QCSO announces programs for next season

The 110^th season of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra is guaranteed to take you around the world, with its theme “Echoes of Exploration,” featuring six Masterworks, four intimate Up Close chamber concerts, Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops, two QCSO at the Movies presentations, and several special events.

“The 2024-25 season is a testament to our vision – QCSO, Where Access Meets Inspiration – and we look forward to engaging the entire Quad Cities community with an incredibly diverse lineup,” music director Mark Russell Smith said in a Wednesday release announcing the 2024-25 season.

“We invite you to traverse musical landscapes with us, from the sun-drenched Italian Riviera to the ancient dynasties of China, and from celebrating the centennial of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to our landmark performance of Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels Omar’s Journey,” Smith said. “We’re excited to introduce you to newer works by Reena Esmail, Bright Sheng, and Angel Lam and revisit timeless favorites by Bruckner, Mozart, Prokofiev, and more.”

“The popularity of our Pops and Movie concerts continue to grow, and we are pleased to offer four concerts in this series and a new Pops Subscription for those loyal attendees,” QCSO executive director Brian Baxter said.

“We continue the beloved tradition of Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops with a Celebration of the Music of Led Zeppelin,” he said of the Aug. 17, 2024 concert in LeClaire Park, to be led by new assistant conductor Hisham Bravo Groover.

This year’s QCSO at the Movies Series features a Halloween weekend presentation of Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concertand the next Harry Potter film series installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 in Concert, Baxter noted.

“We are pleased to add a spring pops concert, Video Games in Concert. This multimedia experience will immerse you in the music your favorite video games including Halo, World of Warcraft, Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and more,” he said.

The following works are scheduled for the 2024-25 Season:

MASTERWORKS SERIES

Masterworks I: Bruckner at 200

• October 5, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• October 6, 2024 | 2:00 pm | Centennial Hall

Mark Russell Smith, conductor

Andrew Parker, oboe

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART Die Zauberflöte, K.620 (The Magic Flute): Overture

RUTH GIPPS Concerto for Oboe and Orchestra in D minor, Op. 20

ANTON BRUCKNER Symphony No.7, in E Major

Masterworks II: Midsummer Night’s Dream

• November 2, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• November 3, 2024 | 2:00 pm | Centennial Hall

Mark Russell Smith, conductor

Ballet Quad Cities
Courtney Lyon, choreographer

Shelley Cooper, narrator
Doug Kutzli, narrator

Sopranos and altos from Augustana Choir and Choral Artists, Jon Hurty, director

DAVID DIAMOND Music for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

REENA ISMAIL Testament (from Vishwas)

REENA ESMAIL RE|Member

FELIX MENDELSSOHN Excerpts from A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Masterworks III: Season of Miracles

• December 7, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• December 8, 2024 | 2:00 pm | Bartlett Performing Arts Center

Mark Russell Smith, conductor

Naha Greenholtz, violin

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN Symphony No.30, in C major (Alleluja)

ARCANGELO CORELLI Concerto grosso, op.6, no.8, in G minor (Christmas Concerto)

ANTONIO VIVALDI The Four Seasons, op.8, no.4 Winter, RV 297

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Winter

OTTORINO RESPIGHI Trittico Botticelliano, P.151

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN Symphony No.96, in D major (The Miracle)

Masterworks IV: Omar’s Journey

• February 1, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• February 2, 2025 | 2:00 pm | Centennial Hall

Mark Russell Smith, conductor
Brittany Renee, Julie
Taylor Raven, Fatima

Issachah Savage, Omar
Andy Papas, Owen/Johnson

Norman Garrett, Abdul/Abe

RHIANNON GIDDENS & MICHAEL ABELS Omar’s Journey

Masterworks V: Echoes of Exploration

• March 1, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• March 2, 2025 | 2:00 pm | Centennial Hall

Mark Russell Smith, conductor

Roberto Díaz, viola

EDWARD ELGAR In the South, op.50 (Alassio)

BRIGHT SHENG Of Time and Love: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

HUGO WOLF Italian Serenade

MAURICE RAVEL Rapsodie espagnole

Masterworks VI: Rhapsody in Blue

• April 5, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

• April 6, 2025 | 2:00 pm | Centennial Hall

Mark Russell Smith, conductor

Lorraine Min, piano

ANGEL LAM Please let there be a paradise…

Commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

GEORGE GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue

SERGEI PROKOFIEV Symphony No.5, op.100 in B-flat Major

POPS SERIES

Quad City Bank & Trust Riverfront Pops: A Symphonic Celebration of the Music of Led Zeppelin

• August 17, 2024 | 7:30 pm | LeClaire Park

Hisham Bravo Groover, conductor

Jeans ‘N Classics

Rock out in LeClaire Park as we celebrate the music of Led Zeppelin’s with all their greatest hits, including “All of My Love,” “Good Times Bad Times,” “D’yer Mak’er,” and “Stairway to Heaven!” This spectacular event closes with our traditional renditions of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture and Sousa’s Stars and Stripes Forever set to a brilliant fireworks display.

