(upbeat music) - Utopia Early Music breathes life into the Salt Lake City music scene with its historically-informed performances of medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music.

And here to tell us about the upcoming "Bach is for Lovers" concert is executive director Emily Nelson.

Hi Emily.

Welcome.

I always love your concerts, as you know.

So we've got some late Baroque music this time, French and German.

So with a lot of attention on Bach, of course.

So tell us about the concert.

- We just wanted to have a little fun with this one.

Honestly, I feel like that late Baroque music, especially JS Bach, people love it, they know a lot of these tunes.

It's a little bit more familiar and it's just really fresh and lovely for this kind of really early part of the year.

So it's gonna be pretty light, pretty lighthearted.

Yeah.

- All right, I like that.

Lighthearted Bach.

And I know part of what you're doing, you're doing some swingle singers, accompanying Or some arrangements of Bach instrumental music.

- Yeah, so for the first time ever, we're welcoming a jazz drummer to help us out with just a few pieces.

Yeah, so these are arrangements that were made back in the 1960s by a guy named Ward Swingle.

And it's instrumental music that is sort of swung and it's done in a slightly jazzy style, but it's all vocal.

So kind of like scat singing with a little bit of drum brush work and some walking bass.

It's really cute.

I love this kind of music and I think it's gonna make a nice contrast.

- I mean, really playful.

That's great.

That's great.

- Very, very playful.

Yep.

Very silly.

- And I know you're calling it "Bach is for Lovers", so it's not a Valentine's Day.

- No.

Well, I think more people might come if it's not on a holiday weekend, but also it's that February vibe.

Everybody's sort of in the mood.

There's a lot of pink in the grocery stores and maybe we can draw a little bit on that kind of energy.

- Sure.

Well, it sounds like a great playful concert and thanks for being here.

- Thank you so much, Mary.

- And if you'd like to know more about that upcoming "Bach is for Lovers" concert of the Utopia Early Music Ensemble, it's February 1st at 7:30, February 2nd at 5:00 at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral.

Go to utopiaearlymusic.org.

Utopiaearlymusic.org.

I'm Mary Dickson.

Thanks for watching "Contact".

(upbeat music) - Local events, arts, culture.

It's what brings us together.

Hi, I'm Mary Dickson.

Here on Contact, we introduce you to local events and organizations that serve your neighborhood.

If you work for a nonprofit and would like to appear on our show, please visit pbsutah.org/contact.