FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2019 (updated, July 1, 2019)
The Madison Symphony Orchestra Announces its 2019-2020 Season
Season launch celebrates 94 years of music in Madison and Wisconsin
Madison, Wis. – The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s (MSO) 2019–2020 season presents nine new programs that invite audience members to “let the music take them on a journey.” Season subscriptions are available now, and single tickets for all concerts go on sale to the public Saturday, August 17, 2019.
“Let the universal language of music as expressed through live orchestral magic lift your soul, enliven your senses, and move your heart. That is where the music will take you and we want you to be there with us,” said MSO Music Director John DeMain. “This season is filled with new and returning guest artists, as well as features some of our favorites to perform combined with works that will be a first for our artists. I hope you’ll join us for another exciting year in music.”
2019–2020 subscription series concerts begin in September 2019, featuring exciting guest artists and new concert themes such as:
- “Love, Lust & Redemption” (Sept. 27-29) channels the power of the Madison Symphony’s Colossal Klais as Principal Organist and Curator of the Overture Concert Organ Greg Zelek opens the season with Barber’s Toccata Festiva. The all-orchestral program also features the MSO exploring the tonal sensuality of Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7.
- “Rachel Barton Pine Plays Khachaturian” (Oct. 18-20) welcomes violinist Rachel Barton Pine to Overture Hall for her MSO debut and will highlight the works of three brilliant Soviet composers. Experience Ms. Pine performing Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto in D minor and the MSO presenting Prokofiev’s Suite from Lieutenant Kijé and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9.
- “Joyce Yang Plays Prokofiev” (Nov. 8-10) showcases the power and agility of pianist Joyce Yang as she plays Prokofiev’s masterwork Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, with the MSO performing Kernis’ Newly Drawn Sky and Schumann’s Symphony No. 5.
- “A Madison Symphony Christmas” (Dec. 13-15) is the beloved annual kickoff to the holiday season in the Madison community and embraces the season with Christmas classics and new music featuring the orchestra, Madison Symphony Chorus, Madison Youth Choirs, Mount Zion Gospel Choir and opera stars Mackenzie Whitney, Tenor, and Michelle Johnson, Soprano, on stage for this annual family-friendly tradition.
- The MSO’s 2019–2020 season also includes the popular multimedia production of Beyond the Score®, Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 5: Pure Propaganda. Live actors and multimedia images are featured in the first half, followed by the MSO performing the entire work in the second half. Joining the orchestra are American Players Theatre actors James Ridge, Colleen Madden, Marcus Truschinski, Tracy Arnold and MSO’s Dan Lyons on piano. This single performance takes place on Sunday, January 19, 2020*.
- “Romantic Encounter” (Feb. 14-16) examines the brash phalanx of Berlioz’s swashbuckling Le Corsaire Overture, as well as the thundering gravitas of Copland’s Symphony No. 5. Husband and wife duo Pinchas Zukerman, violin, and Amanda Forsyth, cello, make their return to Madison to reprise their performance of Brahms’ Double Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor.
- “The Miracle” (Mar. 6-8) features Violinist Blake Pouliot in his Madison Symphony Orchestra debut performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor and the dynamic guest conductor, Kenneth Woods, leading the MSO in Haydn’s Symphony No. 96, Miracle and Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life).
- “Dvořák Requiem” (Apr. 3-5) combines the MSO and the Madison Symphony Chorus for a performance of Dvořák’s Requiem. Joining the symphony and chorus are soloists Ann Toomey, Soprano; Julie Miller, Mezzo-Soprano; Eric Barry, Tenor; and Matt Boehler, Bass.
- “Piano Power” (May 1-3) brings the 19-20 season to a close, celebrating the return of Grammy Award-winning Russian-Israeli pianist Yefim Bronfman to perform the grand and technically difficult Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor. The program begins with performances of Weber’s Overture from Euryanthe and Stravinsky’s Petroushka.
*Advance tickets for Beyond the Score® are available only to MSO 19-20 season subscribers prior to single tickets going on sale to the general public on Saturday, August 17, 2019. Beyond the Score® is a production of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Gerard McBurney, Creative Director for Beyond the Score®.
ABOUT THE MADISON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The Madison Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 94th season in 2019–2020 under the leadership of Music Director John DeMain. 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. Find more information at madisonsymphony.org.
Madison Symphony Orchestra 2019–2020 Season sponsors include NBC15, the Madison Symphony Orchestra League, The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club, Nedrebo’s Formalwear, American Printing, the Wisconsin State Journal and Madison.com, Madison Magazine, Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, and the Wisconsin Arts Board with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Link to photos of John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra: http://bit.ly/mso19-20orchestraphotos
Link to MSO 19-20 concert and artist photos: http://bit.ly/mso19-20symphonyphotos
Link to 19-20 Madison Symphony season website pages: https://madisonsymphony.org/19-20
Programs, dates, and artists are subject to change.
CONTACT:
Peter Rodgers, Director of Marketing
Phone: (608) 260-8680 x226
Mobile: (415) 713-0235
Email: prodgers@madisonsymphony.org
Additional information, detailed artist bios, and other photos available upon request.
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