Dubuque Symphony Orchestra 24/25 Season Brochure

MusicDirector&Conductor

Welcome

to the 2024 – 2025 concert season of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra!

This year, we celebrate my 25th season as Music Director and Conductor of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. What an incredible quarter-century it has been! After all these years, I still feel honored to be your “Maestro” and to serve this community.

The DSO is proud to present consistently moving and inspiring performances. Reflecting back on the past 25 years, that has included five staged operas, three staged ballets, a staged musical, rock and country concerts, city-wide festivals, world-class guest artists, many world premieres, and a nationwide PBS special.

As we look ahead, we are “pulling out the stops” with an incredible line up of performers and performances this coming season! We welcome world-class soloists cellist Zuill Bailey and violinist Rachel Barton-Pine. We will collaborate again with the Heartland Ballet to present a complete staging of Tchaikovsky’s Swan

John & Alice Butler

Lake ballet. We will commission and premiere two new works by composers with strong ties to the DSO: a new flute concerto by DSO Principal Flute Timothy Hagen and the Symphony No. 1 by Dubuque-native Michael Gilbertson.

Some of the musical masterpieces this season include “Pines of Rome,” Dvorak’s Cello Concerto, Ravel’s “Bolero,” Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony (which is perhaps my “signature piece” with the DSO), and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto. We will also present another Classics program dedicated to Latin-American music at which we will welcome back bandoneonvirtuoso Charles Gorczynski.

To accommodate the staging and dancing needs of the Swan Lake ballet, those performances will take place at the Heritage Center at the University of Dubuque, meaning that there will be four, not five, pairs of Classics concerts at Five Flags Theater.

Endow E d Symphony S E a S on

Our two family concerts are specially designed for kids of all ages. February’s Family Concert will feature brilliant and hilarious actors including Dubuque-native Michael Boudewyns. The DSO is also pleased to present Ultimate Rock Hits in January and Summer Melodies in June.

The future of the DSO is bright! Please join us! The amazing power of orchestral performances can change lives. For me and every member of our orchestra, that is exactly what it did. We know it can change your life, too. Thank you for your support.

Musically yours,

Dr. William Intriligator

Music Director & Conductor

Pines of Rome a Passage of Time

Saturday, OCt 5 7:30pm Sunday, OCt 6 2:00pm Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

reflecting back | lookingforward

As I reflect back on twenty-four great seasons leading the DSO, we have had so many wonderful guest artists join the orchestra! One favorite guest artist from my early years is cellist Zuill Bailey. Zuill is an amazing musician and a dear friend, and his career has flourished greatly since he was last here in 2005. I knew I wanted to bring him back to Dubuque to kick off my 25th anniversary season. And what a dream it is to have him play the amazing Dvorak cello concerto, it’s one of my all-time favorite pieces!

I also thought it would be great to kick off the Classics season with two stunning orchestra showpieces which are favorites of mine: Respighi’s Pines of Rome and John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine. The Adams is a piece the orchestra and I have been hoping to perform for many years, and the Respighi really pulls out all the stops. It even has brass players situated amongst the audience! We haven’t performed it since 2010, so hearing it in October will really put in perspective how far the orchestra has grown artistically and developed over the years since the last time we played it.

Musically yours,

Ottorino Respighi

Antonín Dvorák

Short Ride in a Fast Machine

Pines of Rome

Cello Concerto Zuill Bailey, cello

John Adams

reflecting back | lookingforward

Over the years, the DSO has reached new audiences in many different ways: collaborating with other organizations, performing in unusual venues, hosting festivals, numerous educational programs, etc.

As I reflect back, I have always loved the Latin American music concerts we’ve done, and the ways we connect with our Latino community. There’s something infectious and delightful about the rhythms, dances, and melodies of Latin-American composers, don’t you agree? This program welcomes back the outstanding bandoneon player we featured a few years ago, playing Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla’s symphonic take on tangoes. We will also feature two professional tango dancers on this program! How cool!

The orchestra will perform dances by two Mexican composers, another Argentine composer, as well as Ravel’s mesmerizing and famous Spanish/Cuban dance, Bolero. Yes, the Bolero we all know and love! Wow!

Musically yours,

José Elizondo

Astor Piazzola

Osvaldo Pugliese/ Gorczynski

Arturo Márquez

Alberto Ginastera

Maurice Ravel

Latin American Dances “Aconcagua” Bandoneon Concerto

Charles Gorczynski, bandoneon

La Yumba

Ashley Kalchik & Daniel Moreno, dancers

Danzón No. 8

Four Dances from “Estancia”

Bolero

Latin-American

Saturday, nOV 2 7:30pm Sunday, nOV 3 2:00pm

Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

classics three

Beethoven’s 5th: Darkness to Light

Saturday, feb 15 7:30pm Sunday, feb 16 2:00pm

Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

reflecting back | lookingforward

The Dubuque community can be so proud of this orchestra! We are fortunate to be able to attract outstanding players to perform with us. Over the years, we’ve featured many DSO players as soloists, and they always astound us with their virtuosity and artistry. These concerts will be a first, though: we’ve never featured one of our DSO musicians as a concerto soloist in a piece that they also wrote! Many of you will remember the last time we featured Principal Flute Timothy Hagen in a concerto, and the fun encore he wrote and performed. Now we’ve commissioned him for his first Flute Concerto - an exciting world premiere with the composer as soloist!

