Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
Overture Center-Capitol Theater 201 State St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703

Dave Getzschman
Giora Schmidt and violin.
Giora Schmidt
If you’re in need of a bit of a pick-me-up at the end of this week, a symphonic classic could be just the ticket. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra presents Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole, with guest violinist Giora Schmidt more than able to provide the fretboard fireworks. (It's a change from the originally scheduled feature; Los Angeles native Anne Akiko Meyers had to cancel her trip to Madison due to the wildfires in California.) Also on the program are Alessandro Scarlatti’s Sinfonie di concerto grosso No. 2 in D and the rarely performed Symphony in A major by Camille Saint-Saëns, for an eras tour going back to the Baroque. A pre-concert talk will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Promenade Hall on the second floor.
media release: The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) regrets to announce that guest violinist Anne Akiko Meyers has canceled her upcoming performance in Madison due to the devastating wildfires currently impacting her hometown of Los Angeles. “Our thoughts are with Anne and her family, and we stand in solidarity with all those affected in this unimaginable natural disaster. Anne’s safety and well-being are paramount, and our hearts go out to her and her community during this difficult period” says Joe Loehnis, CEO.
In light of this cancellation, the WCO is honored to welcome back renowned violinist Giora Schmidt. Last seen with the WCO in the 2020 Masterworks Series, Schmidt will bring his exceptional artistry to the Capitol Theater stage once more with a performance of Édouard Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole," a virtuosic masterpiece that showcases his expressive range.
Music Director Andrew Sewell remarks, “While we are saddened that Anne Akiko Meyers is unable to join us, it’s a delight to welcome Giora Schmidt back to Madison for this program change. His artistry and connection with audiences are truly remarkable, and his interpretation of Lalo’s 'Symphonie Espagnole' will be a highlight of our season.”
Composed in 1874, Édouard Lalo’s "Symphonie Espagnole" is a dazzling violin showcase inspired by the French composer’s fascination with Spanish culture and music. Combining lush orchestration with rhythms and melodies evoking the vibrant spirit of Spain, the piece is celebrated for its fiery energy, lyrical beauty, and virtuosic demands. A cornerstone of the violin repertoire, "Symphonie Espagnole" masterfully blends classical tradition with exotic flair, offering both performers and audiences a thrilling musical experience.
The rest of the evening’s concert program remains unchanged, offering audiences an unforgettable musical journey filled with passion, rhythm, and flair.
REPERTOIRE
A. SCARLATTI | “Sinfonie Di Concerto Grosso No.2 in D”
LALO | “Symphonie Espagnole”
SAINT-SAËNS | “Symphony in A major”
ABOUT GIORA SCHMIDT
Praised by the Cleveland Plain Dealer as "impossible to resist, captivating with lyricism, tonal warmth, and boundless enthusiasm," violinist Giora Schmidt has appeared as soloist with many prominent symphony orchestras around the globe including Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Canada’s National Arts Centre, Toronto, Vancouver and the Israel Philharmonic.
In recital and chamber music, Giora has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, San Francisco Performances, the Louvre Museum in Paris, and Tokyo's Musashino Cultural Hall. Festival appearances include the Ravinia Festival, the Santa Fe and Montreal Chamber Music Festivals, Bard Music Festival, Scotia Festival of Music and Music Academy of the West. He has collaborated with eminent musicians including Yefim Bronfman, Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, Lynn Harrell, Ralph Kirshbaum and Michael Tree.
Born in Philadelphia to professional musicians from Israel, Giora began playing the violin at the age of four. A graduate of the Juilliard School, his teachers have included Geoffrey Michaels, Patinka Kopec, Dorothy DeLay and Itzhak Perlman. Committed to education and sharing his passion for music, Giora is currently on the artist faculty at New York University (NYU Steinhardt) and Orford Musique Academy (Quebec) in the summer. He was previously on the faculty at the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music, the Juilliard School and Perlman Music Program. Through technology and social media, he continues to find new ways of reaching young violinists and music lovers around the world.
He is the recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, The Classical Recording Foundation's Samuel Sanders award, and was a Starling Fellow at the Juilliard School.
Giora plays a c. 1830 violin by Giuseppe Rocca and strings kindly sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld, Vienna.
The WCO thanks patrons for their understanding and support. We look forward to sharing this extraordinary evening of music with you. The concert will take place on Friday, January 24 at 7:30 PM in Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts. Current ticketholders may call the Overture Center ticket office at 608.258.4141 and request to exchange their tickets to another performance in the season or request a refund.
Subscriptions are still available for 3-concert packages and can be purchased online at wcoconcerts.org/subscribe or by phone at 608.257.0638.
Single Tickets can be purchased online at overture.org/wco or by calling the Overture box office at 608.258.4141.