FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 13, 2021
Two Single Concerts This February
Kyle Knox and the Madison Symphony Orchestra Take the Audience Beyond the Score® of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
Greg Zelek and Reginald Mobley Come Together for the first Overture Concert Organ Series Performance of the Year
“Beyond the Score®: Stravinsky, The Rite of Sprint” starring American Players Theatre actors, with multimedia projections — the entire work performed in the second half — a single performance on
Sunday, February 13, 2022
The first Overture Concert Organ performance of the year features Greg Zelek and Reginald Mobley on Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Madison, Wis. – Join the Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Associate Conductor Kyle Knox as they present the story behind Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring with “Beyond the Score®: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring” on Sunday, February 13, 2022 in Overture Hall. Principal Organist Greg Zelek also welcomes countertenor Reginald Mobley to perform a program consisting of Purcell, Bach, Handel, Gershwin, and more on February 15, 2022.
Beyond the Score®
“Beyond the Score®: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring” is a multimedia examination of Stravinsky’s creation that transforms simple ancient folk music from Russia and Lithuania into a storm of rhythm, harmony and melodies that were unheard of before their time. Starring American Players Theatre actors James Ridge, Kelsey Brennan, and David Daniel, the concert experience features visual projections, photos, musical excerpts, and a full performance n the second half of the The Rite of Spring by the orchestra with Kyle Knox conducting.
“Beyond the Score® gives you the opportunity to hear some of this music and then shows you how closely Stravinsky drew upon it in creating Stravinsky’s masterpiece, The Rite of Spring,” Maestro John DeMain shares. “Supported by three great and popular actors from APT, and conducted by our own Kyle Knox, this is a great opportunity to learn how this ballet came to life, and what Stravinsky and Nijinsky were after. The work calls for a huge orchestra, and the videos will show you what was innovative and controversial about Nijinsky’s choreography, as he created primitive dance steps to go with the primitive rituals of springtime. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore this fascinating work as only Beyond the Score can offer.”
The MSO will perform the “Beyond the Score®: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring” concert on Sunday, February 13, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. in Overture Hall, 201 State Street.
Reginald Mobley and Greg Zelek
Principal Organist Greg Zelek kicks off the second half of the Overture Concert Organ Series with Countertenor Reginald Mobley with a program ranging from baroque works to gospel spirituals. In a concert that includes Florence Price’s jazzy Suite for Organ, as well as a variety of gospel arrangements, Mobley and Zelek will explore the limitless possibilities of pairing the organ and voice.
“Countertenor Reginald Mobley’s voice will soar through Overture Hall with our program ranging from baroque works to gospel spirituals,” Principal Organist Greg Zelek exclaims. “This unique program requires creativity beyond our standard scope to weave together different musical genres, demonstrating striking similarities and beautiful contrasts.”
Greg Zelek and Reginald Mobley will perform on Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in Overture Hall, at 201 State Street.
Concert, Ticket and Event Details
The lobby opens 90 minutes prior to each concert. The Symphony recommends concert attendees arrive early for each performance to make sure they have time to pass through Overture Center’s security stations.
Single tickets for all Symphony and Organ concerts are on sale now through the Overture Center Box office. Tickets can be purchased online at overture.org, in-person or by phone by calling (608) 258-4141 during Box Office hours.
One performance of “Beyond the Score®: Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring” concert will take place and ticket prices range from $18 to $74. More information about the February 13 “Beyond the Score®” concert at https://madisonsymphony.org/beyondthescore. Greg Zelek and Reginald Mobley will perform one concert and all tickets are $20. Learn more about the October 19 “Greg Zelek” performance at https://madisonsymphony.org/mobley.
Health & Safety precautions
The Symphony has received overwhelming positive response to the comprehensive safety measures that Overture Center for the Arts, and Overture Resident Companies have put in place, that include proof of vaccination or negative test and wearing masks. Only water will be available for purchase as refreshments before the concerts, and during intermission. More information about the many safety protocols can be found at overture.org/health, and madisonsymphony.org/faq.
Money Back Guarantee
The MSO will continue to offer a refund for tickets to any concert that cannot be performed for any reason. The MSO will adhere to all public health guidelines and cooperate with Overture Center for the Arts to assure the safety of its audiences, musicians and staff. Programs, dates, and artists subject to change.
