2014-15 Season www.lacrossesymphony.org
Dear Friends, As I write to you, the clouds of war rage over Africa, Ukraine, and the Middle East. We had planned our 2014-15 LSO Season, “War and Peace,” in remembrance of the centenary of the start of the First World War; but we now offer it to you even more fervently as an emblem of hope for peace in our world. Music, like war, is universal; but for time immemorial it has also served as the great pathway to human self-awareness, mutual understanding, and the realization of our noblest aspirations. As Abraham Lincoln would have said, music surely represents “the better angels of our nature,” and those angels will be in abundance in our rich, new season of music for you. Whether we’ll be commemorating the start of World War I, the terrible anxieties of the Cold War or World War II, or the service and sacrifice of our veterans in “America’s Forgotten War,” the conflict in Korea, I hope you’ll join us as we enjoy the power of great music to serve as both a vessel of reflection and a celebration of the human spirit, always reminding us of what matters most. I thank you also for your continued support of the La Crosse Symphony, one of the cultural treasures of this great community which I feel so privileged to serve. Welcome to what promises to be another shining season of the LSO! We couldn’t make it happen without you.
With gratitude,
Alexander Platt Music Director
A
lexander Platt is Music Director of the Wisconsin Philharmonic, the Marion Indiana Philharmonic, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra and the Grand Forks Symphony Orchestra, and spends his summers in Woodstock, New York as Music Director of the Maverick Concerts, the oldest summer chamber-music festival in America. He also recently concluded twelve seasons as Resident Conductor and Music Advisor of Chicago Opera Theater (2001-12). At COT he led the Chicago premieres of Britten’s DEATH IN VENICE, John Adams’ NIXON IN CHINA, Dmitri Shostakovich’s MOSCOW PARADISE and Britten’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM; the world premiere of the Tony Kushner/Maurice Sendak version of Hans Krasa’s BRUNDIBAR; the double-bill of Schoenberg’s ERWARTUNG and Bartok’s BLUEBEARD’S CASTLE with Samuel Ramey and Nancy Gustafson, and the world-premiere recording of Kurka’s THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK — all to consistently high acclaim in the major papers of Chicago and New York. Prior to this he spent twelve years as Music Director of the Racine Symphony Orchestra, three seasons as Principal Conductor of the Boca Raton Symphonia, and two years as Apprentice Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Opera, conducting Colin Graham’s production of MADAMA BUTTERFLY. A graduate of Yale College, King’s College Cambridge (where he was a British Marshall Scholar) and conducting fellowships at both Aspen and Tanglewood, he has guest-conducted the Brooklyn Philharmonic, the Illinois Philharmonic, the Freiburg Philharmonic in Germany, the Aalborg Symphony in Denmark, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia, Camerata Chicago, the Banff Festival, the Aldeburgh Festival, and the Houston, Charlotte, Columbus and Indianapolis Symphonies. In 2013 he made his debut at the Ravinia Festival, the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to high praise in the Chicago Tribune. He has recorded for Minnesota Public Radio, National Public Radio, the South-West German Radio and the BBC, and his Cedille Records disc with Rachel Barton of Max Bruch’s Scottish Fantasy is still often heard on radio stations across America.
Alexander
Platt
October 18, 2014
The Guns of August:
Music and the First World War The cataclysm of World War I -- “the war that ended peace” -- inspired some extraordinary music which will anchor an unforgettable season opener at the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra. We’ll begin with two works written in direct response to the invasion of Belgium: Elgar’s bristling CARILLON, followed by Debussy’s haunting nocturne of the trenches. Maurice Ravel’s monumental CONCERTO FOR PIANO LEFT HAND, written in 1929 for a great Austrian pianist who lost his right arm in the War, will be revived for us by the brilliant Russian artist ILYA YAKUSHEV. We’ll finish up with the greatest of all Belgian symphonies, the glorious SYMPHONY IN D MINOR of Cesar Franck.
