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Show The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been familiar sight for broadcasts in historic edificp. lh 0 0 0 Yd In concerts when they have been on national and international tours. Some of them indude the New York Philharmonic,, the Pittsburgh tras have been presented Ardean Watts, artistic director of the University Opera Company who is also chairman of the Music Committee of the Young Men's MIA General Board. Any historical reflection of musical and drama extravaganzas that have been staged in the Tabernacle must include mention of two great pageants. The first was presented in 1930 and marked th Centennial of the organization of the the Chicago Symphony, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Vienna Philharmonic. The Tabernacle has served as the home for the Utah Symphony Orchestra and its music director and conductor, Maurice Abravanel, for the past 27 years. Their annual series of concerts has increased now to 13 subscription concerts, an annual Salute to Youth concert, several Saturday morning Youth Concerts," and special pops concerts. And with its steady calendar of concerts, the prestige of the Tabernacle has grown to exciting proportions. For example: Hie distinguished young American violinist, 'Beil. Senofsky, (who has a long list of impressive accomplishments to his credit), was presented in a solo redtal by the Salt Lake Civic Assod-atio- n several seasons ago. Then he was engaged by Maestro Abravanel to be soloist with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. But that was the season that the Utah Symphony played its concerts In High Auditorium while the Highland Tabernacle was being completely renoSymphony, Church. vated- Last year Mr. Senofsky was again engaged by the Utah Symphony to be the guest soloist for its annual Contemporary Music Festival that Is sponsored by the University of Utah and presented in Kingsbury Hall. How many times am I going to have to play here, Mr. Senofsky asked me bewhile waiting to go on for rehearsal, fore I get to play in the Tabernacle? Fortunately, Mr. Abravanel has engaged Mr. Senofsky for the current season, and at long last he will get to play in the Tabernacle! At least a dozen of die world's great artists (who, for obvious reasons must go unnamed here), have told me that the principal reason for their accepting a concert date in Utah. was so that they could include hi- their concert credits a performance in the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle. At least four of them have aid that a performance In the Tabernacle - - N-- ' carried the prestige second only to Carnegie HalL In its 99th year, the Tabernacle saw die concert initiation of an exdting new cultural concept. The Mutual Improvement Associations at their annual June Conference presented 13 of the most talented young professional musicians in the Church in a gala concert, Young Artists Festival," This official recognition of them 13 young musicians of great talent and accomplishment may yet prove to be the most significant cultural development during the second century of the f i I The other pageant which also ran for several weeks was given in 1947 under the direction of the Utah Centennial Commission and celebrated the Centennial of the Mormon Pioneers into Salt Lake Valley in July, 1847. To be included in viewing the musical panorama should be putting music per formances into the record permanently that is, recoiling. The Tabernacle has been the site for recording most of the Tabernacle Choirs 29, LP recordings. In fact, nearly all of them, with the exception of Handels oratorio, The Messiah," with the Philadelphia Orchestra which was recorded in Philadelphia, were recorded by the Tabernacle Choir and Columbia Masterworks technicians and equipment In a word, the Tabernacle has long since become a major center of music, live and recorded. As one stands on the rise and looks ahead at the cultural Utahs cultural future, one must be Impressed that material such as the Tabernacle have things their great worth. But material things and this includes the Tabernacle get - their value primarily from the spiritual values that go with them and from dedicaOne of the new and, indeed, one of the tion to uses, inspired by hearts that are mo6t colorful musical expressions, in the responsive to the two great commandTabernacle has been the past two Christments to love God and to love fellow man. mas Season performances of Gian Carlo Those who have performed, vocally or Menottis poignant Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors. instrumentaily, in the Tabernacle this past century and are remembered are those A dozen performances have been who have given the gifts of their souls, staged by the University of Utah Opera gifts that no material wealth, no political Company each year as part of the Festipower, no brilliance of mind can bestow. val of Lights on Temple Square. It is No artist has given greatly if he has given anticipated that the delightful opera, so only of his technical accomplishments; appealing to children, will become a perand no listener has been enriched unless manent Temple Square Christmas tradibe received from the artists spiritual tion. values that they have given through their music. The productions have been directed by WEEK ENDING- - SEPTEMBER 30, 1967 CHURCH- -7 ! |