Celebrate our season finale with us tonight, tomorrow, and Sunday!
Florence Price’s Third Symphony + Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana
“May closes our season with our first presentation of a work by African American composer Florence Price and the great popular favorite Carmina Burana featuring our MSO Chorus, soloists, and youth choirs.
Florence Price’s third symphony, first performed in her lifetime and then sidelined for decades, I hope will be a very pleasant surprise for our audience. It has wonderful African American influences, including an exhilarating “Juba” movement, and is a well-written composition throughout. Of her symphonies, this one is my favorite, and I so look forward to sharing this discovery with you.
This time around performing Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, I‘ve asked members of the Madison Youth Choirs (both young members as well as high schoolers) and West High School choristers to join our wonderful Madison Symphony Chorus for this ribald and vigorous work depicting life in the Middle Ages. Jeni Houser, Ben Edquist, and Justin Kroll, all Madison Opera favorites, are our spectacular soloists for this cantata. The orchestration is so colorful and the vocal writing, both lyrical and wildly passionate, provides a truly rousing climax to our 22/23 season.” — Music Director John DeMain
Student Rush Tickets: $15
Please Note: Additional Overture Center fees apply when purchasing online and over the phone. No fees added when purchasing in-person.
Overture Center Box Office, 201 State St. (hours)
Upcoming Performances & Other News
23/24 Subscriptions Available Online Now!
Be a part of our 23/24 season celebrating 30 years of John DeMain’s artistic leadership of your Madison Symphony Orchestra. You’ll experience surprises and delights, the thrill of new discoveries, and emotions. Brochures will be mailed soon and online subscriptions are available now.
Employment Opportunity: Data and Analytics Manager
The Madison Symphony Orchestra is seeking an experienced Data and Analytics Manager to join our administrative team. This new, full-time position will increase the capacity of our development and marketing departments by leading, implementing and overseeing all aspects of the MSO’s CRM systems, and being responsible for the organization’s overall data health and security.
View the full position and application instructions on our website. For best consideration, apply by May 19, 2023.
Free Rhapsodie Quartet Recital
Thursday, May 18, 7:00 p.m.
Promenade Hall, Overture Center
The resident quartet of our award-winning HeartStrings® program, the Rhapsodie Quartet includes our Co-Concertmaster Suzanne Beia, Principal Violist Christopher Dozoryst, Principal Cellist Karl Lavine, and violinist Laura Burns. United in mission, the members of the quartet create a fusion of talent, passion, and heart in their performances. Join us in Overture Center’s Promenade Hall — it’s FREE and open to the public!
Learn more about the performance and register to confirm your attendance.
WYSO & MSO Present The Eugenie Mayer Bolz Family Concerts: Youth Orchestra
Saturday, May 20, 7:00 p.m.
Hamel Music Center
Join the Madison Symphony Orchestra in a special end-of-year side-by-side concert in partnership with the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras (WYSO), conducted by MSO Associate Conductor Kyle Knox. The winner of WYSO’s 2023 Concerto Competition, cellist Katarina Kenney, will be featured. Tickets are $10 for youth (under 19) and $20 for adults.
Concert on the Green
Monday, June 19
Bishops Bay Country Club
RSVP by June 5!
The Madison Symphony Orchestra League’s Concert on the Green returns to Bishop Bay Country Club on Monday, June 19! Play in the golf tournament and have your photo taken with Mike Leckrone, UW Band Director emeritus, who once again joins the event as celebrity guest. Then, join the evening cocktail party before heading under the lakeside tent for dinner and the “Let Freedom Ring” concert celebrating Juneteenth. All proceeds benefit the MSO’s Education and Community Engagement Programs.
Free Community Concert
Saturday, June 24, 4:00 p.m.
Penn Park
Join the Madison Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with Mt. Zion Gospel Choir and Associate Conductor Kyle Knox for a free community concert at Penn Park. Bring the family for an afternoon at the park with live music and food trucks! Program selections include pieces by Dvořák, Florence Price, arrangements by Leotha Stanley, and more.
Community Events
The Little Prince: MYC’s Spring Concert Series
May 13-14
Verona High School Performing Arts Center
Join the Madison Youth Choirs on May 13 and 14 when over 400 young singers from our community perform a wide variety of music that reflects the timeless lessons of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved and complex novella, “The Little Prince.” Tickets are $10 for adults or $5 for youth under 19. A livestream will also be available. Learn more and buy tickets.
Con Vivo 20th Anniversary Concert
Saturday, June 3, 7:30PM
First Congregational Church, Madison
con vivo!… music with life is celebrating its 20th anniversary season with a special concert featuring 16 musicians and Madison Symphony Music Director John DeMain conducting works by Wagner and Dvorak. The concert, entitled, “Celebration!,” will be at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3. It will take place at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 1609 University Ave., across from Camp Randall. Tickets can be purchased at the door. DeMain will conduct the chamber music piece, “Siegfried Idyll” by Richard Wagner, in its original version, followed by Antonin Dvořák’s “Serenade for Winds, Op. 44.” Audience members are invited to join con vivo! musicians after the concert for a free reception. Discover more about the concert and read an interview with John DeMain.
Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society Chamber Music Festival
June 9-25
Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society (BDDS) presents its 32nd summer chamber music festival, OFF THE CUFF, June 9-25, 2023. This festival features nine concerts over three weekends, each weekend offers three different programs. The venues are intimate: the state-of-the-art new Collins Recital Hall, in the Mead Witter School of Music, on the UW-Madison campus and the jewel box historic Stoughton Opera House. Learn more and buy tickets.
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