Name: A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music
Start: 2026-06-14T16:00:00
Location: Overture Center for the Arts

Julian Rhee

John DeMain

Madison Symphony Orchestra

This spectacular annual celebration has become a joyful way to begin the holiday season in our community for concertgoers of all ages. It’s no wonder that Maestro DeMain is bringing two of his favorite soloists, soprano Alexandra LoBianco and bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen, to share their gifts, for his 32nd season. The Madison Symphony Chorus, Madison Youth Choirs, and the Mt. Zion Gospel Choir join us to bring this special concert to life. You’ll experience the same blend of familiar and new once again this year. The experience starts with caroling in the lobby with the Chorus before each performance to set the mood. Bring your family and friends to share this beloved Madison tradition with us!

A Madison Symphony Christmas 2025

Overture Center for the Arts

Your Symphony’s new year begins with Gabriela Lena Frank’s Escaramuza (meaning “skirmish” in Spanish) — a dynamic and colorful work inspired by her Peruvian heritage. This spirited piece captures the energy of the lively Kachampa Andean dance celebrating the agility and strength of Inca warriors. Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier Suite is a symphonic distillation of his beloved opera, bursting with elegance, humor, and romantic nostalgia — sweeping waltzes and tender love duets that have enchanted audiences for more than a century. Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 is a monumental work that combines virtuosic piano passages with symphonic grandeur. One of our favorite pianists, the magisterial Yefim Bronfman, brings his formidable technique and interpretative depth to this masterpiece. The sheer beauty of this work will lift our spirits to start a new year together.

Heartbeat

Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a decidedly playful overture by a very youthful Felix Mendelssohn (composed when he was just 17 years old). This sparkling work captures the magic of the fairy kingdom, the humor of the lovers’ entanglements, and the grandeur of Theseus’ court. Violinist Rachel Barton Pine returns to play Korngold’s Violin Concerto — a lush and romantic work that glows with cinematic beauty and emotional depth — bridging the worlds of classical music and Hollywood film scores. Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune is dreamlike music inspired by Stéphane Mallarmé’s poem about a faun’s sensual reverie that paints a lush and languid musical landscape, and a sense of wonder. Stravinsky’s ballet Petrushka tells the story of a tragic puppet brought to life by a magician, set against the vibrant backdrop of a Russian fair. All four of these lively pieces of music will fill us with a lightness of being.

Playful Pursuits

Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks is a mischievous tone poem that follows the antics of a legendary trickster. From daring escapades to clever pranks, the music captures Till’s irreverent spirit with virtuosic orchestral writing and humor. Emanuel Ax returns to lend his mastery and lyricism to Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25 — a work filled with grandeur and elegance composed at the height of his creative genius. Grammy winning composer Gabriela Ortiz grew up steeped in the indigenous music of her native Mexico. Her Téenek channels the spirit of the Huasteca region of Mexico. Respighi’s Pines of Rome is a symphonic masterpiece that paints a vivid portrait of Italy’s Eternal City through its famous pine trees — opening with a scene of children at play, and ending with a depiction of a Roman Army on the march. This work’s dramatic orchestration, including offstage brass and bird calls, creates a sensory experience like no other. You’ll feel energy, power, and sense of place in each piece of music at this concert.

Force of Nature

Madison Symphony Orchestra’s MSO at the Movies presents Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert featuring John Williams’ GRAMMY® Award-winning score performed live to the film led by conductor Kyle Knox at Overture Hall.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark™ Live in Concert

Peruvian composer Jimmy López’s Fiesta! Four Pop Dances for Orchestra is a vibrant and exhilarating celebration of life, culture, and happiness. Filled with pulsating rhythms, bold colors, and infectious energy, it draws from the rich traditions of Latin American music and ends with a blazing Techno finale. Rodrigo’s Concierto Andaluz performed by the world-renowned Los Angeles Guitar Quartet celebrates the spirit of Andalusia, a region in southern Spain with its lively rhythms and soulful melodies. Each movement captures a unique aspect of Spanish culture, from the exuberance of a flamenco dance to the delicate beauty of a serenade. This work shines as a testament to Rodrigo’s genius and the flavorful allure of Spanish music. Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 is a powerful work often described as the “Symphony of Independence.” It is deeply rooted in the Finnish composer’s national identity, filled with moments of lyrical beauty and triumphant resolve. We’ll come away from this concert feeling the rhythms of living through music.

Four the Soul

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is often described as “fate knocking at the door.” The symphony reflects his personal struggle with adversity and his triumph over despair — bursting with vitality, defiance, and an unshakable belief in the human spirit — transcending its time and place to become a symbol and voice of resilience, freedom, and hope. Looking to the future, the MSO has commissioned composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create a world premiere work in celebration of our 100th Anniversary. EARTH: A Choral Symphony will celebrate our beautiful planet and humanity’s place on it. Composed in four movements, the piece explores themes of truth and possibility, with each movement touching on a different aspect of the wonder of Earth and our place in its story. John DeMain and the Madison Symphony Orchestra, famed Met Opera soprano Ailyn Pérez, and three choruses, will weave together elements of the story in these world premiere performances. We invite you to witness the birth of this dramatic new work that will speak of our Earth, the vibrant place we share together.

Voices Eternal

Following the conclusion of our 25/26 subscription season, join us for “A Community Gift and Dream — for the Love of Music” June 13-14, 2026.