Every year, the day after Utah Philharmonia’s Haunted Orchestra concert concludes, Dr. Robert Baldwin starts thinking about the music selections for the next year. That’s just how much fun the show is.
“It’s a great mystery how it happens,” he said. “The program always takes on a life of its own!”
This year’s Haunted Orchestra, “A Musical Cabinet of Curiosities,” will take place on October 25 and 26 in Libby Gardner Concert Hall and will feature music by Purcell, Eisendle, Crumb, Schubert/Liszt, Grieg, R. Strauss, and Stravinsky. Baldwin, who is director of orchestral activities in the U School of Music and professor of conducting, describes it as a hodgepodge of famous horror/thriller/mystery themes.
“The Halloween concert isn't some stuffy concert where you're expected to already have a deep musical education to appreciate,” said Brie Allen, stage designer and Utah Philharmonia alumna. “Instead, this concert is a great mix of popular music set alongside some more complex classics, all bookended by lore and stories told by Rob and his team set with fun decor to look at, costumes to see, and dancers to watch.”
For students, faculty, and alumni alike, this tradition –– now in its 23rd year –– is a highlight, and a place where community thrives. It is a chance to play a bit outside the box. In fact, Utah Philharmonia musicians often seize the opportunity to don costumes as they play.
This will be graduate student cellist Kaitlin Booth’s second Haunted Orchestra. “Last year, it was a lot of fun to see what costume ideas people had come up with,” she said. “Most of the sections decided to dress up together in fun group costumes, like characters from ‘Star Wars’ or people from different decades. I have to say, I've never performed an orchestra concert in costume before — but it's pretty fun! I can't give away any spoilers, but the cello section has planned something really fun.”
Booth is most looking forward to one particular piece: “I'm excited that we will have the chance to present Strauss' incredible tone poem, Death and Transfiguration,” she said. “It's an amazing (albeit complex) piece of music that will be incredibly rewarding to perform.”
For the past 8 years, the Haunted Orchestra has catalyzed vibrant collaboration between the U School of Music and School of Dance. Justine Sheedy-Kramer, now adjunct associate professor in the U School of Dance and head of the Character Dance Ensemble, was the very first student choreographer.
“I was a violinist in the U Campus Symphony and pursuing my BFA in ballet when Dr. Baldwin asked if I would be interested in putting together a solo to accompany the Utah Philharmonia’s Halloween concert in 2005,” she recalled. “It was a creative challenge with limited space and dancing to a live performance of a Stravinsky piece, but it was such a fun opportunity. The following year, we added dancers from the Ballet Department to accompany pieces by Gluck and Khachaturian, and then The Firebird in 2007.”
The Firebird returns this year, choreographed by Erin Payner, graduate student in the School of Dance.
“‘Firebird’ is a score rich in imagery, and an historic collaboration between music and dance with Igor Stravinsky and the Ballet Russe in Paris,” Payner said. “The sets of the original ballet were by Marc Chagall. How cool would it have been to be there in Paris in 1913?”
Photo credit: Erin Payner. Description: Dancers (L-R) Maggie, Paige, Fernanda, Sarah and Eli in rehearsal for their upcoming performances of "Firebird" with the Utah Philharmonia at Libby Gardner Hall.
"The theme Cabinet of Curiosities fit the ‘grab-bag’ idea of you never know what you’re going to get,” Dr. Baldwin said. “But rest assured, there’s something for everyone!”
Here’s a glimpse at the full program:
Henry Purcell: The Cold Song
- James Bobick, baritone
Edvard Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite no.1
- Michail Trachalios, Conductor
Newton-Howard: Music from King Kong
- Dr. Robert Baldwin, Conductor
Franz Schubert/Franz Liszt: Der Erlkönig
- James Bobick, baritone
- Dr. Robert Baldwin, Conductor.
Richard Strauss: Excerpts from Death and Transfiguration
- Dr. Robert Baldwin, Conductor
John Williams: The Return of the Jedi
- Saila Duplissie, Conductor
John Williams: Suite from Jaws
- Dr. Robert Baldwin, Conductor
Igor Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite
Dancers: Sarah Conover Hui, Maggie Maierle, Fernanda Rodriguez Montellano, Paige Smith, Hailee Walker, Eli Zemp
-Oswaldo Machado, Conductor
