SEISO Presents spring Masterworks Series concert: A Czech celebration

The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Robert McConnell, will serve up an all-Czech program for their final concert of their 68th season. The first half of the concert will include Bedrich Smetana's fiendishly difficult and ever exciting Bartered Bride Overture and Josef Suk's rarely performed and achingly beautiful Pohadka (Fairy Tale). Antonin Dvorak's Te Deum brings a powerful close to this Czech extravaganza with the orchestra joining forces with the SEISO Chorus, led by Blair Buffington of Iowa Wesleyan University. The Dvorak will feature soloists soprano Donna DeBose of Iowa Wesleyan University and bass Stephen Swanson of the University of Iowa. The first concert will be held Saturday, March 16, 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater in Burlington. Two additional performances will be given Sunday, March 17, 2 p.m. at the Bridge View Center in Ottumwa and 6:30 p.m. at the Iowa Wesleyan University Chapel Auditorium.

Admission to the spring concerts in Burlington, Ottumwa and Mt. Pleasant is by season ticket or by single tickets which may be purchased at the door or online at www.seiso.us. Adult tickets are $20 and kids/student tickets (aged 0-22) are free. There is no reserved seating.

Make the most of the experience by attending the ‘Prelude.' Music Director Robert McConnell will be on hand 45 minutes before each performance to talk about the programmed music in depth. ‘Prelude' is supported through a grant from the Charles W. Rand Memorial Lecture Fund in Burlington and is offered free of charge to all audience members.

For questions, please contact the SEISO Office at 601 North Main, Mt. Pleasant 52641 or email seiso@iw.edu. More information is available on the SEISO website at www.seiso.us.