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Show The Salt Lake Tribune ARTS Sunday, January 24, 1999 Concertmaster Matson To Solo With Symphony BY CELIA BAKER SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE, Violinist Ralph Matsonis probably the most recognizable member of the Utah Symphony. As WagnerClears concertmasterof the orchestra,it The Way for the oboist to give the A to which Arts Addition at this weekend’s concerts. He has is Matson who precedes the con- ductor onto the stage andsignals the orchestra tunes. Matson won'tbe giving that sign Whenlooking appreciatively at another job. Matson will be the featured soloist in a performance how it cameto be. Abe Lincoln's in a pair of concerts to be con- of Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 a building, one might wonder ducted by Pavel Kogan. In an interview at Abravanel father built his family a simple log cabin; a great cathedral such Hall, Matson spoke of the duties ful townspeople sought to outdo fellow Catholics in Paris. In modern Salt LakeCity, leaders of ‘Jack Goodman An addition to the Rose WagnerPerforming Arts Centerwill take up nearly a third of a block. The Church ofJesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have replaced a popular gymnasium to build a hugenew hall in which General Conference crowdscan heartheir leaders’ testimonies more comfortably. Recently, while munching a German sausageat the Squatter’s Pub and Brewery, I gazed across thestreet at the striking metal and marble Rose WagnerPerforming Arts Center at 138 W. Broadway. It was designed by the Prescott Muir architectural firm and houses a so-called “black Dox” theater, rehearsal studios, dressing rooms and theoffices of mostof our town’s dance groups — performing-arts organizations not affiliated with the University of Utah. The 150 seats in the Black Box arefilled on many nights and days by a mix of youngsters and oldsters who appreciate modern dance as much as they do more“classic” ballet. This led me to wondering who Rose Wagner was, and howit came aboutthat the center was built a few years ago and named in her memory. While I was musing, businessman I.J. Wagner appeared at the next table, noticed mestaring at the building across the way, andsaid, “If you think that’s a strangestructure for Salt Lake, wait till you see what we're building next door.” Wagner pointed out that the shabbystructures west of the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center have mostly vanished. “We're clearing the western third of the block, Bandaloops Coffee andall, and are aboutto build — this.” He thrusta halfdozen computer-generated drawings of Phase Twoof the Performing Arts Center, a structure I’ve tried to sketch in today’s drawing. ButIzzi’s appearance gave me a chance to ask why Rose Wagner has anarts center named in her honor, and an oddlydistinctive-looking building at that. “First let me tell you what's coming next door,”’ said my informant. The newbuilding is designed by the Eaton Mahoneyar- chitectural firm, with Bob Eaton the principal. It will occupy a third of the city block, have adequate parking and feature a 500seat proscenium-style Jeanne WagnerTheatre. The newstructure will provide added rehearsalstudios, storage and scene-building areas,office space, a sizable lobby and even a refreshment bar. “Jeanne Wagner was my wife — she died — and she was a very talented dancer, nota ballet or modern dancer, Monday-night television viewers of ABC's “Nightline” not only heard from Utah politicians and citizens about the ongoing Olympic scandal, but also sawa brief seg- States Marines, then marched me across the street to the Rose Wagner structure, which will be linked to a reflective glass and metalbuilding expectedto befinished in 2000,if not sooner. Being a rather conservative col- umnist, I will withhold judgment on the enlarged Rose Wagner centeruntilit is built — except to say the drawings remind me of World's Fair structures, which is notall bad.I liked the 1939 fair in New York very much — but ing $3 million, and there have beenother private donors,” Wag- nersaid. All had inputin the planning colored columns,tied down, strands. A handsomecurving staircase reaches to the second selling St. Regis, Wagner has floor from the lobby, visible through the glass walls. But what of Rose Wagner? “She loved music and all the arts,” her son said. “We were University of Utah Announces YOUTH THEATRE CONSERVATORY been occupied with real-estate matters and something of a thorn in the side of some city and county and federal“outfits.” But Wagner,now (I believe) 75 poor — but every extra cent went lessons for mysister. Brother Abe was moreinterested in years young, remembers and reveres his mother. “She kept us going,” he recalls. “She would have liked watching the performancesin the building we named for her. Just as my wife, Jeanne Rasmussen, would have liked via: her husband, whodied in 1932, came from Ukraine. “Jewish people loved thearts, theater, music — Mother was not unusual in that respect. What was unusual was she was the family business person. Father and Mother had metin Boston,lived in Portland: he came here andstarted the watching today’s performers — the arts meant much to my moth- er and my wife.” Jack Goodmanhas been associated with The Salt Lake Tribune as a staff or free-lance writ- er for 51 years. age of an Olympic moment from “Voyeur” was shown. Needless to notlost on the “Nightline” crew. In addition to comments from “but we could not have survived except for what wecalled the Mormon bank — now I'm on the The Wagner Bag Co. operated Borgenicht and Nevins, video foot- ment featuring Salt Lake Acting Company executive producers Nancy Borgenicht and Allen Nevins. Theyarethe authors of the annual summer musical satire “Saturday’s Voyeur,” a fact that was said, his mother ran the war. The family expanded and set up the St. Regis Paper Company. In later years, after seemingly, by wirelike colored say, SLACstaffers were delighted about