David Robertson leads the Utah Symphony.
In Sunday’s (10/26) Utah Arts Review, Sara M. K. Neal writes, “David Robertson returned to Abravanel Hall this weekend to conduct the Utah Symphony in music of Pierre Boulez and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Also joining the program was saxophonist Timothy McAllister in Steven Mackey’s Anemology. Opening the program was Boulez’s ‘Mémoriale,’ a short piece composed to commemorate the passing of his colleague and flutist Lawrence Beauregard…. [Utah Symphony] principal flutist Mercedes Smith’s melodies fluttered above the orchestra … Mackey’s Anemology had its world premiere just last week in Monterey, CA (The piece is a co-commission between the Utah Symphony, Monterey Symphony, and Seattle Symphony.) … Anemology pushes the boundaries of sounds normally associated with the saxophone. McAllister’s technique incorporated sustained melodic lines, multiphonic growling, staccato notes punctuated by a percussive way of hitting the keys, and even moments of just blowing air into the instrument before a pitch would ultimately emerge…. The introduction of so many different saxophone sounds was an intriguing way for McAllister to adapt his musical color and character, and he excelled at making the unusual techniques beautiful and expressive.” In Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 1, “Robertson’s conducting was focused and evocative, and the musicians responded with fiery energy.”