The Utah Symphony’s Masterworks season got off to a grand opening Friday night, with violinist Augustin Hadelich showing the Abravanel Hall crowd why music director Thierry Fischer called his musicianship “more than impeccable.”
Hadelich gave a spellbinding performance of the Beethoven Violin Concerto. Whatever the score called for, whether lightning-fast virtuosity or soulful singing, he delivered in abundance. The first- and third-movement cadenzas were decidedly different in mood yet equally compelling. The orchestra’s accompaniment was enthusiastic, albeit a little brass-heavy in the early going. Hadelich answered the crowd’s noisy ovation with a more-than-impeccable performance of Paganini’s 21st Caprice.