This story first appeared in the Fall 2024 edition of The Score.
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A look back and great music ahead…
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by Robert A. Reed, Executive Director
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I am excited to say that I have concluded my second full season as Executive Director of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. The happy note is that I am becoming more and more a Wisconsinite. I moved here from Texas, and while there on business this past June, I thought the heat and humidity were going to kill me. I couldn’t wait to get back to Madison! Madison has become home, and as I reflect on the last season, I want to share a few highlights.
We celebrated the 30th Anniversary Season of Music Director John DeMain and he featured music on each subscription concert that held great meaning to him. We presented the MSO’s first MSO at the Movies concert: Pixar in Concert and A Madison Symphony Christmas concerts to soldout audiences. We shared the stage with Mariachi Los Camperos for our Fiesta Finale concert and hundreds of people remained in the lobby following each concert to sing and dance along to Mariachi classics for an impromptu performance in the Overture lobby. We spread the mission of the MSO to Verona (Verona Area Performing Arts Center) and East Madison (Mitby Theater at Madison College). Many audience members heard the MSO for the first time. We presented the MSO’s Family Concert in the Capitol Theater, which inspired hundreds of families and children. One young boy named Ben was engaged throughout the concert by conducting. He is now known as Little Dudamel.
The 24/25 season is the 99th Anniversary Season of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Yes, we are merely one year away from reaching a century of the MSO. Much time, thought and effort has gone into planning a season that is for everyone and reflects diverse musical tastes. Our opening subscription concert will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Overture Concert Organ featuring Greg Zelek, MSO’s Principal Organist and Elaine and Nicholas Mischler Curator of the Overture Concert Organ as soloist. We’ve added cellist Tommy Mesa and a selection by composer Valerie Coleman titled Umoja: Anthem of Unity to start the season on a high note.
For the first time in several seasons, the MSO will feature guest conductors this season. Nicholas Hersh, Michael Stern, and Joseph Young are distinguished conductors who bring unique perspectives to music making and community engagement. Audiences will be able to hear how different the orchestra sounds under each conductor. In addition to our conductors, each program also features world-class guest artists and popular music selections. When I say you don’t want to miss any of these concerts and guest conductors, just trust me. The concert that sells out year after year is A Madison Symphony Christmas. The MSO will be joined this year with the Madison Symphony Chorus, Madison Youth Choirs, Mt. Zion Gospel Choir, and vocal soloists Vanessa Becerra, soprano, and Craig Irvin, baritone. Each year I wonder how Music Director John DeMain can possibly top the last holiday concert, but he does!
Our January subscription concert features not only feature Madisonfavorite, violinist Gil Shaham, but will also feature his sister, pianist Orli Shaham and cellist Sterling Elliot to perform Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. The entire program is dedicated to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
The 24/25 season continues with John DeMain on the podium. In March, the music of Strauss and Mozart will be featured. Strauss’ tone poem, Don Juan, opens the concert followed by the lush and soaring Four Last Songs with soprano Amanda Majeski. A quartet of vocal soloists and the Madison Symphony Chorus join the Madison Symphony Orchestra for the Mozart Requiem to bring this concert to a fulfilling conclusion.
We finish the season with an allGershwin program. Opening with his fun and festive Cuban Overture, we then feature pianist Philippe Bianconi for the Piano Concerto in F. The second half of the program will feature the Madison Symphony Orchestra with Michelle Johnson, soprano, and Eric Greene, baritone, in “Porgy and Bess: A Concert of Songs.” You will hear colossal hits like “Summertime,” “My Man is Gone,” “Bess, You is My Woman Now,” “There’s A Boat Dat’s Leaving Soon for New York” and many more. This final subscription concert is for all the classical music lovers, all the fans of opera and Broadway and Gershwin.
The MSO at the Movies series returns this year for two films performed by the Madison Symphony Orchestra. In November 2024, the MSO will present DIsney and Pixar’s Coco in Concert, an emotional story of a young boy whose dream is to perform music. In February 2025, we’ll present two performances of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert. This series is an entry for new audiences of all ages to Overture Hall to experience the joy of live music in a different format.
Also taking place will be the popular MSO Organ Series performances, the many education and community engagement concerts, Madison Symphony Orchestra League and the Friends of the Overture Concert Organ events. There are so many opportunities for everyone to connect with us.
Do you come to concerts because you love the musical selections? Great if you do! If you come to concerts because you love the guest artists, great! If you come to concerts because you want to hear something different and new, great! If you come to performances of the Madison Symphony Orchestra because it is a date night, great! If you come because you enjoy the sense of community, great! No matter the reason you come, just come! At the Madison Symphony Orchestra, you are welcomed and appreciated.
– Robert A. Reed
Executive Director