Two Pieces from “King Albert’s Book”: ElGAR
DEBUSSY
Carillon (1914)
Berceuse Heroique (1914)
Ravel
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand Ilya Yakushev, pianist -----------------------------------------------------------------------Franck Symphony in D Minor
Guest Artist
Thank you to our concert sponsor
George & Connie Smith
November 15, 2014
Salute to Our Veterans: Korea and the Cold War
The Cold War, and “The Forgotten War” with North Korea, inspires us to offer you a tribute, in words and music, to that extraordinary time of sacrifice, with our own DON WEBER serving once again as narrator. From signal works of Aaron Copland and Samuel Barber, to favorite popular tunes of the day like FLOWER DRUM SONG, THE KING AND I, the soundtrack to THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI -- even the greatest hits of Frank Sinatra and the theme from M*A*S*H -- it will be a musical evening to cherish. Thank you to our concert sponsor and military personnel veteran ticket underwriter:
Don & Roxanne Weber
The Star-Spangled Banner Hindemith Prelude from the Requiem “For Those We Love” Copland Preamble to a Solemn Occasion (Words: Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations1949) Barber Adagio for Strings Trad “Ari-Rang” by UW-L Korean Percussion Ensemble Barber Night Flight Prelude on “Silent Night” Lyn Murray Prelude and Task Force from THE BRIDGES AT TOKO-RI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------arr. Lowden Armed Forces Salute Rodgers arr. Bennett Suite from FLOWER DRUM SONG Theme music from M*A*S*H Rodgers arr. Bennett Suite from THE KING AND I arr. Custer Salute to Ol’ Blue Eyes arr. Custer Themes from 007 Narrated by arr. Custer Salute to the Big Bands Don Weber
December 19 & 20, 2014
A Russian Christmas
International Russian soprano phenomenon MLADA KHUDOLEY comes back to La Crosse, performing favorite operatic Christmas selections as a gift to our community -from the AVE MARIA to PANIS ANGELICUS and O HOLY NIGHT, she’ll sing the sacred music of the season made immortal by the likes of Dame Joan Sutherland and Luciano Pavarotti. And in two separate evenings, Nikki Balsamo and Misty Lown will bring their own individual interpretations of Alexander Glazunov’s gorgeous imperial ballet, THE SEASONS, in complete performances on the Viterbo stage! Favorite carols both sacred and secular round out the evenings in our LSO tradition.
Guest Artists Mlada Khudoley Misty’s Dance Unlimited La Crosse Dance Centre
Thank you to our concert sponsor
Nigel Hess
A Christmas Overture
Guest Artist Mlada Khudoley, soprano Bizet Agnus Dei Puccini “Vissi d’arte” from TOSCA Bach/Gounod Ave Maria Leontovich/Wilhousky arr. Belich Carol of the Bells Franck Panis Angelicus Adam O Holy Night Tchaikovsky Waltz of the Flowers from THE NUTCRACKER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------GLAZUNOV THE SEASONS, Op. 67
Special Guests FRI: Misty’s Dance Unlimited | SAT: La Crosse Dance Centre
arr. Finnegan
Christmas Sing-Along
: Sponsor ord
ec onsors: R Major k Sp c Di
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Announcing...
The 16th Annual Rising Stars Concerto C o m p e t i t i o n
PLEASE JOIN US! ATTENDANCE IS FREE!!
Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 3:30pm in the Recital Hall at Viterbo University
Be part of the thrilling finals competition as 6 area high school instrumental and piano finalists compete for the opportunity to perform with the LSO at the February concert. Instrumental winner takes home the $2000 Jane Saline Memorial Award while the piano winner leaves with 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 February. Application, repertoire list, competition rules & entry deadline are available at:
www.lacrossesymphony.org For more information, contact: Rita Schuman at tschoo@centurytel.net or Janet Roth at theroths07@msn.com
Don’t miss this FREE ANNUAL LSO event
February 7, 2015
Rising Stars and Voices of the People:
Dvorak
Overture “My Home”, Op.62
Dvorak, Tchaikovsky & Sibelius
Rising Stars Concerto Competition Winners Piano and Instrumental Categories
The rising tide of Nationalism in 19th-century Europe ultimately spawned not only war and revolution, but also some of the most thrilling music ever written. We’ll begin with Dvorak’s musical love-letter to his Bohemian homeland; then, our annual tribute to two of our region’s brightest young shining stars in concerto performances! Following intermission, we’ll cap off the evening with two of the monuments of the Nationalist style -- Tchaikovsky’s Second Symphony No. 2, the so-called “Little Russian” with its Ukrainian folk themes, and Sibelius’ bracing FINLANDIA, OP. 26.
