(bright upbeat music) - NOVA Chamber Music Series presents "French Impressions," a program of evocative works performed by Utah Symphony musicians and guest artists.

Concertmaster from the Utah Symphony, Madeline Adkins, is here to share more.

Welcome, Madeline.

- Thanks.

Thanks for having me.

- Yeah, this is your first time on the show.

- It is, yes, thank you.

- Welcome.

- We talk about NOVA and the Symphony a lot, but we've never had you on the show, so it's nice.

People might recognize you as the concertmaster at the Utah Symphony, but you're also very tied to NOVA Chamber Music Series as well.

- Yes, that's true.

I play several times a year on the series and, in fact, was the artistic director for one season back in 2018-'19.

So I got a first-hand experience with doing all the programming and trying to make a cohesive season and really bringing a lot of music that is of interest to people.

- Yeah, so tell us about "French impressions."

- Yes, so "French Impressions" is built around two works of Ravel, his very well-known string quartet from 1902, as well as the Greek songs, which will be performed by Christopher Puckett and Jared Oaks on piano.

And that is gonna be a debut for both of those artists on our series.

- [Laura] Wow.

- And then, the quartet will be performed by myself and my principal colleagues in the Utah Symphony.

We're known as the Fremont String Quartet when we're off stage.

And the Ravel string quartet is one that listeners may recognize the second movement of, it's a pretty famous pizzicato movement where we don't use the bow.

And the entire piece is really full of an almost orchestral level of colors and sounds.

And it's such creative writing by Ravel that I know it's gonna really entrance the audience when they hear it.

- Beautiful.

And we also have Richard Elliott, organist.

- Yes, the principal organist from the Tabernacle Choir.

And he'll be performing a piece by Messiaen.

And the organ in Libby Gardner Hall is one that we've all looked at many times at concerts, but it's such a great experience to get to hear this organ.

- Yeah, wow, that's wonderful.

And what's great about chamber music is that it's such an intimate experience, so I'm sure our audiences will love it.

Thank you for telling us about it.

- I think so, yeah.

- If you'd like to learn more about "French Impressions" from NOVA Chamber Music Series, the concert is on January 18th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Libby Gardner Concert Hall.

You can learn more and purchase tickets at novaslc.org.

That's novaslc.org.

I'm Laura Durham and thank you for watching "Contact."

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