2019–2020 Overture Concert Organ Season Concerts

Subscriptions are now available now! Purchase tickets to all four concerts for just $63 (a 25% savings off single ticket prices!). Get the best seats at the best prices before single tickets go on sale Saturday, August 10, 2019. Season brochures will be mailed in April.

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“I am excited to present what I know will be another thrilling organ season that will give our listeners an opportunity to hear the organ in four very unique and breathtaking concerts! Each of our guest soloists will be making their Overture Hall debut and will give the audience a new and memorable experience. Beginning with a performance by one of the finest choirs in the world, I am sure that the entire season will leave everyone wanting more and continue to bring our magnificent Klais organ and program to new heights!”
—Greg Zelek, Principal Organist and Curator of the Overture Concert Organ

Explore the season…

Season Premiere: Trinity Choir

“Named by Gramophone Magazine as one of the best choirs in the world, our season opens with the amazing Trinity College Choir of Cambridge. Conducted by Stephen Layton and accompanied on our Might Klais, this twenty-five voice choir will present a program of music spanning many centuries that will display their beauty of tone and depth of feeling. These rich voices will make this varied program soar through Overture Hall and leave everyone in the audience breathless.”
— Greg Zelek

Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Stephen Layton, Conductor
Trinity College Choir of Cambridge

Michael Hey and Christiana Liberis

“Organist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC and Wisconsin native Michael Hey and Violinist Christiana Liberis (who most recently performed on tour with the Eagles) will demonstrate the tremendous versatility of our great instrument with this diverse program of music for both instruments as well as solo organ. With a program that includes Bach’s famous Violin Concerto in E Major and Kreisler’s Praeludium and Allegro, these two artists will have the opportunity to show off their individual skills while blending our Klais with the beautiful tones of the violin. Having known Mr. Hey since our days at Juilliard together, it gives me great joy to introduce this dynamic duo to our audience for the first time.”
— Greg Zelek

Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Michael Hey, Organ
Christiana Liberis, Violin

PROGRAM
Widor | Vitali | Bach | Elgar | Ravel | Kreisler

Hector Olivera

“Known as one of the most exciting organists of the 20th century, international concert organist Hector Olivera will entertain and exhilarate the audience with an unforgettable performance! Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Mr. Olivera has performed all over the world and has had audiences leaping to their feet with applause for years. His debut performance at Overture Hall will feature organ classics like J.S. Bach’s Passacaglia in C minor, as well as transcriptions like Oblivion by another Argentine native, Astor Piazzola. He will close the concert with a improvisation on a submitted theme that is sure to enthrall and amaze everyone in attendance.”
— Greg Zelek

Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Hector Olivera, Organ

PROGRAM
Driffill | Franck | Bossi | Bach | Vierne | Mozart | Piazzola | Olivera

Greg Zelek, with Brass and Timpani

“In my first of many collaborations with fellow Madison musicians, I am excited to perform alongside brass quintet and timpani in a concert that will pair the King of Instruments with some of the loudest instruments in the orchestra. This unique program of music written for a variety of pairings will include Gigout’s Grand Choeur Dialogue, a transcription of Rachmaninoff’s famous Vocalise performed on the french horn, and an arrangement of Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ and timpani. Audiences will enjoy the expressive and fluid partnership of MSO’s Principal Trumpet, John Aley and the newly appointed trumpet professor at UW–La Crosse, Matthew Onstad; the warm sounds of MSO’s Principal Horn, Linda Kimball; the creative flair of UW–Madison trombone professor, Mark Hetzler; the thrilling facility of MSO’s Principal Tuba, Josh Biere; and the thunderous rhythm of MSO’s Principal Timpani, John Jutsum. The event will have me pulling out all the stops on our great Overture Concert Organ to match the excitement and volume of my colleagues on stage!”
— Greg Zelek

Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Greg Zelek, Organ
John Aley, Trumpet
Matthew Onstad, Trumpet
Linda Kimball, Horn
Mark Hetzler, Trombone
Josh Biere, Tuba
John Jutsum, Timpani

PROGRAM
Stamm | Rachmaninoff | Hillert | Gigout | DiLorenzo | Bach | Dinda | Weaver | Wagner | Guilmant