The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra’s 65th Anniversary Classics Series continues with Evening Serenade, March 9 and 10 at Five Flags Theater, downtown Dubuque.
“We are excited to welcome back sensational pianist Jon Nakamatsu, who has performed with the DSO many times over the years,” shares Music Director and Conductor William Intriligator. “Jon will play the popular “Elvira Madigan” Piano Concerto by Mozart. The slow movement of this concerto was famously used in the 1967 film entitled “Elvira Madigan”, and so the concerto has had that nickname ever since. That slow movement is extra special: it contains some of the most sublime music Mozart ever wrote. Even though the slow movement gets a lot of attention, the other two movements are superb as well! In the hands of a true musical poet like Jon Nakamatsu, you can be assured that this will be a not-to-be-missed experience.
The concert begins with a mysterious and calm serenade for strings by Ukrainian composer Valentyn Silvestrov. With the war still raging in Ukraine, I thought it would be good to program music by one of their greatest living composers, and this piece will be a beautiful way to start the concert.
The program closes with Brahms’ Symphony No. 4. One of the greatest symphonies ever written, this piece combines beauty, nostalgia, and heroics to create a very moving and powerful experience for the audience. There is also a true craftsmanship below the surface of the music, making us feel and understand poetic connections between parts of the symphony. It heightens our appreciation of the music without us even knowing it. We orchestra musicians geek out about Brahms’ music for some of these reasons. His symphonies represent a high point in human musical achievement and are also achingly beautiful and moving.” The concerts will be held 7:30 pm Saturday, March 9 and 2:00 pm Sunday, March 10 at Five Flags Theater. Tickets ($20-89) are available through the Five Flags Box Office, or Dubuquesymphony.org (Ticketmaster fees apply to online purchases).
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