UW-Madison symphony orchestra to perform in Brookfield

The UW–Madison Symphony Orchestra will take the stage at Brookfield’s Sharon Lynne Wilson Center at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 2, in a concert showcasing “Performing Artists of the Future.”

Several of the musicians are from the greater Milwaukee area.

Under the direction of David E. Becker, a UW–Madison music professor, the 82-member orchestra will perform Tschaikovsky’s Capriccio Italien Op. 45, and Mars and Jupiter of Holst’s Planets. The concert also will feature three of the winners of the School of Music’s concerto competition. Violinist Jeannette Jang will perform Ravel’s Tzigane, soprano Brenda Rae Klinkert will sing Verdi’s Caro Nome from Rigoletto and Ilia Radoslavov will play the first movement of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto #4.

(Note: See below for additional information about Milwaukee-area musicians and the Symphony Orchestra, and brief program notes.)

Tickets (reserved seating) are $10 and are available at the Wilson Center box office, (262) 781-9520, or at the door. Box office hours are Monday through Friday, noon-5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Wilson Center is located at 19805 West Capitol Drive in Brookfield.

A limited number of complimentary tickets are available for high school music educators and their students.

The Wisconsin Alumni Association will host a pre-concert reception at the Wilson Center for its members and other friends of the university. Those interested in attending should contact Molly Norton for more information: (608) 262-9651 or MollyNorton@uwalumni.com.

Milwaukee-Area Musicians
Milwaukee-area high schools, the orchestra members who attended them and their instruments are: Brookfield East High School, Chia-Chien Goh, violin; Eisenhower High School, New Berlin, Dan Sartori, trombone; Franklin High School, Patrick Zylka, bassoon; Homestead High School, Mequon, Kristine Marceau and John Patek, violin; Kettle Moraine High School, Rujuta Parikh, violin; Milwaukee High School of the Arts, Emily Hahn, flute; Mukwonago High School, Kent Heberling, cello; Muskego High School, Emily Marciniak, clarinet; Nathan Hale High School, West Allis, Leigh Miller, violin; Waukesha West High School, Elizabeth Zimmer, violin; Wauwatosa East High School, Maureen Carroll, cello; West Allis Central High School, Mike Darnell, bass, and Joshua Grice, violin; West Bend East High School, Maria Ritzenthaler, viola; and Whitefish Bay High School, Rachel Tabak, cello.

The UW–Madison Symphony Orchestra
The UW–Madison Symphony Orchestra draws its membership from the School of Music as well as other areas of study in the university. Emphasis is placed upon the study and performance of symphonic, operatic, concerto and choral/orchestral repertoire from the Baroque era through the 20th century. The orchestra program is noted for its comprehensive repertoire, world premieres, and the “Reading and Taping Sessions” for student composers. The Concerto Competition is held each spring to choose student soloists who will perform a concerto with the UW Symphony for its spring concert at the School of Music. Three to five winners are chosen; and three will perform during the Wilson Center concert.

Celebrating his 20th year with the university in 2004, conductor and violist David E. Becker is director of orchestras and professor of the Graduate Orchestral Conducting Program in the School of Music. In addition, he is a professionally active conductor and has led orchestras nationwide. He also has performed internationally as a violist. Becker is recognized for his dedication to teaching young musicians, and has conducted music clinics and All-State Honor orchestras in 30 states.

Program Notes
Tchaikovsky Capriccio Italien, Op. 45: While Tchaikovsky was in Italy during the winter of 1880, he was inspired by popular Italian melodies to write this work. It has been said that the opening fanfare of Capriccio Italien was modeled after a bugle call the composer could hear from his hotel room, which was near a military barracks. The piece includes lively folk melodies throughout and concludes with a wild tarantella.

Holst Planets: Mars and Jupiter: Holst’s intentions were not to depict mythological gods in writing Planets, but it is difficult not to hear why Mars would remind one of war. Mars is typically known as the “Bringer of War” in Greco-Roman myth. Jupiter, “Bringer of Jollity,” evokes a sense of fun. According to Holst, it also evokes “the more ceremonial type of rejoicing associated with religious or national festivities.”