It's not too often that concertgoers get the opportunity to see members of the Utah Symphony as soloists. But when the orchestra does occasionally highlight one of its own, it's a special treat for everyone.
In a welcome change of programming from the usual violin- and piano-concerto repertoire that audiences have become accustomed to hearing at Masterworks concerts, the Utah Symphony next weekend will bring principal flute Erich Graf and principal harp Louise Vickerman onstage in Abravanel Hall as soloists.
"It's great to be in the role of a soloist," Graf told the Deseret News.
Vickerman added, "It's great that the symphony can spotlight members of the orchestra."
Both musicians also agreed that they've received strong support from their colleagues for their upcoming solo turns.
Graf, who has soloed with the Utah Symphony before, will play Jacques Ibert's delightful Concerto for Flute. Ibert, who's probably better known to most people for his orchestral "Escales" and "Divertissement," has written what Graf considers to be one of the finest works for flute from the 20th century.
"It's a fantastic piece," Graf said. "It's so well-written and crafted for the instrument. Like so many other French composers, Ibert was well-versed in flute writing."
Aside from the technical dexterity the concerto demands from the soloist, Graf is fascinated with the piece's sunny mood. "The work has the 'joie de vivre' and elan that you find in (Ibert's) other works, and that you also find in other composers, such as Poulenc."
For Vickerman, this weekend's concerts mark her first solo outing with the Utah Symphony since joining the orchestra in January 1999. She'll be playing Saint-Saens' radiant "Morceau de Concert" for Harp and Orchestra, op. 154. "I wanted to do something that's not so well-known," she explained. And the "Morceau" certainly qualifies. One of Saint-Saens' last works, it's been overshadowed in the harp repertoire by works by Debussy and Ravel.
Nevertheless, the Saint-Saens stands out as one of the best works written for that instrument. "French composers could write so well for the harp," Vickerman said. That's no doubt due to the fact that the modern double-action harp was patented in France in the 19th century and is, in effect, a French instrument. "To write well for the harp, you need to have a good understanding of the mechanics of the harp," she said, adding that French composers have had an instinctive affinity for the instrument.
The same might also be said of Vickerman. As a child growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, she was attracted to the harp. "I started with the clarsach, which is a Scottish folk harp, when I was 4. I saw one at an exhibition at a gallery in Glasgow, and I made my mom take me there every day so I could see it.
"Then the exhibition ended, and that made me sad. I kept begging my parents to get me a harp, and after about two years, they said that maybe this is serious with me." So her parents got Vickerman a clarsach, which she played until she was 10. "It was then that I switched over to a pedal harp."
Even though Vickerman says that she prefers playing in an orchestra rather than pursuing a career as a soloist, she still enjoys giving concerts away from the Utah Symphony. Next March, for example, she'll be the featured soloist at a NOVA concert. "I'll be the centerpiece at the concert, which will be all French chamber music."
In spite of the Utah Symphony's demanding schedule, Graf, too, tries to find as much time as possible to do recitals. He makes a point of performing with other local musicians; his most recent appearance was the Paradigm Concert Series last spring. Graf also collaborates on a regular basis with area pianist Ricklen Nobis, and the two have just released a new CD, "Flute Masterworks."
If all that isn't enough to keep him occupied, Graf has also been president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Musicians since 1993. "I enjoy that position very much. It gives me the opportunity to help my fellow man." Graf admits that it's a difficult job at times, but it's something he feels he needs to do. "It's very gratifying when I can help musicians attain their potential."
Graf is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the Utah Symphony this year, and he has nothing but praise for the orchestra. "I'm amazed at the versatility these (musicians) exhibit. They play all the different genres — Beethoven, contemporary music — then the next day they play jazz at a pops concert."
He also noted that many of the soloists who have performed with the Utah Symphony have remarked that they feel it's one of the best orchestras in the country. "I've seen the orchestra go nowhere but up," Graf said. "I haven't regretted one day being here."
The concerts take place Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2 and 3, at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall. Keith Lockhart will be on the podium. Also on the all-French program will be the Fanfare from Paul Dukas' ballet "La Peri" and Gabriel Faure's Requiem, with the Utah Symphony Chorus and soloists Kathleen Brett, soprano, and Salt Lake native Michael Chipman, baritone.
Tickets for the concerts range from $16-$43 and can be purchased by calling ArtTix at 355-ARTS or 1-888-451-ARTS or in person at the ArtTix outlets in Abravanel Hall or the Capitol Theatre. They can also be obtained online at (www.utahsymphony.org). Utah Symphony subscribers should call 533-NOTE, and anyone interested in group discounts can contact Josh Shimizu at 715-9211.
E-MAIL: ereichel@desnews.com