Masterworks Magnified

Experience the elemental power of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring contrasted with the starkness of the desert’s expansive landscapes in Steve Reich’s The Desert Music. Before the performance, dive into the primal energy of this program with slam poetry in Abravanel Hall’s First-Tier Room and try out orchestral instruments at our “Petting Zoo” in the lobby.  

Get a close-up view of our musicians as they perform the driving rhythms and unexpected harmonies of The Rite of Spring, with IMAG video projected on a giant screen to maximize the drama of the work. Plus, each piece will be introduced with insights shared from the stage by USUO Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Ben Kipp.  

After the performance, join Creative Partner David Robertson and guest artists Synergy Vocals for an engaging discussion on the revolutionary impact of Steve Reich’s music, concluding an evening dedicated to transformation and revelation.  

Set your sights on the stars at this concert event journeying through space. Pre-concert, explore interactive exhibits from local aerospace companies, meet experts from The Clark Planetarium, and hear from other space specialists at a panel in Abravanel Hall’s First-Tier Room.  

Then, as the famous music from Holst’s The Planets unfolds, stunning NASA visuals projected on a giant screen above the orchestra will transport you across the solar system. You’ll learn about the music on the program from the evening’s host, USUO Vice President of Education and Community Engagement Ben Kipp.  

Following the concert, stay for a discussion featuring composer and Westminster University Artist-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery, delving into the ways in which the cosmos can inspire us to care for our own planet. It’s an evening where the majesty of space and the responsibility to Earth meet in perfect harmony.