Disney’s Hocus Pocus in Concert

• October 26, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

Hisham Bravo Groover, conductor

This Halloween, the Sanderson Sisters are back, and Disney’s Hocus Pocus will cast its spell on you like never before! Resurrected by an unwitting teenager’s lighting of the black flame candle, Salem’s most legendary witches chase their quest for eternal youth. Be swept away in this beloved classic, shown in high definition on the big screen as the Quad City Symphony Orchestra conjures John Debney’s score to life. Embrace the spirit of staying forever young at heart, and immerse yourself in a night of humor, suspense, and ageless adventure, in this bewitching live-to-film event.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 in Concert

• November 23, 2024 | 2:00 pm | Adler Theatre

• November 23, 2024 | 7:30 pm | Alder Theatre

Ernesto Estigarribia, conductor

The end begins. Part one of the epic finale Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is here! CineConcerts invites audiences back to witness the beginning of Harry’s most important battle yet, with the full film accompanied by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set out to track down the secret to Voldemort’s power!

Video Games in Concert

• May 10, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Adler Theatre

Hisham Bravo Groover, conductor

Join the QCSO and experience your favorite video games like never before! Video Games in Concert is an immersive concert experience with the QCSO performing music from cherished video games with synchronized video projected on the big screen.  This multimedia concert brings to life video games like Halo, World of Warcraft, Kingdom Hearts, Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Castlevania, Skyrim and so many more!

UP CLOSE

Chamber Music Series

Up Close with Naha Greenholtz

September 15, 2024 | 2:00 pm | Rock Island Library, Watts-Midtown Branch

Naha Greenholtz, violin & Marian Lee, piano

Enjoy an afternoon of violin and piano music by Reene Esmail, Angel Lam, Joseph Haydn, and Sergi Prokofiev.

Up Close with Emily, Bruno, & Kit

• January 11, 2025 | 11:00 am | MLK Center, Rock Island (Family Concert)

• January 11, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Figge Art Museum

Emily Nash, violin, Bruno Vaz da Silva, viola, Kit Polen, bass, & Misty Dais, narrator

Join the QCSO String Trio in the morning for a shorter family-friendly concert, or in the evening for a traditional performance.

Up Close with Marian Lee

• March 29, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Figge Art Museum

Marian Lee, piano

Celebrate International Piano Day with an evening of captivating solo piano works!

Up Close with QCSO Percussion

• May 3, 2025 | 7:30 pm | Venue TBD

Aaron Williams, Michael Geary, Gary Ciccotelli, & Tony Oliver

The talented percussion section moves from the back of the orchestra to center stage in this vibrant concert.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Uncork the Season

• August 1, 2024 | 6:00 pm | Mississippi River Distilling Company, Celebration Center

Kick off the season with an evening of beautiful rooftop views of the Mississippi River, delicious spirits, and cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres, great music, and fantastic company, all while supporting the QCSO.

Soirée: A Night in Italy

• October 19, 2024 | 5:30 pm | Figge Art Museum

5:30 pm Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres, 7:30 pm Dinner, Auction, & Performance

Experience an elegant evening at the Figge for one of the most popular fundraising events in the Quad Cities! Tickets include cocktail hour, dinner, and a performance, plus a paddle raise and live auction with Maestro Mark Russell Smith as your auctioneer to benefit the QCSO’s education programs.

Holiday Brass

• December 14, 2024 | 3:00 pm | Second Baptist Church, Rock Island

• December 15, 2024 | 3:00 pm | St. Paul Lutheran, Davenport

Mark Russell Smith, conductor
Chris Nelson, organ
Shellie Moore Guy, narrator

Ring in the holiday season with members of the QCSO Brass and Percussion sections! Under the direction of Maestro Mark Russell Smith, the ensemble is joined by narrator Shellie Moore Guy and organist Chris Nelson to perform uplifting sections of classical and holiday favorites.

Ticket sales to 2024-25 season concerts open first to subscribers on April 4, 2024, at 9 a.m. Single tickets open to the public on May 15, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Tickets are available at the QCSO box office at 327 Brady St., Davenport, or by calling 563-322-7276 or visiting the QCSO website HERE.

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