In Tuesday’s (11/1) Des Moines Register (Iowa), Michael Morain writes, “The highlight of the Des Moines Symphony program this weekend will be the 19th-century classic ‘Pictures at an Exhibition.’ A highlight next fall might be ‘Sculptures at a Park.’ The as-yet-untitled project is the latest burst of philanthropy from venture capitalist John Pappajohn and his wife, Mary. They gave the orchestra money to commission a 20-minute work inspired by their namesake sculpture park in downtown Des Moines, where visitors will one day be able to hear recordings of the music on the self-guided cellphone tour. The orchestra hired Twin Cities composer Steve Heitzeg, who drove down for a visit this summer. … He toured the park in the daytime, with Des Moines Art Center director Jeff Fleming, and at night, with symphony executive director Richard Early and music director Joseph Giunta. … ‘I might include stones for the percussionists. You start to think about stone and bronze and brass,’ said the composer, whose working title for the piece is ‘Symphony in Steel and Bronze.’ … The new commission will open the Des Moines Symphony’s 75th anniversary season during a pair of concerts tentatively scheduled for Sept. 29-30. Photos of the artwork will be projected on a screen over the stage.”
Posted November 1, 2011
