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Madison Symphony Orchestra Program Notes by Michael Allsen
Comments on these pages are welcome—just send me a note at mike@allsenmusic.com.  Program notes contained here are for the use of the Madison Symphony Orchestra and its patrons, and other interested readers.  Any other use is forbidden without specific permission from the author.
last update: 6/23/25

Complete list of program notes from 1984-2025
About Writing Program Notes: a Guide for UWW Students
About me


2024-25    
Madison Symphony Orchestra - 99th Season
Sep. 20-21-22, 2024
Coleman, Umoja: Anthem of Unity / Jongen, Symphonie Concertante / Tchaikovsky, Variations on a Rococo Theme  / Falla, Suite No.2 from "The Three-Cornered Hat"
Oct. 3, 2024
Organ Series No.1
Oct. 18-19-20, 2024
Clyne, This Midnight Hour / Vaughan Williams, The Lark Ascending  / Ravel, Tzigane /  Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique
Nov. 21, 2024
Organ Series No.2
Nov. 15-16-17, 2024
Leshnoff, Rush for Orchestra / Grieg, Piano Concerto / Shostakovich, Symphony No,5
Nov. 23, 2024
MSO at the Movies: Coco (score by Michael Giacchino)
Dec. 6-7-8, 2024
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"
Jan. 17-18-19, 2025
Beethoven, Leonore Overture No.3  / Beethoven, Triple Concerto / Beethoven, Symphony No.2
Feb. 22-23, 2025
 MSO at the Movies: Star Wars: A New Hope (score by John Williams)
Feb. 25, 2025
Organ Series No.3
Mar. 14-15-16, 2025
Strauss, Don Juan / Strauss, Four Last Songs / Mozart, Requiem 
Apr. 3, 2025
Organ Series No.4
Apr. 11-12-13, 2025
Barber, Second Essay for Orchestra  / Puts, Contact  / Prokofiev, Selections from "Romeo and Juliet"
May 9-10-11, 2024
Gershwin, Cuban Overture / Gershwin, Piano Concerto in F / Gershwin, Porgy and Bess: A Concert of Songs (arr. Bennett)


2023-24    
Madison Symphony Orchestra - 98th Season
Sep. 22-23-24, 2023
Copland, Appalachian Spring / Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue / Adams, The Chairman Dances / Hanson, Symphony No.2 (Romantic)
Oct. 6, 2023
Organ Series No.1
Oct. 20-21-22, 2023
Bernstein, Dance Variations from "Fancy Free" / Shostakovich, Violin Concerto No.1 / Brahms, Piano Quartet in G minor (orch. Schoenberg)
Nov. 11, 2023
Organ Series No.2
Nov. 17-18-19, 2023
Mozart, Symphony No.35 (Haffner) / Schumann, Piano Concerto / Dawson, Negro Folk Symphony
Dec. 1-2-3, 2023
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"
Jan. 19-20-21, 2024
Mozart, Piano Concerto No.24  / Mahler, Symphony No.5.
Feb. 20, 2024
Organ Series No.3
Feb. 24, 2024
MSO at the Movies: Pixar in Concert™
Mar. 15-16-17, 2024
Higdon, Loco / Kabalevsky, Cello Concerto No.2 / Dvořák Symphony No.9 (From the New World) 
Apr. 12-13-14, 2024
Verdi, Requiem
Apr. 19, 2024
Organ Series No.4
May 1-2-3, 2024
Moncayo, Huapongo / Falla, Nights in the Gardens of Spain / Revueltas, Suite from "La noche de los Mayas" / selections from Mariachi de los Camperos

