Through times good and bad, great music fills our lives with a special sustenance: a uniquely uplifting power, celebrating all that is the best of our humanity. The La Crosse Symphony’s rebound and growth over the last six seasons has been an amazing story -- ultimately, a reflection of the spirit of its community -- and this new season of the LSO shines the brightest of all. From great American classical talents like Rachel Barton Pine to the amazing Russian virtuoso Ilya Yakushev, from our own wonderful ballet companies at Christmastime, to London’s fabulous songstress, Mary Carewe -- the 2016-17 LSO Season brings you that true wealth of star power you’ve come to expect from us, as they collaborate with our splendid LSO musicians to create unforgettable musical events. Whether its pops or classical, every LSO concert this season will be a feast you won’t want to turn down. Do join us, and guarantee your favorite seats now with one of our subscription plans to suit every taste. I so much look forward to seeing you at the Symphony. Sincerely,
Alexander Platt Music Director
The LSO has served the people, institutions and businesses of the greater La Crosse area by elevating its cultural climate. It does this in several ways: • The LSO presents a Symphony for Youth concert day annually for area public and private school children in Grades 3-5. Each year over 3,000 children attend these concerts. • In January 2017, the LSO will host the 18th Annual Rising Stars Concerto Competition. Many of the competitors hail from the Coulee Region. The winners of this competition are awarded a cash prize and the opportunity to perform with the LSO at the March concert. • The LSO awards 11 String Scholarships to area elementary, middle and high school students for lessons with LSO musicians. • The LSO, in collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, School District of La Crosse, and La Crosse Area Youth Symphony Orchestra initiated a new program, Play It Forward-La Crosse, a community used instrument drive, and the BGC Fine Arts Music Program, an after school instrumental music education program at one of the La Crosse Clubs. Donated instruments will give many students who cannot afford to pay for an instrument or private music lessons the opportunity for instrumental music education. • The La Crosse Symphony Orchestras Maestro School Program seeks to musically educate and enlighten young people in the Coulee Region by sending its Music Director, Alexander Platt, into actual rehearsals of the high school and middle school bands and orchestras. • The Conductor Wannabe Competition is a spirit of collaboration. The LSO asks each of the six candidates to choose a non-profit organization that will receive half of the money they each raise during the campaign. Each “vote” is $2 – $1 going to the LSO and the other $1 going to the candidate’s chosen charity. The winner and runner-up with the most votes received make their conducting debuts with the LSO at the April concert.
October 22, 2016
featuring Rachel Barton Pine, violin Beethoven: Overture to THE CONSECRATION OF THE HOUSE Saint-Saens: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor Berlioz: SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Marking the 30th anniversary of the relationship between La Crosse and her beloved Sister City of Epinal, the LSO begins its year with a fabulous journey through some of the greatest French repertoire (with a little help from Beethoven along the way). Back by popular demand, RACHEL BARTON PINE will make child’s play of Camille Saint-Saens’ elegant Third Violin Concerto, after which the LSO will give its first-ever performance of Hector Berlioz’ monumental -- and fiendishly difficult -- SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE, a work which, feeding on Beethoven’s Revolutionary spirit, truly defined the Romantic Era. A not-to-be missed event!
Thank you to our concert co-sponsors
November 19, 2016
The Music of Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, featuring Mary Carewe Featuring the Judy Garland hits “The Trolley Song,” “The Man That Got Away,” “Get Happy,” “But Not For Me,” “Over the Rainbow,” and “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart,” and the Liza Minnelli favorites “Sing Happy,” “New York, New York,” “Losing My Mind,” “Liza With a ‘Z,’” “Maybe This Time,” “Some People,” and “CABARET” The latest addition to the LSO’s growing family of world-class soloists, London songstress MARY CAREWE, still basking in the raves from her “OO7” event with us last year, brings to La Crosse an evening she’s performed with many of the finest British orchestras--a celebration of the extraordinary careers of JUDY GARLAND and LIZA MINNELLI, the most legendary mother-daughter team in the history of entertainment. From THE WIZARD OF OZ to CABARET, Mary will explore some of the songs now synonymous with these great names--and, in tribute to Judy’s lifelong love of the music of George Gershwin, the LSO will prove its mettle in Robert Russell Bennett’s sprawling “Symphonic Picture” after PORGY AND BESS.