About James Ridge
James Ridge is a core company actor with American Players Theatre in Spring Green. Over 22 seasons, roles with APT include King Berenger, Cyrano, Iago, Mr. Bennet, Teach, Richard III, Jacques, Touchstone, Shylock, Malvolio, Puck, Charles Dickens, Lickcheese, and Bluntchli. Having played Scrooge for four seasons with CTM, he now directs the translation written by his talented wife, Colleen Madden. He has also worked with Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Renaissance Theaterworks, Next Act Theatre, Forward Theater, Madison Repertory, as well as Madison Symphony Orchestra, WI Chamber Orchestra, and Con Vivo.
About Kelsey Brennan
Kelsey first began at APT as an acting apprentice in 2008. Since then, favorite roles include: Liz Morden in Our Country’s Good, Masha in Three Sisters, Eurydice, Dromio, Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, and Cecily in both The Importance of Being Earnest and Travesties. Kelsey has also been seen at Milwaukee Rep (The Glass Menagerie, Trouble in Mind), Next Act, Madison Children’s Theatre, Indiana Rep, and on various stages in Chicago.
About David Daniel
David has been with American Player’s Theatre for 22 years, and is Director of Education in addition to being part of the Acting Company. He has appeared in Born Yesterday, Flea in Her Ear, Alcestis, Cure at Troy, Endgame, Exits and Entrances, Much Ado, Ideal Husband and a hundred other wonderful plays. Other appearances include the Milwaukee Chamber Theatre, Utah Shakespeare, CTM’s A Christmas Carol, and pre-quarantine in Forward Theatre’s production of Every Brilliant Thing. David, Paula, Isaac, Nico and Declan all live in Spring Green. He spends his winters sharing Shakespeare and poetry with folks six to sixty, from playgrounds to prisons. David is a proud veteran of the United States Army.
About Greg Zelek
Greg Zelek has been the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Organist and the Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ since 2017. Praised for his “effortless facilty on the instrument” (South Florida Classical Review), Greg Zelek is increasingly recognized as one of themost exciting young organists in the American organ scene. Greg holds the Wayne Curtis & Maybelle Slavens Hall and Francis Vincent & Lettie von Kalweit Dunnebacke Curatorship, which is endowed by anonymous friends of the Symphony. A recipient of the inaugural Kovner Fellowship, he received his Master’s degrees, as well as an Artist Diploma, from the Juilliard School. A native of Miami, Florida, Greg was most recently the Music Director and Organist at the Episcopal Church of St. Matthew and St. Timothy in New York City. Greg, who is Cuban-American and a native Spanish speaker, became the Music Director and Organist of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Miami at age 15, and has served as the summer organist for San Pedro Apostol Church in Ramales de la Victoria, Spain.
About Reginald Mobley
Particularly noted for his “shimmering voice, a voice which also allows lucid and pure levels” (BachTrack), countertenor Reginald Mobley is highly sought after for baroque, classical and modern repertoire. Reginald leads a very prolific career in the United States, where he resides. In March 2020, he became the first ever programming consultant for the Handel and Haydn Society following several years of leading H+H in his community engaging Every Voice concerts. He is a regular guest with Cantata Collective, Musica Angelica, Agave Baroque, Charlotte Bach Akademie, Seraphic Fire, Quodlibet, Pacific Music Works, Bach Collegium San Diego, San Francisco Early Music Society, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra…. Recent engagements have included concerts and recordings with organisations such as Opera Lafayette, Miller Theatre (Columbia University), Blue Heron in Boston, Chatham baroque in Pittsburgh, Washington Bach Consort. Most of the recordings are available online.
About the Madison Symphony Orchestra
The Madison Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 97th season in 2022–2023. The MSO has grown to be one of America’s leading regional orchestras, providing Madison and south-central Wisconsin with cultural and educational opportunities to interact with great masterworks and top-tier guest artists from around the world. Learn more at madisonsymphony.org
Major funding for the Beyond the Score® concert is provided exclusively by the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation.
Funding for the February Overture Concert Organ concert is provided exclusively by William Steffenhagen.
Contact: Peter Rodgers, Director of Marketing
Phone: (608) 260-8680 x226
Mobile: (415) 713-0235
Email: prodgers@madisonsymphony.org
Web: madisonsymphony.org
Link to “Ravishing Rhapsody” October concert photos: https://bit.ly/mso2021octsymphony
Link to “Greg Zelek” October concert photos: https://bit.ly/mso2021octorgan