21/22 Overture Concert Organ Brochure

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MIGHTY Return!

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SEASON

It gives me great pleasure to return to the live stage with concerts of the highest quality and caliber. After I kick off the 2021–22 season with Widor’s monumental Sixth Organ Symphony, Reginald Mobley’s voice will move you with its beauty and Isabelle Demers will astound you with a concert of virtuosic organ transcriptions. With a thrilling program of Brass, Organ and Timpani to close out the season, I am sure that these blockbuster concerts will amaze the audience with our Mighty Klais and the great performers that bring this music to life!

— Greg Zelek

“. . . Greg Zelek, the symphony’s organist, playing the Overture Concert Organ and he figuratively blew the place apart . . . He’s good. He’s really, really good.”

– Bill Wineke, Channel 3000

TUE.

OCT 19 2021 7:30 PM

GREG ZELEK Charles-Marie Widor’s Sixth Organ Symphony is one of his most famous, and for good reason!

This five-movement masterpiece includes two of his most performed movements of all of his symphonies (other than his often played Toccata) and is a work of grand symphonic proportion.

Before diving into this tour de force, I open the concert with a transcription of Elgar’s Nimrod from his Enigma Variations in reflection of the challenging past year.

— Greg Zelek

Greg Zelek, Organ Elgar, ‘Nimrod’ from Enigma Variations Widor, Organ Symphony No. 6 in G minor SPONSORS Gale Meyer Jane Hamblen and Robert Lemanske Gerald and Shirley Spade

“Zelek was physically animated throughout the performance.

His hands flew across three levels of keyboards while his feet worked the pedalboard like somebody playing Dance Dance Revolution in an arcade.”

– Howard Hardee, Wisconsin State Journal

TUE.

FEB 15 2022 7:30 PM

REGINALD MOBLEY & GREG ZELEK

“Crystalline diction and pure, evenly produced tone” – The Miami Herald

Highly sought after for baroque, classical, and modern repertoire, Countertenor Reginald Mobley’s voice will soar through Overture Hall with our program ranging from baroque works to gospel spirituals.

In a concert that includes Florence Price’s jazzy Suite for Organ, as well as a variety of gospel arrangements, Mr. Mobley and I will explore the limitless possibilities of pairing the organ and voice. This unique program requires creativity beyond our standard scope to weave together different musical genres, demonstrating striking similarities and beautiful contrasts.

— Greg Zelek

Reginald Mobley, Countertenor Greg Zelek, Organ

“Shimmering voice, a voice which also allows lucid and pure levels”

Purcell, Music for a While Bach, Widerstehe doch der Sünde Handel, Piu non cura Price, Suite for Organ Gershwin, Someone to Watch Over Me Hogan, Gospel Spirituals Were You There Deep River Every Time I Feel the Spirit

– BachTrack EXCLUSIVE SPONSOR William Steffenhagen

TUE.

“If the organ is the ‘king of instruments,’ then the king’s consort must be Isabelle Demers, one of North America’s most sought-after organists.”

MAR 15 2022 7:30 PM

– The Union

ISABELLE DEMERS Known as the ‘diminutive dynamo’, Isabelle Demers will wow our audience with a program that will use just about every sound on our Mighty Klais. This concert of challenging transcriptions, beginning with Mendelssohn’s Overture to St. Paul and closing with movements of her own transcription of Stravinsky’s Petrushka, will demonstrate the versatility of our great instrument.

Ms. Demers’ incredible virtuosity and nuanced interpretations will be on full display in this can’t-miss event!

— Greg Zelek

Isabelle Demers, Organ Mendelssohn, Overture to “St. Paul” Davies, Solemn Melody Laurin, Sonata No. 1 Bach, Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 146 Alkan, Excerpts from Twelve Etudes for the Feet Stravinsky, Select Movements from Petrushka SPONSORS Walter & Karen Pridham Charitable Fund Skofronick Family Charitable Trust Friends of the Overture Concert Organ

“. . . virtuosic playing . . . brilliant and fluent performance . . . virtuosic organist.”

– Organ Canada

FRI.

MAY 20 2022 7:30 PM

GREG ZELEK, WITH THE DIAPASON BRASS AND TIMPANI In my first of many collaborations with fellow Madison musicians, I am excited to perform alongside The Diapason Brass quintet and timpani in a concert that will pair our Mighty Klais with some of the loudest instruments in the orchestra. This program of music written for a variety of pairings will include Gigout’s Grand Choeur Dialogue, a transcription of Rachmaninoff’s famous Vocalise, and an arrangement of Bach’s famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ and timpani. Audiences will enjoy the expressive and fluid partnership of MSO’s Principal Trumpet, John Aley, and the newly appointed trumpet professor at UW LaCrosse, Matthew Onstad; the warm sounds of MSO’s Principal Horn, Linda Kimball; the creative flair of UW Madison’s trombone professor, Mark Hetzler; the thrilling facility of MSO’s Principal Tuba, Josh Biere; and the thunderous rhythm of MSO’s Principal Timpani, John Jutsum.

