Dear Friends,

I’m delighted to invite you to join the musicians and me for the Des Moines Symphony’s 88th Season Debut. Opening weekend at the Symphony is always special, and I know the music will leave you feeling uplifted. Programming each concert is one of the most rewarding parts of my work, and I’m thrilled to share what each piece on this concert means to me.

Tchaikovsky’s glorious Fifth Symphony holds a special place in my heart. I first conducted it in Germany in the 1970s, and since then I’ve conducted more than 25 performances across six countries. It’s especially meaningful to share it here in Des Moines—it was featured on the very first program I conducted as Music Director of the Des Moines Symphony on October 14 and 15, 1989.

I first discovered Viet Cuong’s music during the Covid-19 lockdown, and within minutes I was hooked by his style and expressive creativity. I couldn’t wait to hear more of his music and to learn about the person behind it. Eventually, we met in Las Vegas, where Viet teaches composition at the University of Nevada, and we quickly became friends. In October 2023, Sandbox Percussion joined the Des Moines Symphony for our first performance of one of Viet’s works. This season, we welcome the innovative Chicago-based sextet Eighth Blackbird for Vital Sines, a remarkable and complex piece that mirrors the rise and fall of a sine wave, evoking breath and heartbeat. It bursts with unbridled rhythm and, at one point, transforms the Orchestra into a powerful rock band. Best of all, Viet will be with us for both performances!

The program opens with Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture. I had the great pleasure of meeting Shostakovich in 1974 while I was a student at Northwestern University, and I remember him as a kind, gentle, and unassuming soul. Written 50 years ago to commemorate the 37th anniversary of the Russian Revolution, this work brims with brilliant fanfares, dazzling virtuosity and an exhilaratingly fast tempo, making it the perfect way to open our season.

We look forward to sharing an unforgettable evening of music with you—see you at the Symphony!

Joseph Giunta
Music Director & Conductor

PS: Viet Cuong and I will also be at the pre-concert Opening Night Celebration, which includes dinner, drinks and more, at the Savery Hotel. Join us there!

PPS: If you're looking for more ways to engage with our guests this weekend, RSVP for rehearsal and a conversation with Viet Cuong and Eighth Blackbird on Saturday morning.