Sibelius' Violin Concerto with Karen Gomyo

The Utah Symphony is bringing violinist Karen Gomyo to Maurice Abravanel Hall on Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, 2027, with both performances starting at 7:30 PM. The evening is built around Sibelius' Violin Concerto, a piece described as a sonic journey through Finland's landscapes—crisp air, icy lakes, and the tension between humankind and nature. Gomyo takes the solo part, with conductor Elena Schwarz leading the orchestra.

That concerto is paired with Sibelius' Symphony No. 5, which the composer called a "divine puzzle." He wrote in his diary that it felt as if "God the Father was throwing pieces of mosaic from the edge of heaven and asking me to figure out what the pattern was." The symphony is known for its clarity and organic growth, and it closes with a swan theme in the finale that's hard to forget. Opening the concert is Peter Eötvös' The Gliding of the Eagle in the Skies, a percussion-rich piece that Schwarz describes as having an "aviary connection."

If you want to hear more before the music starts, there's a pre-concert chat with the guest artists and symphony musicians 45 minutes before the performance in the First Tier Room. It's a good chance to get some context on the program from the people actually playing it.

Tickets are available for both the Friday and Saturday shows at Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City), and there are discounts for subscribers, groups of ten or more, students, and people under 30. The general age guideline is five and older.