I was excited to learn earlier this summer that Josh Groban and Jennifer Hudson would be performing at the Maverik Center in West Valley City. Because both artists possess immense talent in their own right, I knew that bringing them together would result in a dynamic evening of powerful vocals and exquisite artistry. Their July... Continue Reading →
Update I often see productions that I love more than once, and in this case, one of JAKS Theatre Company's volunteers extended an invitation for me to see Bright Star a second time. Intentionally choosing a different group of performers, I saw the Carolina cast on closing night. While some aspects of the performance were... Continue Reading →
Of Utah Opera's offerings this season, I had most looked forward to seeing La Traviata because I hadn't seen a live production before. My only prior experience had been seeing Zeffirelli's 1982 film version starring Plácido Domingo and Teresa Stratas, which I saw because my mother and grandmother were fans, thus making it a long-standing... Continue Reading →
La Vida Loca: Latin Pop Hits—a night with the Utah Symphony devoted to Latin pop from the '90s and early 2000s—is not a concert. It's a party! Conductor Enrico Lopez-Yañez is equal parts bandleader and host—a dynamic presence who moves seamlessly between the orchestra and soloists, occasionally adding to the vocals as well. His charismatic... Continue Reading →
When Ballet West first announced its 2025-2026 season, I was most excited to see West Side Story: Broadway and Beyond, a repertory program showcasing the choreography of Jerome Robbins and Christopher Wheeldon. Robbins is credited with elevating the role of dance in American musical theater, making it as vital as dialogue and lyrics to convey... Continue Reading →
Phantom of the Opera ranks as one of my favorite musicals, dating back to when I first saw it as a teenager in the summer of 1991. I was thrilled to rekindle that youthful fascination with its Gothic romance by purchasing a ticket when the national tour came to Salt Lake City in 2018. Naturally,... Continue Reading →
Utah Opera's production of Fidelio opened at Capitol Theatre on Saturday night. I hadn't seen this opera before, so I was excited to go and experience something new. Under the direction of Tara Faircloth, who also directed Utah Opera's productions of The Little Prince in 2019 and 2024, this production updates Beethoven and Sonnleithner's work... Continue Reading →
Attending Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker has become one of my most-loved holiday traditions, so I was happy to attend the matinee last Friday afternoon. I enjoyed seeing some of my favorite Ballet West dancers in leading roles as well some new faces in others. This particular performance can best be described as expressive... Continue Reading →
Abravanel Hall is all dressed up this weekend in vibrant color and brilliant sparkle for the Utah Symphony's Holiday Pops Extravaganza. Guest conductor Lucas Waldin leads an up-tempo program of holiday favorites, Capathia Jenkins and Ryan Shaw deliver expressive vocals, and Vedrana Subotic adds beautiful piano melodies to the symphony's orchestration. This is a fun,... Continue Reading →
Park City Opera is a new arts organization, founded in 2024 and now in its third season, that offers a fresh vision for vocal arts performances in Utah. Its three co-founders seek to engage local audiences with accessible productions, outstanding talent, and nontraditional --- often intimate --- venues. Artistic Director Benjamin Beckman contacted me and... Continue Reading →
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