2022-23 Madison Symphony Orchestra - 97th Season
Sept. 23-24-25, 2022
Mozart, Oboe Concerto / Beethoven Symphony No.9 (Choral)
Sept. 27, 2022
Organ Series No.1
Oct. 14-15-16, 2022
Strauss, Death and Transfiguration / Barber, Violin Concerto / Mendelssohn, Symphony No.3 (Scottish)
Oct. 25, 2022
Organ Series No.2
Nov. 11-12-13, 2022
Márquez, Danzón No.2 / Bruch, Concerto for Two Pianos / Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.6 ("Pathétique")
Dec. 2-3-4, 2022
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"
Jan. 20-21-22, 2023
Schubert, Symphony No.3 / Bartók, Suite from "The Miraculous Mandarin" / Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No.3
Feb. 17-18-19, 2023
Montgomery, Coincident Dances / Beethoven, Piano Concerto No.3 Dvořák, Symphony No.6
Feb. 28, 2023
Organ Series No.3
Mar. 19, 2023
"Beyond the Score" - Mahler, Symphony No.4
Apr. 14-15-16, 2023
Britten, Four Sea Interludes from "Peter Grimes" / Saint-Saëns, Violin Concerto No.3 / Brahms, Symphony No.2
Apr. 18, 2023
Organ Series No.4
May 5-6-7, 2023
Price, Symphony No.3 / Orff, Carmina Burana


2021-22 Madison Symphony Orchestra - 96th Season

Sept. 24-25-26, 2021
Elgar, Introduction and Allegro / Poulenc, Concerto for Organ, Strings, and Timpani / Tchaikovsky, Serenade for String Orchestra

Oct. 15-16-17, 2021
Ravel, Alborada del grazioso / Rachmaninoff, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini / Beethoven, Symphony No.3 ("Eroica")

Oct. 19, 2021
Organ Series No.1

Nov. 12-13-14, 2021
Honegger, Rugby / Dvořák, Cello Concerto / Walker, Lyric for String Orchestra / Grofé, Grand Canyon Suite

Dec. 3-4-5, 2021
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"

Jan. 21-22-23, 2022
Kabalevsky, Colas Breugnon Overture / Marsalis, Violin Concerto in D / Saint-Saëns, Symphony No.3 ("Organ")

Feb 13, 2022
"Beyond the Score" - Stravinsky, Rite of Spring

Feb. 15, 2022
Organ Series No.2

Mar. 11-12-13, 2022
Rachmaninoff, Isle of the Dead / Kodály, Háry János Suite / Beethoven, Violin Concerto

Mar. 15, 2022
Organ Series No.3

Apr. 8-9-10, 2022 Haydn, Violin Concerto No.4 / Beethoven, Missa Solemnis

May 6-7-8, 2022
Beethoven, Egmont Overture / Beethoven, Piano Concerto No.5, "Emperor" / Beethoven, Symphony No.5

May 20, 2022
Organ Series No.4

2020-21 Madison Symphony Orchestra - 95th Season
                                    
NOTE: concerts by the Madison Symphony Orchestra and Chorus were suspended in 2020-21, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Most of the repertoire planned for the season appears in 2021-22.

2019-20
Madison Symphony Orchestra - 94th Season
Sept. 27-28-29, 2019
Wagner, Overture and Venusburg Music from "Tannhäuser" / Barber, Toccata Festiva / Debussy, Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun" / Dvorák, Symphony No.7
Oct. 18-19-20, 2019
Prokofiev, Suite from "Lieutenant Kijé"Khachaturian, Violin Concerto / Shostakovich, Symphony No.9
Nov. 8-9-10, 2019
Kernis, Newly Drawn Sky / Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No.3 / Schumann, Symphony No.2
Dec. 13-14-15, 2019
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"
Jan. 19, 2020
"Beyond the Score" - Prokofiev, Symphony No.5
Feb. 14-15-16, 2020
Berlioz, Le Corsaire / Brahms, Double Concerto / Copland, Symphony No.3
Mar. 6-7-8, 2020
Haydn, Symphony No.96 ("Miracle") / Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto / Strauss, Ein Heldenleben
Apr. 3-4-5, 2020
Dvorák, Requiem
May 1-2-3, 2020
Weber, Overture to "Euryanthe"Stravinsky, Petrushka / Brahms, Piano Concerto No.1

