Beverly Taylor
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Capital Times

9/24/2022

 

Madison Symphony Chorus

​MSO launches its season with a veritable ode to the joy of music

By Matt Ambrosio, Special to the Cap Times
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...For the grand fourth and final movement, the MSO was joined by the Madison Symphony Chorus, directed by Beverly Taylor, and four vocal soloists. With the stage full, the ensemble gained the dynamic capacity to match the grandeur of the musical moment. It is always special to witness such a large ensemble in coordination, and the results on Friday night were palpable. The sound issuing from the stage washed over Overture Hall, and the moment felt magical.
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channel 3000

12/6/2021

 

Madison symphony orchestra & chorus

Christmas Returns Officially With MSO Concerts
by Bill Wineke
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MADISON, Wis. — Christmas really doesn’t return to the Madison arts scene until the Madison Symphony Orchestra offers its annual Christmas extravaganza.
Which means, of course, that Christmas didn’t really happen last year as we were all shut down for Covid.

But this weekend the orchestra and conductor John DeMain, along with the Madison Symphony Chorus, Mount Zion Gospel Ensemble and Madison Youth Choirs were back in force and in harmony.

Overture Hall was packed as it hasn’t been since the shutdown began. And the Christmas concert always draws an eclectic crowd including stalwart music professors who haven’t missed a concert in 50 years and young adults who make this their only Overture Center visit of the year.


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capital times

12/4/2021

 

Madison SYmphony Orchestra & Chorus

Give two standing ovations for A Madison Symphony Christmas
by Lindsay Christians
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Madison greeted the symphony’s annual Christmas concert with not one but two standing ovations before the caroling finale began. It was as sure a sign as any that the holidays are here, and we’re ready for them.

Leading a full complement of players -- winds, brass and all — as well as the Madison Symphony Chorus and several other guests, maestro John DeMain allowed that they’d made “some modifications for ‘you know what’” while trying to maintain beloved traditions.

That meant all 150-some adult choristers wore matching black singer’s masks, as did the high school-aged singers in the Madison Youth Choirs. (Shaped like duck bills, singer’s masks allow performers a little more breathing room. Some boys still struggled, tugging at their faces.)



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Capital times

12/14/2019

 

Madison Symphony orchestra & chorus

Heavenly harp and holy nights fill the hall at the 2019 Madison Symphony Christmas
by Lindsay Christians
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The Madison Symphony Christmas concert — once known as the Christmas Spectacular, held on the first weekend in December in non-“Hamilton” years — is all about tradition.

Maestro John DeMain plans his MSO seasons to be a deliberate blend of the familiar and the new. This series of three concerts in Overture Hall, playing again Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, sways toward nostalgia. There are goofy jokes and gospel carols, and violas in reindeer-antler headbands.

It’s fine if you don’t bring a Santa hat. It’s more fun if you do.


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The well-tempered ear

12/12/2017

 

UW-Madison Choral Union & CHamber Orchestra

Classical music: The UW Choral Union and UW Symphony Orchestra deliver outstanding performances of great music by Mozart and Brahms
by John W. Barker
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The program for the first concert this season by the UW Choral Union (below), mercifully, had nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas, and just offered great music.

There were only two works, one by Brahms and the other by Mozart. Surefire!

Johannes Brahms composed three relatively short works for chorus, without soloists, and orchestra. Of these, I wish conductors would get busy with two of them in particular. The Gesang der Parzen (Song of the Fates) and Nänie are simply superb works by one of the greatest of all choral composers.


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Wisconsin gazette

5/11/2017

 

Madison symphony orchestra & chorus

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Brahms ‘Requiem’ ends Madison Symphony season on a high note
MSO was joined by the Madison Symphony Chorus under the direction of Beverly Taylor. The integration of voices and instruments was without peer.
by Michael Muckian
PictureOrganist Nathan Laube
The Madison Symphony Orchestra learned long ago to cap its annual concert series with a major choral work, one that brings a lot of musicians and voices together on stage for a rousing seasonal finale. This year’s choice was Johannes Brahms’ A German Requiem, Op. 45 that struck one of the highest notes of what had been a stellar year for the orchestra at Overture Hall this past weekend.


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The well-tempered ear

12/12/2016

 

UW-Madison Choral Union & Chamber Orchestra

Classical music: The UW Choral Union delivers an eclectic non-seasonal program of music by Beethoven, Brahms and Bernstein with power and lyricism
by John Barker
Eschewing any seasonal or holiday connections, the UW-Madison Choral Union (below) gave its December concert last Friday night with a program of three “B’s”.
Once again, conductor Beverly Taylor has gone beyond stale conventions to bring us valued exposure to music outside the conventional boundaries.
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Madison Magazine

12/8/2014

 
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A "Madison Symphony Christmas": Ho-Ho-Home for the Holidays
by Greg Hettmansberger
PictureTenor Harold Meers
Friday night marked the fifth year yours truly has attended the Madison Symphony’s Christmas concert … more than long enough to know that the response is less review and more an affirmation that it remains an event that makes Madison feel like home at Christmas than any other event. In fact, John DeMain’s always-admirable blend of traditional treats and savory surprises has come to seem a little like coming back home itself: There is the extended “family” of the MSO, Madison Symphony Chorus, Madison Youth Choirs, Mt. Zion Gospel Choir, Uncle Sam (Samuel Hutchinson) at the organ, a couple of special guests and more than two thousand eager and delighted “kids” in the audience, anxious to see what our musical Santa will share with us this year.

Some things (happily) never change, and one knows that the first half will close with the “Hallelujah Chorus.” But for those who wanted more Handel and earlier, the wait wasn’t long. Following an explosive “Joy to the World” from orchestra and the MSO Chorus and Madison Youth Choirs, tenor Harold Meers took the stage for a dignified and powerful “Comfort Ye My People” and “Every Valley Shall Be Exalted.” His strong and unforced vocalism was balanced by an energetic “And the Glory of the Lord” from the MSO Chorus.


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The Capital TImes

12/6/2014

 
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MSO rings in the holidays with gospel, children's choirs and beloved classics
by Lindsay Christians
PictureCambridge, Meers
Bells were ringing all through Overture Hall Friday night as the Madison Symphony Orchestra kicked off its annual holiday concert series.

Called the Christmas Spectacular until the Radio City Rockettes threatened to get legal about it, the renamed Madison Symphony Christmas is arguably the MSO's most popular show of the year.


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Madison Magazine

4/6/2013

 
Madison Symphony Closes Season with Surprises Galore

By Greg Hettmansberger
April 6, 2013

Even before the Madison Symphony closed its 2012–13 season, attention had shifted to the celebration of John DeMain’s impending launch of his twentieth season with the orchestra next fall (along with the same round number as music director of Madison Opera). But Friday night in Overture Hall, DeMain and his ensemble—and the Madison Symphony Chorus, three vocal soloists and the venue’s magnificent organ—managed to bring our focus back to the musical business at hand. And for good measure, we were given concertmaster Naha Greenholtz in the role of soloist in a favorite concerto.

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