Sunday, September 20, 2020

TheClassicalReview.com: Utah Symphony’s cautious opening proves a moving experience: Fela Sowande’s “Joyful Day” opened the show in festive fashion.

Fela Sowande (1905-1987)

[Fela Sowande is considered the Father of Nigerian Art Music. His career is profiled in detail at AfriClassical.com]

Utah Symphony’s cautious opening proves a moving experience

By Catherine Reese Newton

September 19, 2020

The Utah Symphony opened its 2020-21 season on time Thursday night, ending a six-month intermission. Earlier the same day the Utah Department of Health reported a state record of 911 new cases of the novel coronavirus.

The orchestra took abundant care in its first concert since the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the music world in its tracks. The Abravanel Hall stage was extended to allow at least 6 feet of distance between the night’s performers—about 40 string players, joined briefly by harpist Louise Vickerman and even more briefly by principal percussionist Keith Carrick.  

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Fela Sowande’s “Joyful Day” opened the show in festive fashion. In this first movement from the Nigerian composer’s 1944 African Suite based on West African tunes, it may have taken a few bars for the string sound to coalesce, but the orchestra soon showed itself in top form.        

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