Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 1 Concerts: Strength—Scottish Highlands & Eroica, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on November 22 & 23.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 1 Concerts: Triumph—Tchaikovsky 5, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on September 27 & 28.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 2 Concerts: Wisdom—Dvorak 6 & Chopin, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on October 18 & 19.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 7 Concerts: Pines of Rome, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on May 17 & 18.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 5 Concerts: From The New World, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on March 8 & 9.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 4 Concerts: Chen Conducts Rachmaninoff, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on February 8 & 9.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 3 Concerts: Parker Plays Gershwin, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on November 23 & 24.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at our Masterworks 2 Concerts: Lewis Plays Brahms, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on October 26 & 27.

Geneva Lewis makes her Des Moines debut playing Brahms' virtuosic and emotionally profound Violin Concerto. Still’s Serenade, with lush harmonies that weave American jazz and blues with classical traditions, opens the concert. The Orchestra shines during Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at out Season Debut: The Emperor, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on September 28 & 29.

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at (Re)Discover the Ode to Joy, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on May 11 and 12. Be captivated by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony as the Symphony is joined by soaring voices in a triumphant “Ode to Joy.”

Our 86th Season Finale begins with Suppe’s driving and exciting Pique Dame, or “Queen of Spades,” Overture.  Simple, beautiful melodies tackle the complex subject of human endeavor in Valerie Coleman’s UMOJI, Anthem of Unity. Finally, re-discover the elation of Beethoven’s immortal Ninth Symphony. Marvel as over 100 voices become one with the Symphony in a triumphant “Ode to Joy.”

Intro/outro music:

Moonrise by Steve Heitzeg

Performed by The Des Moines Symphony

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at Discover Gershwin, presented by the Des Moines Symphony on March 9 and 10.

Award-winning pianist Michelle Cann makes her Des Moines debut, performing George Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue, celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2024. The concert opens with Grammy-nominated composer Carlos Simon’s Gospel-inspired Amen! The soaring lyricism and brooding intensity of César Franck’s Symphony in D Minor brings the concert to a close.

Intro/outro music:

Moonrise by Steve Heitzeg

Performed by The Des Moines Symphony

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at Discover Groundbreaking Innovation, presented by the Des Moines Symphony.

This very special episode also includes an interview with composer Wang Lu. Her innovative piece, Surge, was commissioned by the League of American Orchestras with the generous support of the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation. The Des Moines Symphony will perform the Midwest Premiere of Surge in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic’s World Premiere.

In addition, renowned conductor Keith Lockhart, known for his tenure with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops, will lead the Orchestra in Bartok’s groundbreaking Concerto for Orchestra and Barber’s gorgeous Violin Concerto, performed by fifteen-year-old prodigy Amaryn Olmeda.

Intro/outro music:

Moonrise by Steve Heitzeg

Performed by The Des Moines Symphony

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at Discover Freedom, presented by the Des Moines Symphony. Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang returns to Des Moines in a brilliant showcase of Grieg’s famous and distinctly Norwegian Piano Concerto.

The program begins with Glinka’s heroic and exuberant Ruslan & Lyudmila Overture, followed by Florence Price’s heartfelt Andante moderato. Shostakovich’s tragicomic Symphony No. 9, a cynical critique of the political and artistic oppression he experienced in Stalinist Soviet Russia, closes the concert.

Intro/outro music:

Moonrise by Steve Heitzeg

Performed by The Des Moines Symphony

Professor and Musician Dr. Eric McIntyre dives deep into the historical and cultural context behind the music you'll hear at the Des Moines Symphony's 2023-24 Season Debut: Discover Fandango. The concert will feature world-renowned violinist Anne Akiko Meyers performing Fandango, written specifically for her by Arturo Márquez.

Intro/outro music:

Moonrise by Steve Heitzeg

Performed by The Des Moines Symphony