November 19, 2020
KEN-DAVID MASUR and the MILWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ANNOUNCE
REIMAGINED 2020.21 SEASON
Milwaukee, November 19, 2020 – Music Director Ken-David Masur and the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra announced plans today for the reimagined 2020.21 season. The first season in the Bradley Symphony Center will be largely virtual, with opportunities for in-person experiences for current 2020.21 subscribers if city regulations allow.
At this time, the MSO is offering virtual-only packages for new subscribers. Packages cost $200 for all 16 virtual performances which include both classical and pops.
“This season has been intentionally adapted to reflect our current times in the midst of difficult crossroads— of health and safety, of community and inclusion, and of universal connection in moments of strife. This is why music is so essential in our lives—it transports and uplifts us together,” said Masur. “I have personally curated these new concert experiences, with the help of our artistic team and MSO musicians. We are thrilled to share this inaugural season at the Bradley Symphony Center, and I look forward to speaking from the stage as we present each concert. Even as we adhere to the necessary health and safety guidelines, we will continue to celebrate the power of live music-making.”
The complete operational oversight at our new Bradley Symphony Center gives the MSO control to ensure the highest standards of health and safety measures throughout the building. In partnership with our musicians’ union, the construction team at C.D. Smith, and Milwaukee’s public health officials, we are poised to launch the MSO’s reimagined season in a safe environment with rigorous health protocols in place. We will also maintain flexibility and transparency as the pandemic evolves, adhering to all local health guidelines, and keeping the health, safety, and well-being of our patrons in mind.
“This reimagined season is our answer to how we uphold our commitment to connecting audiences with live, transformative music,” said Mark Niehaus, president and executive director. “Our promise to our patrons is that we will navigate the future together. And we look forward to the day when we can safely welcome everyone into the Bradley Symphony Center and fill every seat in joyous celebration.”
From the comfort and safety of their own homes, MSO subscribers will be able to enjoy intimate, engaging live performances, with the added benefit of being able to go back and enjoy them again via on-demand. Beginning in January 2021, this virtual season will include 12 classics and four pops performances. These concerts will feature chamber orchestra and smaller ensemble offerings performed by the musicians of the MSO; repertoire, guest artists, and other details currently are being prepared. Concerts will be carefully selected to reflect the times in which we live and to showcase the incredible work of our world-class musicians and the brilliance of our conductor and music director, Ken-David Masur.
View the full season listing here.
About the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Ken-David Masur, is among the finest orchestras in the nation and the largest cultural institution in Wisconsin. Since its inception in 1959, the MSO has found innovative ways to give music a home in the region, develop music appreciation and talent among area youth, and raise the national reputation of Milwaukee. The MSO’s 72 full-time professional musicians perform over 135 classics, pops, family, education, and community concerts each season in venues throughout the state. A pioneer among American orchestras, the MSO has performed world and American premieres of works by John Adams, Roberto Sierra, Phillip Glass, Geoffrey Gordon, Marc Neikrug, and Matthias Pintscher, as well as garnered national recognition as the first American orchestra to offer live recordings on iTunes. Now in its 48th season, the orchestra’s nationally syndicated radio broadcast series, the longest consecutive-running series of any U.S. orchestra, is heard annually by more than two million listeners. The MSO's standard of excellence extends beyond the concert hall and into the community, reaching more than 40,000 children and their families through its Arts in Community Education (ACE) program, Youth and Teen concerts, and Family Series.
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