This weekend’s Utah Symphony concerts focus on the human voice, with a program pairing less-well-known works of Brahms and Mozart. Markus Stenz was the dynamic guest conductor.
The Utah Symphony Chorus made its first appearance of the season, joined by the University of Utah Chamber Choir and scrupulously prepared by Barlow Bradford, in the evening’s major work, Mozart’s great C Minor Mass. They sang this difficult music with aplomb, paying particular attention to dynamics. Celena Shafer, leading a nicely matched quartet of soloists, sang the “Et incarnatus est” section with such warmth and beauty, the other musicians had to take a moment before proceeding with the “Sanctus.