History (from Wikipedia):
Founded as the Des Moines Civic Orchestra, the Symphony performed its first concert at Hoyt Sherman Place on November 21, 1937, as a joint effort between community and Drake University musicians. Drake professor Frank Noyes served as conductor, beginning a 30-season tenure as conductor.
Subsequent concert sites have included Roosevelt High School (1938-48), the KRNT Theater (1948-54), a three-year return to Hoyt Sherman, and North High School (1957-79). The orchestra has made its home at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines since 1979.
After Noyes's retirement in 1967, Yuri Krasnapolsky became a permanent conductor in 1974. Joseph Giunta has served the role of conductor and musical director since 1989.
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| Hoyt Sherman Place |
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| Des Moines Civic Center--love those seats! |
2016-17 Season:
September:
ROSSINI William Tell Overture
J.S. BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9, “Choral – An Ode to Joy”
Scoring: Traditional format: -5; Nothing outside the "canon": -5; Aggregate score: 10
October:
J.S. BACH Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9, “Choral – An Ode to Joy”
Scoring: Traditional format: -5; Nothing outside the "canon": -5; Aggregate score: 10
October:
WAGNER Overture to The Flying Dutchman
BRAHMS Violin Concerto
MOZART Symphony No. 35 “Haffner”
R. STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
This one's kind of a toughie, as the Strauss is tossed in because the Mozart symphony isn't that long (21-22 minutes). Still, following such a delightful piece with the excess of Strauss is a rather gaudy choice. Scoring: Format: -5; Canon: -5; Aggregate: 10
November:
BRAHMS Violin Concerto
MOZART Symphony No. 35 “Haffner”
R. STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
This one's kind of a toughie, as the Strauss is tossed in because the Mozart symphony isn't that long (21-22 minutes). Still, following such a delightful piece with the excess of Strauss is a rather gaudy choice. Scoring: Format: -5; Canon: -5; Aggregate: 10
November:
TCHAIKOVSKY Romeo & Juliet (Overture-Fantasy)
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2
PROKOFIEV Music from Romeo & Juliet
BORODIN Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Another oddity. It's all Russian and it's all popular, though there is no real "symphony" here. Regardless "warhorses" all. Scoring: Canon: -5; Aggregate: 15;
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 2
PROKOFIEV Music from Romeo & Juliet
BORODIN Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Another oddity. It's all Russian and it's all popular, though there is no real "symphony" here. Regardless "warhorses" all. Scoring: Canon: -5; Aggregate: 15;
January (JoAnn Falletta conducting)
BRAHMS Academic Festival Overture
William BOLCOM Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4 “Romantic”
Leave it to JoAnn Falletta to program something out of the mainstream. Still, even with the music of Bolcom, the program follows the "Overture - Concerto - Symphony" format. Scoring: Format:-5; Contemporary (and American!): +5; Aggregate: 20.
William BOLCOM Concerto Grosso for Saxophone Quartet
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4 “Romantic”
Leave it to JoAnn Falletta to program something out of the mainstream. Still, even with the music of Bolcom, the program follows the "Overture - Concerto - Symphony" format. Scoring: Format:-5; Contemporary (and American!): +5; Aggregate: 20.
March:
MENDELSSOHN Music from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2
MUSSORGSKY/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Another 10. Obvious reasons. A program of "favorites" just thrown together.
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2
MUSSORGSKY/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Another 10. Obvious reasons. A program of "favorites" just thrown together.
April: Beyond the Score
BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique
Scoring: 5. Who doesn't know nearly all there is to know about Symphonie Fantastique?
Scoring: 5. Who doesn't know nearly all there is to know about Symphonie Fantastique?
May:
HINDEMITH Symphonic Metamorphosis
Michael DAUGHERTY American Gothic
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1
RAVEL Bolero
Scoring for programming the under-represented Hindemith, as well as Daugherty (http://michaeldaugherty.net/index.cfm?id=145&i=1&pagename=works). Still, the inclusion of Bolero negates all else. An interesting program made trite. Scoring: 10
Des Moines total score: 70
Divisor: 7 concerts
Average score: 10
Michael DAUGHERTY American Gothic
SAINT-SAËNS Cello Concerto No. 1
RAVEL Bolero
Scoring for programming the under-represented Hindemith, as well as Daugherty (http://michaeldaugherty.net/index.cfm?id=145&i=1&pagename=works). Still, the inclusion of Bolero negates all else. An interesting program made trite. Scoring: 10
Des Moines total score: 70
Divisor: 7 concerts
Average score: 10
The Dubuque Symphony
History (Wiki)
Although its antecedents may be traced as far back as 1903, the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, as currently structured, was organized in 1958 as the “University Civic Symphony” under the auspices of the University of Dubuque. The name was changed to the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in 1974 to reflect the organization’s mission to serve the entire community.
More than 40 years ago, the orchestra presented five concerts yearly under the baton of founding Music Director and Conductor Dr. Parviz Mahmoud, who served until 1985. Subsequent conductors include Nicholas Palmer (1985-2000) and current Music Director and Conductor, William Intriligator.
Although the orchestra has previous split time at the University of Dubuque's acoustically superior Heritage Center, all 2016-17 programs are at Five Flags Theater:
More than 40 years ago, the orchestra presented five concerts yearly under the baton of founding Music Director and Conductor Dr. Parviz Mahmoud, who served until 1985. Subsequent conductors include Nicholas Palmer (1985-2000) and current Music Director and Conductor, William Intriligator.
