would be complete without Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, the most famous guitar concerto there is (you’ll recognize it immediately!)—and it’s performed by the spectacular South Korean guitarist and DJ, Jiji. Altogether, seven sensational electric and acoustic guitarists take their moment in the spotlight with the symphony for arrangements of music by The Beatles and works with influences from the Renaissance to rock. Everyone on stage synthesizes their talent in a fantastic Frank Zappa finale!

This performance is part of our Guitar Celebrations festival, bringing the eight extraordinary acoustic and electric guitarists of the collective Another Night on Earth to our community. The ensemble members—including conductor and USUO Creative Partner David Robertson—will engage with audiences and students across Salt Lake City in a week of genre-bending performances and education programs.

Creative Partner David Robertson concludes his first season with us! No guitar celebration would be complete without Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez, the most famous guitar concerto there is (you’ll recognize it immediately!)—and it’s performed by the spectacular South Korean guitarist and DJ, Jiji. Altogether, seven sensational electric and acoustic guitarists take their moment in the spotlight with the symphony for arrangements of music by The Beatles and works with influences from the Renaissance to rock. Everyone on stage synthesizes their talent in a fantastic Frank Zappa finale!

This performance is part of our Guitar Celebrations festival, bringing the eight extraordinary acoustic and electric guitarists of the collective Another Night on Earth to our community. The ensemble members—including conductor and USUO Creative Partner David Robertson—will engage with audiences and students across Salt Lake City in a week of genre-bending performances and education programs.

Experience the humor, fire-breathing action, and epic adventure of the unlikely heroes Hiccup and Toothless. As this film (a top request from audiences!) plays on the big screen, its Oscar-nominated musical score is performed live by the symphony.

One of Ravel’s final completed works, the Piano Concerto in G is a fitting testament to his unique genius—and pianist Ingrid Fliter’s profound musicianship and charisma is a perfect match for this breathtaking and colorful tour-de-force. The symphonic poem Winter Bells by Polina Nazaykinskaya is an ode to the whispers of nature and divine harmony, and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet acts as a masterclass for storytelling through music.

This performance is part of our Masterworks Magnified series, designed to invite audiences to experience our music in new ways—with added elements like video projections and special lighting in the concert hall, conversations with the performers, and fun lobby activities on theme with the concert.

One of Ravel’s final completed works, the Piano Concerto in G is a fitting testament to his unique genius—and pianist Ingrid Fliter’s profound musicianship and charisma is a perfect match for this breathtaking and colorful tour-de-force. The symphonic poem Winter Bells by Polina Nazaykinskaya is an ode to the whispers of nature and divine harmony, and Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet acts as a masterclass for storytelling through music.

This performance is part of our Masterworks Magnified series, designed to invite audiences to experience our music in new ways—with added elements like video projections and special lighting in the concert hall, conversations with the performers, and fun lobby activities on theme with the concert.

Start your morning off right with brunch bites and a behind-the-scenes look at the process of bringing our concerts to the stage. Finishing Touches gives our audience the opportunity to observe working rehearsals; selections from the program will be rehearsed at the discretion of the conductor.

The story of Scheherazade and the tales she weaves over 1,001 nights to placate a wrathful sultan is so captivating that it set off the imaginations of many brilliant minds, including Rimsky-Korsakov and Ravel. Sumptuous melodies and fantastical soundscapes define Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved orchestral suite, and Utah Opera regular Wendy Bryn Harmer performs Ravel’s lesser-known and lovely song cycle. This dual exploration is beautifully complemented by Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet inspired by the tragic love story of Orpheus and Euridice; a romantic couple destined to faced a heartbreaking decision.

The story of Scheherazade and the tales she weaves over 1,001 nights to placate a wrathful sultan is so captivating that it set off the imaginations of many brilliant minds, including Rimsky-Korsakov and Ravel. Sumptuous melodies and fantastical soundscapes define Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved orchestral suite, and Utah Opera regular Wendy Bryn Harmer performs Ravel’s lesser-known and lovely song cycle. This dual exploration is beautifully complemented by Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet, inspired by the tragic love story of Orpheus and Euridice—a romantic couple destined to face a heartbreaking decision.

The story of Scheherazade and the tales she weaves over 1,001 nights to placate a wrathful sultan is so captivating that it set off the imaginations of many brilliant minds, including Rimsky-Korsakov and Ravel. Sumptuous melodies and fantastical soundscapes define Rimsky-Korsakov’s beloved orchestral suite, and Utah Opera regular Wendy Bryn Harmer performs Ravel’s lesser-known and lovely song cycle. This dual exploration is beautifully complemented by Dobrinka Tabakova’s Orpheus’ Comet, inspired by the tragic love story of Orpheus and Euridice—a romantic couple destined to face a heartbreaking decision.