Rounding out this program are three other works that reflect my love of Beethoven’s music, Mendelssohn’s music and opera. Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony has become, perhaps, my signature piece with the DSO, one that we’ve performed together countless times, yet one that keeps inspiring us performers and moving audiences.

Musically yours,

The Hebrides Overture

Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra, world premiere Timothy Hagen, flute

Pietro Mascagni

Intermezzo from “Cavalleria Rusticana” Symphony No. 5

Felix Mendelssohn

Timothy Hagen

Ludwig van Beethoven

Gilbertson’s Symphony No. 1

reflecting back | lookingforward

I feel very strongly about the role the DSO plays in helping to promote and develop Dubuque composers. During my tenure we have commissioned and premiered many works - so any retrospective of my work as Music Director here would have to include an example of that, right? What better way to do that than to commission one of our most talented and successful Dubuquers, Michael Gilbertson, for his first symphony! Our performance of Michael’s Symphony No. 1 on these concerts is the capstone of my 25th anniversary season and a huge opportunity for the orchestra and its audiences to be present for this exciting world premiere. Michael is a musical genius, and as we look forward to hearing his latest composition for orchestra, we all will surely be moved by his beautiful and exciting music. These concerts will open with a fresh perspective, an exciting overture by Jessie Montgomery, the Composer-in-Residence of the Chicago Symphony.

And that’s not all….we are bringing in huge star-power with violin virtuoso Rachel Barton Pine, making her DSO debut with the sensational Sibelius Violin Concerto! Having her perform with the DSO has been on my bucket list for years. Through her incredible concerto playing, wonderful recitals, many recordings, and advocacy for under-represented composers, Rachel is a unique star in the classical music world.

Musically yours,

photo credit: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

Jessie Montgomery

Jean Sibelius

Michael Gilbertson Overture

Violin Concerto

Rachel Barton Pine, violin

Symphony No. 1, world premiere

Saturday, mar 8 7:30pm Sunday, mar 9 2:00pm

Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

SUBSCRIBERS

• Seating Priority - enjoy the same great seats reserved just for you, all season long!

• Retain your seating season to seasonwith priority to upgrade seats.

• Early access to the best seats at our Ultimate Rock Hits, Holiday, Family and this season’s fully staged ballet, Swan Lake!

• Great savings off single ticket pricing, avoid the box office and added online fees.

• Personal attention - call our office for ALL your ticketing needs!

• Misplace your tickets? We will reprint them free of charge!

• Ticket exchange service A change in schedule doesn’t mean missing a concert! We are happy to switch your tickets to an alternate performance of the same concert. ($2 reprint fee per ticket)

* all prices include a $3 per ticket Five Flags facility fee

family

Saturday, deC 7 1:00pm Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

Our special one hour FAMILy program of kid-friendly holiday music and sing-along tunes features vocalist Kira Guloien, the Dubuque Chorale Children’s Choirs and members of the Heartland Ballet. Includes photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus post-concert.

Photo credits Ron Tigges, Digital Dubuque

holiday memories

Saturday, deC 7 7:30pm Sunday, deC 8 2:00pm Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

The warm sounds of the holidays fill the hall at our HOLIDAy FULL CONCERTS as the DSO is joined by vocalist Kira Guloien, the Dubuque Chorale and members of the Heartland Ballet in an enchanting collection of holiday favorites! Encore Reception follows the Saturday Evening concert - enjoy complimentary refreshments, cash bar and opportunity to visit with musicians!

ULTIMATE ROCKHITS

The DSO joins with local rock bands to present an amazing symphonic rock experience featuring chart topping hits from the 1970’s to the present!

DSO family

REALLy INVENTIVE STUFF makes their DSO debut as part of their 20th Anniversary Peter and the Wolf World Tour! This vaudevilleinspired performance is sure to capture the imagination of all ages!

Saturday, feb 15 1:00pm

Five Flags Theater, Downtown Dubuque

This one-hour kid-sized concert also includes music from the Barbie movie and Disney’s Encanto

frIday, Jan 17 8:00pm

Saturday, Jan 18 8:00pm

Mississippi Moon Bar, Diamond Jo Casino

Must be 21 or older to enter. www.Diamondjo.com

plus special guest Professor Trumpeterclangor, a whimsical sound scientist, needs your help to complete Mozart’s Toy Symphony!

Come in costume and stick around for post-concert activities including photo booth, activity tables and wEST MuSIC instrument petting zoo!

Season subscribers get early access to great seats for these high-demand concerts!