Thank you to our concert sponsors
George & Connie Smith
December 16 and 17, 2016
featuring the La Crosse Dance Centre and Ballet La Crosse Bizet: “Carillon” from L’ARLISIENNE Chip Davis/Mannheim Steamroller: Deck the Halls Hershy Kay: Pat-A-Pan, a Fantasie Chip Davis: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Peter Wilhousky/Richard Hayman: Carol of the Bells Chip Davis/Calvin Custer: Stille Nacht Mel Torme/Bob Lowden: The Christmas Song Calvin Custer: It’s Christmastime Leroy Anderson: Sleigh Ride ------------------------------------------------------------------------Leo Delibes: Great moments from COPPELIA (1870) John Finnegan: A Christmas Sing-Along Thank you to our concert sponsors
Nancy Gerrard & Rick Staff
Join us for another of the LSO’s magnificent Holiday celebrations, as we once again spotlight both La Crosse resident ballet companies in two glittering evenings of music and dance. The evening’s first half will be a musical journey through many of the most favorite popular hits this time of year -- from “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” to the 1970s studio-sound of Calvin Custer, to the newer Holiday chestnuts from Mannheim Steamroller! Inspired by ETA Hoffmann’s magical fairytale “The Sandman” -- the same author who inspired THE NUTCRACKER -Leo Delibes’ ravishing ballet COPPELIA was premiered in Paris in the last shimmering days of France’s “Second Empire”; it would later be the inspiration for the great ballets of Tchaikovsky himself. Come see why this glittering, romantic score remains to this day the favorite work of ballet companies throughout the world. As always, John Finnegan’s “Christmas Sing-Along” wraps up La Crosse’s finest Holiday event.
The 18th Annual RISING STARS CONCERTO C O M P E T I T I O N
PLEASE JOIN US! ATTENDANCE IS FREE!!
Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 3:30 pm in the Recital Hall at Viterbo University
Be part of the thrilling finals competition as six area high school instrumental and piano finalists compete for the opportunity to perform with the LSO at the February concert. Our instrumental winner receives the $2000 Jane Saline Memorial Award; the piano winner receives the $2000 Anna Beth Culver Award. Mark your calendar for an afternoon of sensational young talent and be the first to meet our guest artists for March. Application, repertoire list, competition rules and entry deadline are available at:
www.lacrossesymphony.org For more information, contact David Reedy at davidhreedy@gmail.com or Janet Roth at theroths07@msn.com
Don’t miss this FREE ANNUAL LSO EVENT
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Join us in celebrating 27 years
An n u a th
of Elegance & Romance Contact us today to reserve your table
608.783.2121 follow us on facebook to learn more!
SA T UR D A Y, FE B R UA R Y 1 1 , 2 01 7 THE CARGILL ROOM AT RIVERSIDE CENTER SOUTH 332 FRONT STREET S., LA CROSSE THE WATERFRONT BALLROOM
$100 per person
www.lacrossesymphony.org
March 18, 2017
An evening with the winners of the LSO RISING STARS Concerto Competition Prokofiev: Symphony
No. 1, “Classical Symphony” Favorite Concerto Movements with the Winners of the LSO “Rising Stars” Competition, Piano and Instrumental Divisions Georges Bizet: Symphony No. 1 in C Paris, city of youth and light, inspires our performances of two of the greatest “first symphonies” of all time -- bookends on either side of our latest pair of “Rising Stars” competition winners, in movements from favorite concertos. Prokofiev’s “Classical Symphony” was composed just as its young Russian genius was cementing his badboy reputation in Paris, at the time of the Bolshevik Revolution; it remains his most charming work. Years before composing his immortal opera CARMEN, the young Paris Conservatory student Georges Bizet would write his “Symphony in C” as a composition exercise for his teacher, Charles Gounod...the student quietly surpassing his master, Bizet put his symphony away in a drawer, not to be discovered until the early 20th century! Its youthful spirit has made it a favorite ever since.
