Madison Symphony Orchestra

press release: Single tickets are now on sale at the Overture Box Office, 201 State Street, (608) 258-4141.

Nov. 11, 12, 13, 2016: Paired to Perfection

John DeMain, Conductor; Christina and Michelle Naughton, Piano duo  

CLAUDE DEBUSSY                               Le Printemps*

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART       Concerto for Two Pianos*

DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH                     Symphony No. 5  

One of the most prominent figures associated with “Impressionistic” music, Debussy originally scored Le Printemps for an orchestra and wordless chorus. The colorful piece is divided into two parts telling the story of life’s gradual blossoming and the eventual joy of passing into a new life. 

Mozart composed The Concerto for Two Pianos originally for himself and his sister Anna Maria. Initially performed by both of them, most likely in Salzburg around 1780, the piece is full of wry humor and unexpected harmonic moments that leave the listener imagining a smile or wink between the two siblings.

Written and performed in 1937, Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 was a direct response to earlier disapproval from Soviet critics, who had asserted that Shostakovich had pushed beyond the limits of what was expected of artists in Stalinist Soviet Union. Shostakovich himself subtitled the work “the practical answer of a Soviet artist to justified criticism”. Its debut was a huge success, and the ovation supposedly lasted for over a half hour!