Vivaldi by Candlelight Concert

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The Titans of the Baroque

Saturday 12.5.2026 | 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
First United Methodist Church
203 South 200 East, Salt Lake City
Ticket Costs range $20 - $200

Experience the grandeur of the Baroque by candlelight, featuring masterpieces by Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, and more. Music Director Gerald Elias returns to the Vivaldi by Candlelight stage with The Titans of the Baroque, a celebration of the composers whose works continue to define classical music centuries after they were written. Audiences will journey through masterpieces by Arcangelo Corelli, Antonio Vivaldi, Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Sebastian Bach, and George Frideric Handel, performed in the warm glow of candlelight and brought to life by an exceptional ensemble of musicians from around the world.

For the first time in the history of Vivaldi by Candlelight, this year's concert features an internationally acclaimed roster of guest artists representing five countries. Joining us are Italian-German double bassist and composer Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli, Peruvian cellist Cristhian Requejo Jiménez, Brazilian violist Pedro Bernardo, Italian violinist Federico Galieni, and New Zealand violinist Peter Gjelsten. Together, these remarkable musicians bring global perspectives and extraordinary artistry to Utah's original Vivaldi by Candlelight Concert.

The program highlights the brilliance, innovation, and emotional depth of the Baroque masters, from Corelli's elegant Concerto Grosso in F Major and Vivaldi's haunting Al Santo Sepolcro to Bach's exhilarating Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Handel's majestic Concerto Grosso. Through music that has endured for centuries, audiences will experience the enduring power of artistic excellence and cultural exchange.

Join us on December 5, 2026, for an unforgettable evening of candlelight, virtuosity, and international musical collaboration.

You will hear the following pieces this year

Arcangelo Corelli – Concerto Grosso in F Major, Op. 6 No. 6 Antonio Vivaldi – Al Santo Sepolcro, RV 130 in E-flat Major Georg Philipp Telemann – Ouverture-Suite, Burlesque de Quixotte Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Strings in C Major, RV 109 Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major Antonio Vivaldi – Concerto for Strings in C Minor, RV 120 George Frideric Handel – Concerto Grosso in A Major, Op. 6 No. 11

VIP Pre-Concert Dinner

Details coming soon.

About the Ticket Types

Please note that balcony seats are not ADA accessible.

Premium seating with dinner: Ticket includes our pre-concert hosted dinner and drinks.
Premium seating: Ticket provides reserved premium seating for the performance. $75 per ticket
General seating: Ticket provides reserved standard seating. $50 per ticket.
Semi-obstructed view: Ticket provides reserved standard seating with a partially blocked view of the stage. (There is an organ that cannot be moved.) $20 per ticket.
ADA seating: Ticket provides accessible seating for patrons with disabilities. Seats 3 & 4 in this row are for wheelchairs, and seats 1 & 2 are additional accessible seats. $20 per ticket.

Why Attend Vivaldi by Candlelight

You may have seen advertisements for commercialized candlelight concerts; however, Utah Global Diplomacy proudly presents Utah's original Vivaldi by Candlelight Concert, an exquisite blend of captivating music and ambiance. For over four decades, we have dedicated ourselves to promoting music diplomacy, utilizing the enchanting glow of candlelight set to old-world charm. Our passion for producing this timeless tradition, combined with Maestro Gerald Elias's talents in curating an extraordinary experience, brings the masterpieces of Vivaldi and other Baroque composers to life. As the pioneers of this distinctive concept, we remain committed to preserving the enchantment of this event by ensuring each concert is unique and original.

We wholeheartedly invite you to support us in our ongoing efforts to celebrate the artistry of the Baroque era. It's important to note that this event serves as our signature fundraising initiative. Every ticket sold contributes to building global connections between Utah and the world, promoting mutual respect, understanding, and international goodwill. Join us in this remarkable journey of harmonious diplomacy and make a meaningful impact.

Featured Music Director & Guest Musicians

Maestro Gerald Elias, music director of the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004, is a former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. He has authored many mystery short stories and novels, including the prize-winning Daniel Jacobus series that takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world.

Elias divides his time between the shores of Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, where he continues to expand his literary and musical horizons.
Click here to learn more about Maestro Elias.

Valentina Scheldhofen Ciardelli, Italian-German double bassist, composer, and performer, is celebrated for her groundbreaking approach to the double bass across classical, jazz, and contemporary music. A graduate of the Royal College of Music (Master of Performance with distinction) and the L. Boccherini Conservatoire, she has won major prizes including the RCM Double Bass Competition and the Vernon Elliot Double Bass Competition, and has performed at venues such as Teatro Regio di Parma and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. She has released six solo albums and received commissions from major institutions including the Agnelli Foundation and Fondazione Giacomo Puccini, and currently serves as double bass professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London.

To read her full bio,
click here.

Cristhian Jahir Requejo Jiménez was born in Lima, Peru, and began his musical journey at age twelve with Sinfonía por el Perú. He went on to serve as principal cellist with their Youth Orchestra from 2016–2022 and to tour internationally with tenor Juan Diego Flores at festivals including Gstaad, Lucerne, and Salzburg. A three-time recipient of Orchestra of the Americas scholarships, he has won soloist competitions and performed with orchestras including the National University of Music Symphony Orchestra and the Mainzer Virtuosi (Germany). He currently holds an Artist Diploma from OACADEMY, is completing his final studies at the National University of Music, and is a member of Peru's National Symphony Orchestra.

Gabriel Niebuhr, from Santa Catarina, Brazil, holds a Bachelor of Music in Viola Performance from UDESC, where he studied with Leonardo Piermartiri and João Eduardo Titton. An active orchestral musician, he performs with the Blumenau Chamber Orchestra, Island String Orchestra, CESCB Chamber Orchestra, Camerata di Venezia, and the Blumenau Philharmonic. He has participated in leading Brazilian music festivals, including FEMUSC, the Oficina de Música de Curitiba, Festival de Música na Serra, and MUSIVOTI, and has performed in more than 40 municipalities throughout the state of Santa Catarina.

Federico Galieni is an Italian violinist trained at the Perugia Music Conservatory and has studied with distinguished artists including R. Koelman (ZHdK Zurich) and O. Semchuk (Accademia Incontri col Maestro). A prizewinner in numerous Italian competitions, he has performed with prestigious ensembles, including the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini under Riccardo Muti, and with conductors such as Yuri Temirkanov and Kurt Masur. He currently performs as a member of the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and is active as a concertmaster and chamber musician throughout Italy.

Peter Gjelsten is a New Zealand-born violinist and is currently studying at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin under Professor Stephan Picard. A devoted chamber musician, he won first prizes in New Zealand's NZCT Chamber Music Contest in 2019 and 2020, was appointed concertmaster of the NZ National Youth Orchestra from 2021–2023, and took joint 1st place at the National Concerto Competition in 2024, performing the Sibelius Violin Concerto. He has performed professionally with the NZSO, Auckland Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony, and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras.

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