Thank you to our concert sponsor
because of the following endowment donors. . . $250,000 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE ANONYMOUS CHARLES & SUE GELATT WEBER FAMILY FOUNDATION
$100,000 CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE HANSEN FAMILY FOUNDATION DAVID & BARBARA SKOGEN If you’d like to be included in this prestigious group, please contact the LSO office at
608.783.2121
$25,000 Principal’s Circle
$5,000 Patron’s Circle
$4,999 or under-Friends Circle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anonymous (2) In Memory of Vicki Bigley Joe & Pat Heim Richard Record
Anonymous Jerry & Marilyn Arndt John Bolstad Anna Beth Culver Andrew & Jamie Dahl Terry Rindfleisch & Linda Hirsh Drs. John & Kerrie Moore James Munn David Reedy Bob & Janet Roth Marti Schwem George & Connie Smith Dr. Michael & Carolyn White
Nancy & Don Ellingson Tracy Fell Tammy Fisher David & Susan Foran Mike Forbes Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration Mary Funk David & Abigail Gerzema Mark Glasel Bethany Gonella David & Nancy Goode Steve Groth Mary Ann Gschwind Sigurd Gundersen III & Jean Ann Gundersen Charles & Shirley Haas Nori Hadley Jean Hammons Natalie Hartigan Charlie & Jan Henry Mary Beth Hensel Carol Hester
$10,000 Artist’s Circle
Ellyn Ash In Memory of Randolph Baier Barry Blomquist & Eva Dahl Ruth M. Dalton, M.D. Dr. Sigurd Gundersen, Jr. Ken Riley & Jay Lokken The Marie Lokken Family Memorial John & Linda Lyche Richard & Joan Marchiando Ernie & Sally Micek Tom & Amy Strom
$4,999 or underFriends Circle Jesus Arellano Elizabeth Becker Kathy Boarman Nancy Borgen Lori Carlson Michael & Laura Chesher Mark & Jeanne Connelly Timothy Cox In Memory of Lucy Davidson
Harry Hindson Arthur & Kathryn Ingalls Jay & Dawn Jaehnke Dr. Julia Johnson & Jackson Jantzen Kris Jenkins Cindy Johnson Ornelle Jorgensen Anne Judisch Timothy Kamps Gary & Melissa Klein Brian Koh Greg & Susan Knorr Lewis & Charlene Lebakken Bill & Kay Leonard Angelica Lundberg Rich Mac Donald Conrad Madson Randy Mastin Kay Mazza Lorraine Mc Ilraith David Morrison Roy Munderloh
Doug Nelson Elinor Niemisto Tom & Lori Nigon Lance & Sue Paulson Sue Radloff Melissa Roby Amy Scarborough Steve Schani Tom Schauer & Maureen Sullivan Colleen Shaw William & Louise Temte Dr. James & Nancy Terman Kristin Thelander Robert & Lynne Trine Barbara Tristano Randy Van Rooyen & Kelly Nowicki-Van Rooyen Alex & Jackie Vaver Donald Vinger Mark Wamma Roger & Carol Ziff
Our Symphony will continue to thrive!
April 29, 2017
Overture to ZAMPA Two symphonic pieces, with the winners of the LSO 2017 CONDUCTOR WANNABE Competition Schumann: Symphony No. 1, “Spring” Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 -Herold:
featuring Ilya Yakushev, piano Jean-Louis Herold’s rollicking Overture to his 1831 opera, ZAMPA, again provides a slight French accent to our evening celebrating the coming of Spring and the spirit of La Crosse! Every year the LSO “Conductor Wannabe” Competition grows and grows in its level of support for both our Symphony and other deserving non-profit institutions; and once again, the two top fundraisers will try to outdo one another in their newly acquired conducting skills! Robert Schumann’s Symphony in B-flat major, subtitled “Spring” by the composer himself, remains one of the finest flowers of the German Romantic style of the early 19th century, full of festive outbursts and winsome melodies. We wrap up the evening with one of the most deservedly popular of all late Romantic piano concertos: Tchaikovsky’s First, with its immortal opening tune and non-stop virtuoso pyrotechnics! Who better to play it for us than the brilliant young ILYA YAKUSHEV, the LSO’s favorite Russian wizard of the keys.
Thank you to our concert sponsor
June 10, 2017
Mozart: Symphony No. 31 in D, “Paris” Debussy: Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra Russell Platt: Clarinet Concerto (2002)
featuring Jose Franch-Ballester, clarinet
Stravinsky:
THE FIREBIRD Suite (version of 1945)
Yes, Russell Platt, classical music editor at THE NEW YORKER magazine, is indeed our Maestro’s twin brother, and his amazing Clarinet Concerto is the perfect virtuoso vehicle for the overdue return of that dashing young Spaniard JOSE FRANCH-BALLESTER to the La Crosse Symphony stage. The evening will begin with Mozart’s glorious “Paris Symphony,” written while he was the toast of the town in The City of Light. Debussy’s reflective Rhapsody for Clarinet remains one of the gems of French Impressionism; its composer had a “frenemy” in the young whipper-snapper Igor Stravinsky, whose ballet THE FIREBIRD, written in 1910 for Serge Diaghilev’s legendary “Ballets Russes,” was taking Paris by storm. But while born in Paris, THE FIREBIRD’s third and final version would be engendered in New York, where the master gently updated his score for George Balachine’s New York Ballet. Stravinsky’s immortal masterpiece will be the perfect, uplifting finale to another magnificent LSO season.
