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Show 5 ARTS www.dailyutahchronicle.com Friday March 1,2013 PHOTO COURTESY MATT AND KIM Indie pop duo Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino of Matt and Kim open for Passion Pit this Saturday at The Complex. Matt and Kim maintain personal touch Frances Moody STAFF WRITER Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino maintain a first-name basis with their fans. Kicking out tracks since their 2006 album debut, this indie pop duo's fan base has grown to the thousands. Though their listeners have moved from filling intimate venues to larger complexes, Matt and Kim make it a goal to create personal connections with each audience they encounter. "People connecting to people, those are the deepest connections ... It's not really a coincidence that we're named Matt and Kim, after our first names," Johnson said in an inter- view. Now that the two-member band is heading to Salt Lake City to open for Passion Pit on Saturday at The Complex, Johnson is drawing connections between himself and a Utah-based audience. Many people might call Salt Lake City the city with a small-town vibe, a lifestyle to which Johnson is accustomed. Growing up in Whitingham, VT — the population only reaching 1,298 people — Johnson recalls a somewhat humorous and unexpected correlation between his hometown and Salt Lake City. Aside from being a quaint town in Vermont, Whitingham is the birthplace of Utah's well-known historical figure Brigham Young. Traveling from Vermont to the depths of the unknown West, Brigham Young claimed Salt Lake City the home of the Mormon religion by spouting the famous declaration, "This is the place." Like Young, Matt and Kim will also claim Salt Lake City, "the place," even if it is just for one night. However, rather than naming Salt Lake City a location for religious sanctity, Matt and Kim hope their Utah fans will dub it the place for a rip-roaring dance-party of a time. Matt and Kim's upcoming concert will not be the duo's first visit to Utah's small-town city. In fact, Johnson remembers his first experience in Louisa Austin STAFF WRITER JERRY STEICHEN, CONDUCTOR MARCH 1-2 I 8 PM Symphony highlights les Mis' music STAFF WRITER Fresh off its movie success, "Les Miserables" is making the rounds again in Salt Lake City this weekend. The Utah Symphony will present "'Do You Hear the People Sing' from Les Mis to Miss Saigon," led by Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen. The performance is an exciting treat for musical theater fans to experience not just for its classic tunes, but also for the array of Broadway stars participating in the concert. With its recent accolades including three Academy Awards, "Les Miserables" is most definitely at its height in popularity. Fans of the musical will have the unique opportunity to view the story in a simplistic setting through the Utah Symphony's performance, as opposed to a stage musical. Separating "Les Miserables" from its typical stage performance, the Utah Symphony's event will consist of singing and music, but no acting. The event will feature many of the musical's most famous songs, such as "Stars," "I Dreamed a Dream" and "Bring Him Home." The Utah Symphony will also feature additional works by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Boublil and Schonberg are best known for their work on the music in "Les Miserables." Their credits also include "Miss Saigon," "Martin Guerre," "La Revolution Francaise" and "The Pirate Queen" — all of which will be featured in the upcoming performance. Perhaps the most popular of Boublil and Schonberg's work following "Les Miserables" is the romantic thriller "Miss Saigon." "Miss Saigon" is based on Puccini's popular opera "Madame Butterfly." It is a story following the forsaken romance between a young American soldier in Vietnam and Kim, a young and beautiful Vietnamese woman whom he meets and falls madly in love with. As the story progresses, the music and words convey the tragic love story as Kim makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure her son has a good future in America. As well as spectacular orchestration, there will be superb singing to help portray Boublil and Schonberg's music. Terrence Mann, in addition to his role of Inspector Javert on Broadway, has experience working as a director, composer and artistic director along with having played countless roles in Johnson highlights that many of the band's followers are college students, which means that Matt and Kim's Salt Lake City concert will most likely have many audience members from the U. "[College students] are people who are looking to discover new bands, willing to take a chance on something that's different," Johnson said. "Really, the trendsetters are these people who are in, sort of, the college age." Johnson commends college students for helping to start Matt and Kim's success. To him, the younger age group was willing to listen to the band's different style and new sound before anyone else. fmoody@chronicle.utah.edu Gershwin brothers to be honored at Kingsbury "DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING" FROM LES MIS TO MISS SAIGON Lynette Randall Salt Lake City. "I remember being so confused about the grid system," he said. Trying to find Kilby Court, one of Salt Lake City's smaller venues, Matt and Kim found the coordinate system somewhat perplexing. Johnson shared fond memories of Matt and Kim's past performances at Kilby Court and other Salt Lake venues. "We've had incredible shows in Salt Lake," Johnson said. "We didn't know if it was going to be conservative, or whatever, but people always seem to want to get wild and have a great time." Drawing deeper links between Matt and Kim's music and Utah, renowned musicals, such as "Beauty and the Beast," "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Cats." Another singer with experience in these specific musicals is Jennifer Paz. Paz played the lead female character Kim for the original first national Broadway tour of "Miss Saigon." Her previous experience in the lead role will no doubt bring a depth and understanding to this particular production. Sarah Uriarte Berry has completed national tours as well. Berry is wellknown for her participation in "Carousel," "Les Miserables" and "Sunset Boulevard." Berry has previously performed in the production "Les Miserables" as the character Eponine. The final singer is Marie Zamora. Zamora has performed in many roles across the globe, one of which was Cosette in the Paris production of "Les Miserables." Zamora has travelled internationally as a soloist with composer Michel LeGrand. "'Do You Hear the People Sing' from Les Mis to Miss Saigon," is sure to be a remarkable performance. Those interested in musicals or Broadway will most definitely enjoy the Utah Symphony's production and the variety of performers it boasts. l.randall@chronicle.utah.edu U students are too young to appreciate the musical genius of brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Popular in the musical world nearly roo years ago, their music is not even played on any oldies stations. More likely, it is heard on an old record player. This does not mean it is not worth listening to, which students can see at "Here to Stay: The Gershwin Concert Experience." Going back to the time of vaudeville — a variety show that traveled from town to town and was popular from 188o to about 1930 — the Gershwins' pieces will transport students back to early America when a soda cost a nickel and life was slower. Ira and George Gershwin were born in the late 189os in Brooklyn, N.Y. As the brothers grew up, they became the dominant Broadway songwriters, George getting his start on the famous Tin Pan Alley. Possibly their most famous work is the Broadway musical "Porgy and Bess." This American opera about a crippled beggar, Porgy, and his love for Bess is still played on the stage. The sultry song, "Summertime," is still covered by singers today, a testament to the Gershwin's timeless talent. Blending a style of jazz, French and classical music, the Gershwins' compositions sweep the listener along. The Gershwins' composed orchestral music is light and robust and keeps the listener engaged. Their solo piano pieces are jazzy and fun to dance to and sing along. The music covers the range of the keyboard with a loud, romping style that will make the listener GEORGE GERSHWIN want to tap their toes and not keep still. Kingsbury Hall is the perfect venue to experience Gershwin music. With its lofty ceilings and expansive stage, the music can reach its full potential in the space provided. The audience will be sharing in a show that will showcase singers, tap dancers and, of course, the piano music itself. The concert will also feature rarely seen photos, home videos and stories of the Gershwin brothers for those musical history buffs in the audience and anyone who is interested in a piece of Americana. The pianist playing the concert is Kevin Cole, nicknamed "America's Pianist." The Gershwin family considers Cole to be the best interpreter of George Gershwin's cornpositions they have heard thus far. If you are interested in the musical style of the 192os and '3os, or just looking for an entertaining time, make sure not to miss "The Gershwin Concert Experience," playing Saturday at 7:30 p.m. 1.austin@ chronicle.utah.edu |