---------------------------------------------------------------------Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2, “Little Russian”
Thank you to our concert sponsors
SIBELIUS
Finlandia, Op. 26
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Saturday, February 14th, 2015 The Cargill Room at Riverside Center South 332 Front Street S., La Crosse The Waterfront Ballroom
$100 per person www.lacrossesymphony.org
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Thank you!
Because of the following donors... $250,000 Leadership Circle Anonymous Charles & Sue Gelatt Weber Family Foundation
$100,000 Conductor’s Circle Hansen Family Foundation David & Barbara Skogen
$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 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 Barry Blomquist & Eva Dahl In Memory of Randolph Baier 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
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make an impact every day: Audience support is an especially important tradition that has sustained the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra since 1898. You can invest in our future and take the LSO to the next level. Contributions support every concert and education program we offer. Include one of the following gifts with your season ticket order: $ To provide a student with individualized lessons by an LSO musician: give $300 to Sponsor a String Scholarship. $
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March 14, 2015
War & Remembrance
Wes Luke violin
The tragedy and triumph of the Second World War inspired a broad variety of unforgettable music from some of the great composers of its era. Following Beethoven’s epic call to freedom, you’ll be moved by Aaron Copland’s heartfelt little tone-poem as a Prairie family reaches out to their son in a far-off land. In total contrast, Dmitri Shostakovich daringly thumbs his nose at Joseph Stalin, spoiling the dictator’s demand for a grand, triumphal work at the end of the “Great Patriotic War.” In between it all, the LSO’s dashing new Concertmaster and Principal Viola perform Mozart’s timeless masterpiece, itself a monument to the power of life over death. Luke Hubbard, viola
Beethoven Copland Mozart
Egmont Overture Letter from Home Sinfonia Concertante Guest Artist, Wes Luke, violin Guest Artist, Luke Hubbard, viola ----------------------------------------------------SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9 in E-flat (1945)
May 2, 2015
Springtime in Paris Paris, in the years between the two World Wars, was a truly magical place full of creativity, excitement and romance. We’ll celebrate the joys of springtime and peace with a galaxy of French favorites by composers Parisian by birth or by inclination. By popular demand, the elegant Italian pianist ALESSIO BAX returns to La Crosse to perform Maurice Ravel’s other piano concerto, the delightfully jazzy CONCERTO IN G MAJOR. From Milhaud’s lusty SUITE PROVENCALE to Gershwin’s timeless portrait of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, to our always irreverent Conductor Wannabe winners, it will be a truly festive finale!
Offenbach Can-Can from “Orpheus in the Underworld” Milhaud SUITE PROVENCALE Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major Guest Artist Alessio Bax, pianist ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Conductor Wannabes I & II Bizet Favorite music from CARMEN George Gershwin AN AMERICAN IN PARIS Thank you to our concert sponsor
photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco
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$63.52 (upper balcony) **same seat every concert is not guaranteed.
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La Crosse Symphony Orchestra February 14, 2015
Pick 3! SEASON tickets Saturday Only
And/or single tickets Oct. 18, 2014
25th Annual Valentine Ball
# OF TICKETS
TOTAL
Total Ticket Price (tax included) $
Waterfront Cargill Room
$100
Contribution (Thank you)
$
$114
$63.52
Grand Total
$
$114 Main Flr
$228
Lower Balcony Upper Balcony
$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
$41
$41
$23
Nov. 15, 2014
$41
$41
$23
Dec. 19 & 20, 2014
$41
$41
$23
Feb. 7, 2015
$41 $41
$41 $41
$23
Mar. 14, 2015 May 2, 2015
$41
$41
$23
$23
Method of Payment
q Payment enclosed (please send check or money order) 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
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Dr. David & Patricia Ludington
Don & Roxanne Weber