Although the orchestra has previous split time at the University of Dubuque's acoustically superior Heritage Center, all 2016-17 programs are at Five Flags Theater:
2016-17 Season:
Visitors to the DSO website are greeted by this image:
The description of the coming season states, "You are invited to join us for a SEASON OF THE ARTS, as we explore some of the ways music has been inspired by other art forms such as literature, theater, film, the visual arts, and dance."Visitors to the DSO website are greeted by this image:
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| Resistance is futile! Is this photo really inviting? |
October: Music and Drama:
MENDELSSOHN Overture from A Midsummer Night's DreamJOHN LUNN Downton Abbey Suite
TCHAIKOVSKY The Tempest fantasy-overture
BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 - Ilya Yakushev, piano
I'm trying to figure out the "drama" part of the Prokofiev concerto. The three well-known "drama pieces" are known to all. And TV music? No comment.
Score: Format: -2; Canon: -5; Aggregate: 13
ROSSINI The Silken Ladder Overture
PAGANINI Variations on one string on a theme by Rossini - Dino De Palma, violin
SAINT-SAËNS Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso - Dino De Palma, violin
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7
WILLIAMS Main Title & Imperial March from Star Wars
WILLIAMS Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone
WILLIAMS Catch Me If You Can: Escapades for Alto Saxophone & Orchestra - Allen Cordingley, saxophone
GILBERTSON Tragedy Tomorrow
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade
I'm sorry, but this is a pops concert on a subscription series. 10.
April: Music & Fantasy
BRAHMS Symphony No. 3
JENKINS New Work, DSO commission (WORLD PREMIERE) a short new premiere by Dubuque native Derek Jenkins
BRUCH Scottish Fantasy - Robert Zimansky, violin
The Brahms Symphony will appear early in the program because it always does. It's the composer's best, but ends softly (and incredibly profound!) "A short new premiere?" So the audience won't go running away. Let's see: violin concertos. Mozart's 5, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Barber. I'd prefer the latter, but it's a toughie, especially for the orchestra. Maybe find somebody who plays a piece that everybody doesn't know? Zimansky has a slew of seldom-heard early 20th-century concertos under his belt. Let's hear one! 10
Season total score: 55
Divisor: (5)
Aggregate: 11
NEXT UP: Madison vs. OrchIowa, DeMain takes on Hankewich.
November: Music & Movement (Gianna Fratta, Conductor)
ROSSINI The Barber of Seville OvertureROSSINI The Silken Ladder Overture
PAGANINI Variations on one string on a theme by Rossini - Dino De Palma, violin
SAINT-SAËNS Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso - Dino De Palma, violin
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7
Where's the "movement"? OK, two overtures, two concert pieces, and a symphony still don't break the mold. By the way, it appears that conductor Fratta and violinist DePalma might be a "package deal"; they've worked a great deal together. Scoring: Format: -5; Canon: -5; Aggregate: 10.
February: DSO Showcase
SCHUMANN Concert-piece for Four French Horns & Orchestra - Über Horn Quartet
SÉJOURNÉ Concerto for Marimba & String Orchestra - Keith Lienert, marimba
PRICE-BRENNER Sinfonia for Small String Orchestra
SCHUBERT Ballet Music in G from Rosamunde
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
A concert I don't know what to make of: there is contemporary music (Sejourne and Price-Brenner) but the rest. It's also a very odd combination of unrelated things. How to score? All the makings of the traditional format and three works from the canon. Give it the benefit of the doubt and a 12.
March: Music & Movies
February: DSO Showcase
SÉJOURNÉ Concerto for Marimba & String Orchestra - Keith Lienert, marimba
PRICE-BRENNER Sinfonia for Small String Orchestra
SCHUBERT Ballet Music in G from Rosamunde
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
A concert I don't know what to make of: there is contemporary music (Sejourne and Price-Brenner) but the rest. It's also a very odd combination of unrelated things. How to score? All the makings of the traditional format and three works from the canon. Give it the benefit of the doubt and a 12.
WILLIAMS Main Title & Imperial March from Star Wars
WILLIAMS Hedwig’s Theme from Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone
WILLIAMS Catch Me If You Can: Escapades for Alto Saxophone & Orchestra - Allen Cordingley, saxophone
GILBERTSON Tragedy Tomorrow
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade
I'm sorry, but this is a pops concert on a subscription series. 10.
April: Music & Fantasy
JENKINS New Work, DSO commission (WORLD PREMIERE) a short new premiere by Dubuque native Derek Jenkins
BRUCH Scottish Fantasy - Robert Zimansky, violin
The Brahms Symphony will appear early in the program because it always does. It's the composer's best, but ends softly (and incredibly profound!) "A short new premiere?" So the audience won't go running away. Let's see: violin concertos. Mozart's 5, Beethoven, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Barber. I'd prefer the latter, but it's a toughie, especially for the orchestra. Maybe find somebody who plays a piece that everybody doesn't know? Zimansky has a slew of seldom-heard early 20th-century concertos under his belt. Let's hear one! 10
Season total score: 55
Divisor: (5)
Aggregate: 11
NEXT UP: Madison vs. OrchIowa, DeMain takes on Hankewich.
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