Displaying items by tag: Halloween

For seventeen years, The Utah Philharmonia has embraced the Halloween spirit through its annual haunted orchestra performances. The orchestra will wear costumes while performing Broadway hits, 10/25 and 26 at 7:30P in the Libby Gardner Concert Hall.

Each music selection showcases the haunted side of orchestra. Directed by Dr. Robert Baldwin, this family friendly production will feature songs from popular musicals like, Phantom of the Opera, its sequel, Love Never Dies and Young Frankenstein. Guests will enjoy songs like “Think of Me,” “Masquerade,” and “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.”

Classical music selections such as MacDowell's In a Haunted Forest, movements from Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition accompanied accompanied by the School of Dance, and Mozart's “Queen of the Night” aria from The Magic Flute will also be performed. This aria is one of the most recognizable pieces in the classical genre and captures the darker side of music. It depicts the Queen of the Night in fit of vengeful rage encouraging her daughter to kill her rival.

Organist Logan Blackman will play the 3,838-pipe organ that looms over the stage, alongside the orchestra in their rendition of the famous Toccata and Fugue in D Minor by J.S. Bach.

Frankenstein will also make an appearance as the orchestra plays music from the musical Young
Frankenstein featuring actors and singers from the the Department of Theatre.

Guests of all ages are encouraged to come in costume and participate in the costume parade as the orchestra plays the Phantom Regiment. This event is expected to sell out. Tickets can be purchased in advance by visiting the Kingsbury Box office, online or by calling 801-581-7100.

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 By Emina Tatarevic

 The Utah Philharmonia’s yearly Halloween event has become tradition for students and families who await its arrival each October.  The Haunted Orchestra came back this last month, full force, for its sixteenth year with a theme that was sure to live up to audiences’ expectations: Star Wars.  Performers and attendees alike donned their Halloween best for an event that merged music, dance, and theater.  The 16th Annual Haunted Orchestra Concert, The Power of the Dark Side, was an eclectic mix of classic Star Wars themes, Disney throwbacks, and lively Bluegrass inspired twists. 

 In collaboration with special guests College of Fine Arts Dance students, Music Director and Conductor, Robert Baldwin, composed an interdisciplinary evening that engaged attendees on more than just an aural level. Tia Sandman and Ashley Chin-Mark, School of Dance students, choreographed the evenings’ opening score: John Williams’ “Scherzo for X-Wings.”  Bringing the classic tale to life, dancers beamed around the audience as the costumed conductor, Matthew Mainella, led the orchestra in an energetic performance that launched the rest of the evening’s events.  This isn’t the first year CFA students have been invited by the Utah Philharmonia, choreographer Ashley is thankful for this partnership that brings in students to be inspired and create work for audiences: “Two words. ‘Star Wars.’ My heart soared to the ends of the galaxy when I found out this year's concert theme was Star Wars. I embraced the task of choosing characters and arranging the plotline to represent the industry and fandom with the utmost accuracy.”  Her experience in partnering with the music group was distinct because “the directors and conductors from the School of Music, Dr. Baldwin and Matthew Mainella, were experienced.  They worked together with the dancers on understanding tempos and finding cues. We really appreciate that they invite the School of Dance to collaborate with them for their annual Halloween Concert year after year!” 

This Halloween custom invites spectators to experience orchestral music and dance through familiar stories and themes.  The Utah Philharmonia delivered a performance not soon to be forgotten and one that will keep us looking forward to what they’ll come up with next.