2018-19 Madison Symphony Orchestra - 93rd Season
Sept. 28-29-30, 2018
Higdon, Fanfare Ritmico  /  ProkofievExcerpts from "Romeo and Juliet" / Brahms, Piano Concerto No.2  
Oct. 19-30-21, 2018
Oesterle, Home Elgar, Cello Concerto Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.5
Nov. 9-10-11, 2018
Bernstein, Overture to "Candide"  /  Bernstein, Three Dance Episodes from "On the Town"  / Bernstein, Symphony No.2, Age of AnxietyBeethoven, Symphony No.7
Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2, 2018
"A Madison Symphony Christmas"
Jan. 20, 2019
"Beyond the Score" - Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 4 (Italian)
Feb. 15-16-17, 2019
Harbison The Most Often Used Chords Brahms, Violin Concerto  / Mussorgsky/Ravel Pictures at an Exhibition
Mar. 8-9-10, 2019
Schubert, Symphony No.8 (Unfinished)  /  Prokofiev, Violin Concerto No.2Debussy, Rhapsody for Clarinet and Orchestra / Vaughan Williams, Tuba Concerto / Gershwin, An American in Paris
Apr. 12-13-14, 2019
Mozart, Symphony No. 38 (Prague)  /  Strauss, Burleske  /  Ravel, Piano Concerto in G  / Debussy, La Mer
May 3-4-5, 2019
Mahler, Symphony No.8
 
2017-18 Madison Symphony Orchestra - 92nd Season
Sept. 15-16-17, 2017
Bach/Stokowski, Toccata and Fugue in D minor / Mendelssohn, Symphony No.5 (Reformation)Berlioz, Harold in Italy
Oct. 20-21-22, 2017
Ravel, Mother Goose Suite / Barber, Piano Concerto Dvořák , Symphony No.9 (From the New World)
Nov. 17-18-19, 2017
Copland, Billy the Kid Suite Brubeck, Affinity: Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra  /  Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez  /  Falla, Three-Cornered Hat (complete ballet)
Dec. 1-2-3, 2017
“A Madison Symphony Christmas”
Jan. 19-20-21, 2018
Prokofiev, The Love for Three Oranges: Symphonic Suite Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto Rachmaninoff, Symphony No.3
Feb. 16-17-18, 2018
Rossini, Overture to "Semiramide"  /  Walton, Cello Concerto  / Brahms, Symphony No.1
Mar. 18, 2018
"Beyond the Score" - Elgar, Enigma Variations
Apr. 13-14-15, 2018
Britten, Sinfonia da requiem  /  Dvořák , Violin Concerto / Schumann, Symphony No.1 (Spring)
May 4-5-6, 2018
Mozart, Overture to "Don Giovanni"Mozart, Piano Concerto No.22Janácek, Glagolitic Mass

2016-17
Madison Symphony Orchestra - 91st Season
Sept. 23-24-25, 2016
Enescu, Romanian Rhapsody No.1  /  Corigliano, Chaconne from "The Red Violin"  /  Holst, The Planets
Oct. 21-22-23, 2016
Elgar, In the South (Alassio)  Bruch, Violin Concerto No.1  /  Kraggerud, Three Postludes from "Equinox"  /  Beethoven, Symphony No.6 (Pastorale)
Nov. 11-12-13, 2016
Debussy, Printemps  /  Mozart, Concerto for Two Pianos  /  Shostakovich, Symphony No.5
Dec. 2-3-4 2016
“A Madison Symphony Christmas”
Jan. 14-15, 2017
"Beyond the Score" - Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
Feb. 17-18-19, 2017
Barber, Second Essay  /  Saint-Saëns, Piano Concerto No.5  /  Tchaikovsky, Symphony No.6 (Pathétique)
Mar. 10-11-12, 2017
Beethoven, Egmont Overture  /  Hummel, Trumpet Concerto  /  Strauss, An Alpine Symphony
Apr. 7-8-9, 2017
Schumann, Manfred Overture  /  Lutoslawski, Concerto for Orchestra Rachmaninoff, Piano Concerto No.3
May 5-6-7, 2017
Stanford, Concert Piece for Organ and Orchestra  /  Brahms, German Requiem