Thank you to our concert sponsor
La Crosse Symphony 20/30 Club HOW DOES THE 20/30 CLUB WORK? Simply sign up on our website www.lacrossesymphony.org for The 20/30 Club, and we’ll send you the coupon code to use online to receive the discount. No membership fees, no rush lines – just world-class music at an extremely affordable price.
ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR COUPON CODE… Pick any regular LSO concert. Choose your seats and enter the coupon code at checkout. Bring your ID to will-call the day of the concert to get your tickets. Enjoy live world-class music! Repeat this process as many times as you like throughout the entire season. Join The 20/30 Club now!
If you have any questions contact LSO Executive Director, Tracy Gaskin at tracyf@lacrossesymphony.org. • www.lacrossesymphony.org 608.783.2121 ext. 2
The 20/30 Club is designed to reach out to those between the ages of 18 to 39 who may not regularly have the opportunity to attend a symphony concert. The 20/30 Club members are eligible to receive $10 best available seats to La Crosse Symphony Orchestra concerts located at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center. *Some restrictions may apply.
La C
rosse Top im (Wis c Bott om p onsin) Pu age court b hoto e court lic Library sy of the esy o A f Sco rchives tt Bjo rge
Concerts of the season for only $114 (main floor/lower balcony)
$63.52 (upper balcony) **same seat every concert is not guaranteed.
Did you know... you can purchase tickets online from the comfort of your own home?
NEW SUBSCRIBERS in the upper balcony pay only $60 with our introductory Season Subscription Discount!
A new subscriber is defined as a first-timer or a subscriber after a lapse of two or more seasons. The introductory subscription discount is valid for one season only.
Students K-12 pay only $10 for any seat to any concert!
www.lacrossesymphony.org
Follow us at www.facebook.com/lacrossesymphony
Name:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City________________________ State_______Zip___________ Phone: _____________________ Email:______________________________________ # OF TICKETS
q Renewal q Same Seats (if available) q Change Seats q New Subscriber $60 q Student Pricing $10
La Crosse Symphony Orchestra February 11, 2017
PICK 3! SEASON TICKETS
AND/OR SINGLE TICKETS
27th Annual Valentine Ball
# OF TICKETS
Waterfront Cargill Room
$100
$114
$114
$63.52
MAIN FLR
LOWER BALCONY
UPPER BALCONY
$228 $228 $127 All concerts are at Viterbo Fine Arts Center 900 Jackson St., La Crosse, WI, unless otherwise specified.
Valentine Ball tickets NOT INCLUDED in Season or Pick 3 tickets Please circle which night you prefer at the December Concert
Oct. 22, 2016
$43.26
Nov. 19, 2016
$43.26
$24.27
$43.26
$43.26
$24.27
Dec. 16 & 17, 2016
$43.26
$43.26
$24.27
Mar. 18, 2017
$43.26
$43.26
$24.27
Apr. 29, 2017
$43.26 $43.26
$43.26 $43.26
$24.27 $24.27
Jun. 10, 2017
TOTAL
Total Ticket Price (tax included)
$
Contribution (Thank you)
$
Grand Total
$
To help keep ticket prices affordable & to help sustain the LSO, please consider q Payment enclosed (please send check or money order) adding a donation to your order.
Method of Payment
q Master Card/Visa/AmEx/Discover q Easy Pay Plan (2 credit card payments of equal amounts at time of order and in February.) q Contributions and ticket order payments may also be made monthly or quarterly. TICKETS: q Monthly q Quarterly CONTRIBUTION: q One-time q Monthly q Quarterly Exp. Date
Send to: La Crosse Symphony Orchestra 201 Main Street | Suite 230 | La Crosse, WI 54601 608.783.2121 | Email: accountant@lacrossesymphony.org Website: www.lacrossesymphony.org
3 Digit Code
Thank you to our valued La Crosse Symphony Orchestra Season Sponsors!
Mr. Richard Record
ral urgery linic of La Crosse
Pat & Joe Heim
Dr. David & Patricia Ludington
George & Connie Smith photo courtesy of Theresa Smerud