The event will have me pulling out all the stops on our Overture Concert Organ to match the excitement and volume of my colleagues on stage!

— Greg Zelek

“Zelek is quite extraordinary in the classical music world.”

– Jon Hornbacher, PBS Wisconsin Life

John Aley Trumpet

Mark Hetzler Trombone

Linda Kimball Horn

Matthew Onstad Trumpet

Joshua Biere Tuba

John Jutsum Timpani

Greg Zelek, Organ Gigout, Grand Choeur Dialogue Rachmaninoff, Vocalise Elgar, Pomp and Circumstance DiLorenzo, Fire Dance Dinda, Nocturne J.S. Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Sullivan, The Lost Chord Guilmant, Final from Symphony No. 1 in D minor SPONSORS William Steffenhagen Elaine and Nicholas Mischler

“Greg is amazing — his playing touches our hearts.”

– MSO Patron

“. . . the most enjoyable concert I have ever encountered” – Bill Wineke, Channel 3000

OVERTURE HALL

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SEATING CHART

OVERTURE CONCERT ORGAN SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW! Subscribe and save more than 20% — all four 2021–2022 season concerts for only $63! Current subscribers: renew by July 16, 2021 to keep your seats or request a priority seating change. Keep your same seats throughout the season! Subscribe before single tickets go on sale to the general public Friday, September 10, 2021.

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Call: (608) 257-3734

Complete your 2021–2022 ORDER FORM and return via mail or in person to: Madison Symphony Orchestra 222 W. Washington Ave., Suite 460 Madison, WI 53703

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Subscribe online at madisonsymphony.org/organ21-22

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PLEASE TAKE NOTE We guarantee a refund for tickets to any concert that cannot be performed for any reason. We will adhere to all public health guidelines and cooperate with Overture Center for the Arts to assure your safety.

Programs, dates, and artists subject to change.

PHOTO CREDITS Front Cover/back, p2/p3/p4 (Zelek), p5 (Biere, Jutsum): Peter Rodgers; p4 (Mobley): Liz Linder

2021–2022 SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM SAVE OVER 20% — ONLY $63 FOR ALL FOUR PERFORMANCES! Madison Symphony Orchestra — Overture Concert Organ 2021–2022 Season Subscription

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Become a Friend and make a difference.

Each season, dozens of new individuals become Friends of the Overture Concert Organ by making gifts of support. Their generosity helps us cover the costs of producing the ticketed and free concerts that so many in our community enjoy. Thank you to all the Friends of the Overture Concert Organ.

Becoming a Friend for the 2021–2022 Season is easy!

Simply make your contribution on your subscription order form.

Annual memberships start at $35. Friends, at all levels, have access to exclusive benefits and opportunities throughout the season (view benefits on the following page).

BECOME A FRIEND! Friends of the Overture Concert Organ (FOCO) play an important role in supporting the Madison Symphony Orchestra’s organ program. Their support helps us: • Bring you thrilling, live performances by some of the best organists in the world • Produce a variety of free education and outreach programs including demonstrations and masterclasses • Tune and maintain the Overture Concert Organ

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Benefits are available during the concert season which your gift supports.

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Friends of the Overture Concert Organ Membership Levels and Benefits

$650 $1,000

Recognition in organ concert program books Special member communications Invitation to Showcasing the Organ events

Member benefits are subject to change. We will monitor and follow health guidelines and Overture Center for the Arts requirements continually throughout the season.

Ticket sales cover less than half the costs of producing a season.

To become a Friend, simply add your gift on the order form on the following page.

Discover more about Friends of the Overture Concert Organ.

Visit: madisonsymphony.org/foco

Invitation to FOCO Annual Meeting Recognition in MSO program books Two complimentary beverage vouchers Advance opportunities to purchase single tickets Invitation to one organ post-concert reception Open invitation to all organ post-concert receptions Private, reserved parking for organ concerts and events Invitation to a special member appreciation event* Custom benefits according to your interests * NOTE: The parking benefit has a fair market value of $35. The benefit will be available beginning in October 2021. If you already have reserved parking access, you may continue to use your existing passes for the 2021–2022 organ season.

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MADISON WI PERMIT NO 930

222 W. Washington Ave. Suite 460 Madison, WI 53703

“. . . the best of the best.

The choice of music was excellent, beautiful.

Mr. Zelek is talented and charming.”

– MSO Patron

“Seeing and hearing Zelek in action helps explain why praise follows the organist everywhere.”

– Isthmus

THE MIGHTY KLAIS RETURNS! TUE., OCT. 19, 2021 Greg Zelek, Organ TUE., FEB. 15, 2022 Reginald Mobley, Countertenor, Greg Zelek, Organ TUE., MAR. 15, 2022 Isabelle Demers, Organ FRI., MAY. 20, 2022 The Diapason Brass & Timpani, with Greg Zelek, Organ

CO N N E C T madisonsymphony.org