the national exposure, but have no idea how the “Nightline” folks learned abouttheir theater. Q the Webto learn more aboutSalt Lake County's Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP) program, look no further than www.co.sle.ut.us, Access to ZAP online is now available through the Salt Lake County home page. The Website offers information about applying for ZAP support as well as a recreation update page and calendar ZAPon the Web Forthose interested in turning to also part of preparing the audience for the concert.” The concertmaster’s real duties are more complex. He is the lead- er of thefirst violin section and holds a position of generalleadership within the orchestra. In col- laboration with the conductor, the After his father died and during the Depression years, piacere throughout World War II, and bags were in great demand after havea roofsupported bybrightly sports, not music.” Rose Wagner camefrom Lat- Council and the Salt Lake City RDAhave committed fundstotal- High.” back when the Trylon and Perisphere were the rage. The new Wagnerbuilding will “T didn’t have muchto do with that — afterall it is funded in part by my brother, Abe, and his wife, Barbara, and Kay Schott of myfamily. The Performing Arts older than I am; we went to West board of Zion.” to violin lessons for me and piano look — at least in the drawings? Wagner Bag Company — used sacks, madeof burlap orjute. They were washed clean, sewed by Mother. We had sheds and a house where the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center stands now. Brother Abe is two years myideas were pretty unformed moreof a popular sort who performed in moststates with many stage companies,” Izzi explained. Whatof the building's different ARTS BRIEFS Voyeurs on ‘Nightline’ Wagner, who spent three busy wartimeyears in the United of a concertmaster. “What the audience sees is mainly theater,” he said. “The players have already tuned before coming out, but the onstage tuning gives a final check, and is of events. concertmasterestablishes bowing patterns for the string section, which are markedinto the play- ers’ scores before rehearsals begin. (That's why yousee all those bows going back andforth in uni- son.) The concertmaster also performsthesolo violin passages integral to many symphonic works. Speakingof his 13-year tenure as the Utah Symphony's concert- master, Matsonsaid,“It’s a won- derful position, which offers a rich musicallife. I enjoy the vari- ety of musical opportunity — the extraordinary orchestral repertoire, the chanceto play the solo passages and the opportunity of being featured in concerts like this one. Also the chanceto play chamber music, whichis like being a kid in a candy shop.” Theviolinist is a regularfixture on the Nova Chamber Music Seties, both as a member of the “What the audience seesis mainly theater. The players have already tuned before coming out, but the onstage tuninggivesa final check, and is also part of preparing the audience for the concert,” said Ralph Matson, Utah Symphony concertmaster. @ AbravanelHall Ralph Matson will be the featured soloist in a pair of concerts with the Utah Symphony, under the baton of Pavel Kogan, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $13 to $32 at ArtTix (355ARTS or 1-888-451ARTS) orby visiting the ArtTix outlets at Abravanel Hall or the Capitol Theatre. Utah Symphony subscribers and anyone interested in group dis- counts should call 533NOTE. NovaString Quartet (of which his wife, violinist and Nova musicdirector Barbara Scowcroft,is also a member) and as a soloist. He and pianist Eugene Watanabe are scheduled to team up for an April 20 Nova concert. He has been known to pick up the viola when collaborating in violinist Joseph Silverstein’s annual Nova appearances. He also performs regularly in the Vivaldi Candlelight Concerts. seat in the life of Ralph Matson. “My main interest is music, and that’s a very fortunate thing,” h said. “I wish I had time for reading and relaxing, but my hobbyis my profession.” Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 is, according to Matson, “a perfect display piece, beautifully crafted, with musical material that drawslisteners in. The three movements lead one to another Matsonpreviously servedstints as a memberofthe Cleveland Orchestra and as assistant concertmaster of the Minnesota Orches- almost without pause — a dark and declamatory first movement, tra. He relishes the opportunity andan explosion of joy inG major then a sublime second movement, ter “Of course I started my tenure with Joseph Silverstein as at the end.” Also onthe concert will be Beethoven’s Overture to ‘“Coriola- to be the great concertmaster of ny No. 2 (‘Hymnof Praise”) with he hashad hereto be concertmas- conductor — who manyconsider all time — andhealways made my job easy.” Outside interests take a back nus” and Mendelssohn's Sympho- the Utah Symphony Chorus and vocal soloists Jane West, Melissa Thorburn and Jon Garrison. Richard III featuring MUSICAL THEATRE Dr. Xan S. Johnson, Executive Director Tyeras ea Peer ern aut. rene Darlene Casanova, master musical theatre di pertormed in recent intemational tour hate Caess TA eU. see atu CCU: UMEMULRONSS vation, Has performed with the Pioneer Equity Ai MRCCUn NACA PEM) easons andcurrently Tati| and musical theatre classes for th Ps evMem MLL Telephone 585-9781. or 581-4927 for more information. Pen nti MUM CR ORT tani Pace ie RETA Sprit Soe aCe ce PART February20 CONTINUING EDUCATION* UNIVERSITY OF UTAH ae el i oe FEBRUARY 2 “Now Is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summerbythis sun of York. Utah favorite Patrick Pagereturns to Pioneer Theatre Company as the malevolent Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the charmingvillion who plots, seduces and murders his way to the English throne Call 581-6961 By William Shakespeare FREE PARKING PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY MASTERCARD, VISA, AMEX DISCOVER¢ AROS ACCEPTED cee as Chartres was built when pride- |
