WELCOME

On behalf of the board, staff, artists, and musicians of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre for this presentation of Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto

STEVEN BROSVIK President & CEO

MCBETH Artistic Director

Perhaps Rigoletto was one of the first operas that captured your imagination—it is a favorite for many, with its combination of drama, iconic characters, and tuneful music. Throughout the school year, we give students across Utah their first opportunities to fall in love with opera through a variety of virtual and in-school programs that comprise one of the most extensive arts education initiatives by a professional musical arts organization in the United States. Our professional musicians provide students with the gift of live classical music and the inspiration to develop their own creative capabilities to enhance their lives. March is an appropriate time to reflect on the importance of this work, as it has been celebrated around the nation for more than 30 years as Music in Our Schools month. Sponsored by the National Association for Music Education, the initiative focuses the nation’s attention on the powerful role that quality music programs play in the lives of young people. Bravo to the teachers, schools, and parents who make sure that music is part of the education of our youth! These programs are vital for creating well-rounded students, impart important lessons in discipline, creativity, and teamwork, and encourage higher graduation rates.

Looking ahead, our May production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs is poised to attract a new demographic to our audience through this 21st century Grammy-winning work about a contemporary icon who relentlessly dedicated himself to creating the perfect device while wrestling with his own imperfections. And there is so much more to fall in love with during our 2023/24 season—be sure to subscribe and reserve the dates in your calendar to return to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre and experience the rich, multi-sensory performances of Utah Opera!

Sincerely,

BRIAN GREEFF Board of Trustees Chairman

P.S. Between now and May 1, 2023, you have an opportunity to double the impact of your contribution to USUO thanks to a generous $500,000 matching challenge grant from our Season Sponsor, the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation. Learn more at www.usuo.org/donate.