The following is a press release from the Utah Symphony

SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah Symphony and masterful young guest pianist Kirill Gerstein will present two classic works by Franz Liszt, the music world’s first piano superstar, heartthrob performer and cause of Europe's "Liszt fever."

Gerstein and the orchestra will perform Liszt’s “Totentanz” and Piano Concerto No. 2 under the direction of guest conductor Gilbert Varga on Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple).

Varga, known for his commanding presence and elegant baton technique, will begin the program with Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose” Suite, originally written as a piano duet for the children of his close friends. Ravel later orchestrated the work, expanding it into a ballet. Concluding the concert is another Ravel ballet suite, which tells the passionate Greek romance of “Daphnis et Chloé.”

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon pitched his plan to county council members that would put $110 million into updating parks.

There are 104 parks in Salt Lake County and Corroon says many of them need upgrades like new restrooms and playground equipment.

Corroon says he wants to expand some parks onto land that the county already owns.

The cost to taxpayers in the county would be $14 per household  per year.

“Really it’s about our quality of life, keeping people fit both mentally and physically,” said the mayor. “It’s really about maintaining what we have here in Salt Lake County, which is a wonderful, wonderful place to live.”

If council members decide to go ahead with the proposal, the public will vote on it in November.

              May 12, 2011 - The challenge of developing Utah's oil shale and oil sands as new fuel sources will be discussed from regulatory, industry and environmental perspectives during a Tuesday, May 17 conference.