The Dubuque Symphony Orchestra’s season long program, Classical Madness, came to an end on Sunday, March 16, revealing the tri-state’s four favorite classical music selections.

Classical Madness started in October 2007 at the first concert of the season. That weekend Dubuque Symphony Orchestra concert goers had quite the surprise when Music Director and Conductor William Intriligator came on stage wearing a warm up suit and bouncing a basketball to officially kick off the program.

“We’re trying to show that the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra is not so formal and—although we are serious about our music—we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” said Intriligator with a twinkle in his eye. “Coming out on stage like that was a lot of fun, and it really surprised our audience. I’m still waiting, though, for a cheerleader squad to come to a DSO concert chanting ‘Rach-ma-nin-off! Rach-ma-nin-off!’ Now that the voting is over, I guess I’ll let go of that dream…”

The entire tri-state community was encouraged to vote for their favorite classical music selections. Ballots were given out at Dubuque Symphony Orchestra concerts and appeared in the Telegraph Herald newspaper during the first two rounds of voting. Voting was available online at the Telegraph Herald and Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Web sites during all four rounds.

Six months, four rounds and 9,259 votes later, sixty-four classical music selections were narrowed down to the following final four:

Overture Bracket

Rossini, William Tell Overture

Concerto Bracket

Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue

Symphony Bracket

Dvořák, Symphony No. 9 (From the New World)

Wild Card Bracket (Miscellaneous)

Grofé, Grand Canyon Suite

The Classical Madness final four selections will form the concert program for free concerts to be given at the Five Flags Theater by the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra on September 13 and 14.  

The free concerts will be the first concerts of the 50^th anniversary season of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. These free concerts are a gift from the Orchestra to the community to say thank you for its support of the symphony for 50 years.

Tickets will be available in mid August at the DSO office and at all Dubuque Dupaco Community Credit Union locations.