USUO's annual "Side-by-Side" concert invites high school-aged students to perform alongside the professional musicians of the Utah Symphony at Abravanel Hall. This initiative provides invaluable mentorship, allowing students to learn from world-class musicians and gain insights into performance techniques and rehearsal practices. It offers a unique opportunity for students to showcase their abilities on the Abravanel Hall stage and fosters collaboration among students from all over the state.

Admission is free. No ticket required.

Big and teaming with life, our season finale reaches for peaks. The fandango, a popular Spanish dance style, finds new life in Márquez’s lively violin concerto, which, from its inception, has been tied to one of the world’s most esteemed violinists, Anne Akiko Meyers. Aaron Copland’s final and monumental Symphony No. 3, which he began writing in a Mexican village in the 1930s, incorporates his famous Fanfare for the Common Man—and Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico reflects on the speed at which our lives move.

Big and teaming with life, our season finale reaches for peaks. The fandango, a popular Spanish dance style, finds new life in Márquez’s lively violin concerto, which, from its inception, has been tied to one of the world’s most esteemed violinists, Anne Akiko Meyers. Aaron Copland’s final and monumental Symphony No. 3, which he began writing in a Mexican village in the 1930s, incorporates his famous Fanfare for the Common Man—and Jennifer Higdon’s Fanfare Ritmico reflects on the speed at which our lives move.

Experience the humor, fire-breathing action, and epic adventure of the unlikely heroes Hiccup and Toothless. As this film (a top request from audiences!) plays on the big screen, its Oscar-nominated musical score is performed live by the symphony.

Experience the humor, fire-breathing action, and epic adventure of the unlikely heroes Hiccup and Toothless. As this film (a top request from audiences!) plays on the big screen, its Oscar-nominated musical score is performed live by the symphony.

Set amidst the picturesque backdrop of Deer Valley Resort, continue your Independence Day celebrations with an iconic evening featuring the best of American composers and classics. From timeless melodies to powerful marches, we’ll deliver a dynamic performance—together with spectacular Broadway singer Lisa Howard—that captures the essence of the good ol’ red, white, and blue. This salute to the U.S.A will have you seeing stars!

It’s never too early for Christmas magic, so we’re celebrating in summer! Cozy up with family and friends as you listen to classical holiday favorites (Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, anyone?). Get into the festive spirit with Christmas-themed goodies, as our beautiful summer home gets back to its ski-season roots and is transformed into a winter paradise. Who knows, you may even spot Santa on a well-deserved vacation—and whether you’ve been naughty or nice, everyone is invited!

Delve into the music of four prolific composers, beginning with Haydn’s Symphony No. 61. Known as the “Father of the Symphony,” Haydn fills this exquisite composition with tender reflection. Then, Associate Concertmaster Kathryn Eberle takes the spotlight as soloist in an intimate performance of Beethoven’s rule-breaking Romance in G Major, aptly titled for its lovely, swelling theme and variations. Eberle’s musicality continues to glow in Saint-Saëns’ Havanaise, which was composed with “a crackling hotel room fire” in mind—this piece is as warm and lively as its inspiration. The evening concludes with Schubert’s Symphony No. 6, fondly dubbed the “Little C Major,” written when Schubert was just 21 years old.

You know her name and her songs! As the most-awarded female act of all time, the incomparable Whitney Houston captivated audiences worldwide for decades—and now’s your chance to celebrate her legacy. Having honed a powerhouse voice on Broadway, Rashidra Scott brings Whitney’s beloved classics to the stage with the symphony, including “Saving All My Love,” “How Will I Know?” and the ultimate ballad, “I Will Always Love You,” in an evening brimming with nostalgia, emotion, and hit after hit.

Step back in time to the 1970s as we pay tribute to the groundbreaking music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Carly Simon. These trailblazing singer-songwriters shaped an era with their raw talent and creative genius, from Joni's introspective Blue album, to Carole's chart-topping hits, to Carly's confessional anthems like "You're So Vain." With a combined total of 17 Grammys (and each having been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame), the impact of these women on the music industry is undeniable. Experience their legacy at the next level with a full orchestra and amazing vocalists Morgan James, Capathia Jenkins, and Shayna Steele!

Grammy-nominated composer Anna Clyne takes traditional folk themes to a new level in PIVOT—a piece that embodies its name as the orchestra constantly “pivots” through the twists and turns of the music. Then, hear the bass in a new light as Principal Bass David Yavornitzky brings Koussevitzky’s Concerto for Double Bass to life, highlighting the rich notes of Russian romanticism. Finally, be swept away by Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” Symphony, a composition inspired by his visit to the rolling green highlands of Caledonia.