(see pp 12-13 for details and seating charts)

tICKetS

$45 Booth or Table (Sold in sets of 4 only)

$40 Main Floor or Mezzanine

$25 Bar or Standing

Swan Lake with the Heartland Ballet

We are thrilled to partner with the Heartland Ballet again! Together, we will present a complete staged production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet at the University of Dubuque Heritage Center.

You won’t want to miss this powerful story, told through brilliant, emotive ballet and incredible music! This production harkens back to the several ballet, musical, and opera productions we’ve done during my 24 years as your Music Director —true highlights of my tenure here—while it also looks forward to new possibilities and future productions! Musically yours,

Saturday, may 3 7:30pm Sunday, may 4 2:00pm

Heritage Center, university of Dubuque

See page 13 for Heritage Center Seating Chart

SINGLE TICKETS FOR DSO CONCERTS AT FIVE FLAGS THEATER GO ON SALE AT THE FIVE FLAGS BOx OFFICE & ONLINE MONDAy AUG. 26 2024

tHe fIVe flaGS bOx OffICe is located in downtown Dubuque on the corner of Locust and 4th Street. Open Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm. Tickets to concerts at Five Flags Theater may also be purchased through Ticketmaster.com.

* Make sure to use the Ticketmaster official website, not a third party ticket seller. Ticketmaster online fees can be avoided by purchasing directly at the box office or at the door.

muSICal muSInGS: free Prior to each Sunday Classics Concert, Maestro Intriligator gives a pre-concert lecture from the stage 1:00 -1:30pm in Five Flags Theater.

OPen reHearSal: free Open Rehearsal is a great opportunity to watch how the DSO shapes and fine-tunes a piece of music before presenting it in concert. For the 24/25 season, an open rehearsal will take place Friday evening, November 1, 2024.

POSt-COnCert enCOre reCePtIOn: free

Join DSO musicians, staff and fellow audience members following the Saturday evening performances of our Classics and Holiday Concerts at Five Flags! Cash bar available, refreshments provided.

Celebrating

25 th the maestro's

The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra’s 2024/2025 season celebrates a significant milestone in the tenure of our esteemed Music Director and Conductor, William Intriligator. Having taken the helm in 2000, this year marks Intriligator’s quartercentury with the orchestra. His musicianship, leadership, personality and passion have enabled the DSO to reach new audiences, diversify programming and attain new artistic heights.

During his 25 year tenure with the organization, Intriligator has presented many extraordinary productions including five staged operas, three staged ballet productions, and a production of west Side Story. Other special projects from past DSO seasons have included festivals (celebrating Mozart, Shostakovich and Beethoven), “Voices” concerts in the Millwork District, performing as oboe soloist with the orchestra, concerts with world-renowned violinist Midori as part of the Midori Residency Program, and accompanying Ethan Bortnick in a concert that became a popular PBS television special, “The Power of Music.” He strongly believes that regional orchestras have an important role to promote local and regional composers and performers. During his tenure, the DSO has commissioned and performed over 25 new works by Dubuque-area composers, as well as featured many Tri-State performers as soloists.

Nick Palmer (former DSO Music Director and Conductor) and William in 2008

Independence Pops 2008

MusicDirector&Conductor

The coming season is no exception, as the maestro has planned a season of musical masterpieces including Respighi’s stunning Pines of Rome, Dvořák’s Cello Concerto, Ravel’s Bolero, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony (his signature piece with the DSO) and Sibelius’ Violin Concerto.

Intriligator has invited world-class guest artists including cellist zuill Bailey, bandoneonist Charles Gorczynski and violinist Rachel Barton Pine to the DSO stage.

T wO exciting works commissioned by the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra will premiere this season: Principal Flute Timothy Hagen has composed a Concerto for Flute and Chamber Orchestra, in which Hagen will also be featured as soloist. The Classics Season Finale features Dubuque-raised and Pulitzer Prize nominated Michael Gilbertson’s First Symphony.

To cap off the season, the DSO will partner with the Heartland Ballet, presenting a complete staged production of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake ballet at the university of Dubuque Heritage Center. We hope you can join us in this special anniversary season!

As guest soloist with former Concertmaster

Caroline Curtis in February 2021

A little downtime after Arts Trek in 2016

2024/25 concert dates

October 5-6, 2024

PIneS Of rOme

Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

November 2-3, 2024

latIn-amerICan InSPIraCIOn Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

December 7, 2024

HOlIday famIly Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

December 7-8, 2024

HOlIday COnCertS Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

January 17-18, 2025

ultImate rOCK HItS Mississippi Moon Bar, Diamond Jo

February 15, 2025

dSO famIly WItH

Peter and tHe WOlf & mOre Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

February 15-16, 2025

beetHOVen’S 5tH Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

March 8-9, 2025

GIlbertSOn’S SymPHOny nO.1 Five Flags Theater, Dubuque

May 3-4, 2025

SWan laKe

WItH Heartland ballet Heritage Center, Dubuque