pixel

Photo Credit: Àlex Garcia, La Vanguardia

Although our Nov. 9-11 concerts, Remembering Lenny, honor the life and legacy of Leonard Bernstein, it’s not the only celebration our Music Director John DeMain will participate in for the famed composer and conductor. In October, John traveled to Spain to conduct Candide at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. This was the opera’s debut performance at this theater.

Read the latest updates and reviews of the performances below!

From Seen and Heard International:

It is no exaggeration to say that this performance, with its strong musical direction and an excellent cast, was a tremendous success. It was one of those nights that the entire audience seemed to enjoy – and many were introduced to a work that it is definitely worth knowing. A fully staged Candide would have been a treat, but in this concert version all the soloists sang without reference to the score and with great naturalness and enthusiasm.

 

John DeMain offered a reading full of life and joy, demonstrating a clear mastery of the work and a more than remarkable degree of familiarization with Bernstein’s music. The orchestra was superb under his baton, and the same can be said of the chorus, which sounded even better than usual.

 

—  José M. Irurzun (read the full review)

John also sat down with La Vanguardia to talk about his personal history with Lenny. Click here to read the full interview in Spanish.

The Madison Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Bernstein in our 2018-2019 season with concerts titled Remembering Lenny, November 9-11. The first half celebrates Lenny the composer, and features Overture to Candide, Three Dances from On the Town, and Symphony No. 2: Age of Anxiety with guest pianist Christopher Taylor. The second half celebrates Lenny the composer with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 – the last piece Bernstein ever conducted. Learn more and buy tickets.

Loading...