Des Moines Symphony’s 87th Season Finale Celebrates the Spirit of Italy with Music of Mendelssohn, Mendelssohn-Hensel, Saint-Saëns and Respighi
5/6/2025DES MOINES, IA — The Des Moines Symphony (DMSO) will perform its 87th Season Finale: Pines of Rome, at 7:30 PM on Saturday, May 17 and 2:30 PM on Sunday, May 18, 2025 at the Des Moines Civic Center (221 Walnut Street, Des Moines).
The concert features Respighi’s Pines of Rome, a lush, cinematic tone poem that evokes four iconic Roman settings through vivid orchestration. From playful children at Villa Borghese to the haunting catacombs and triumphant march along the Appian Way, the piece captures the timeless grandeur and rich atmosphere of the Eternal City. Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony continues the tour, evoking the country’s vibrant streets and sunlit spirit.
The Orchestra also performs Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s Overture in C Major. Never performed by the Des Moines Symphony before, this energetic and deeply expressive piece beautifully showcases the talent of Felix Mendelssohn’s older sister.
International Tchaikovsky Competition Silver Medalist George Li will join the Orchestra for a brilliant performance of Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto. Opening with a solemn, Bach-like prelude, it quickly shifts into sparkling runs, lyrical beauty, and explosive energy. Composed in just 17 days, it remains a favorite for its technical demands and rich, colorful contrasts across all three movements
“Our season finale is a celebration of vivid landscapes and musical storytelling,” said Joseph Giunta, Music Director and Conductor of the Des Moines Symphony. “From the unbridled joy of Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony to the majesty and grandeur of Respighi’s Pines of Rome, this program captures the soul of Italy through music that is both exhilarating and deeply evocative. And with the extraordinary George Li joining us for Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto, the concert promises both poetic beauty and breathtaking virtuosity. It’s a powerful and fitting way to conclude our season.”
LEARN MORE
Audiences can learn more about the pieces performed during each Masterworks concert in the Symphony’s DMSO Remix Podcast (get it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts) or by attending free Concert Prelude Talks led by Dr. Eric McIntyre, Professor of Music at Grinnell College, 45 minutes prior to each Masterworks concert in the Prairie Meadows (East) Lobby.
Season Finale: Pines of Rome
Sat May 17 7:30 PM & Sun May 18 2:30 PM
Des Moines Civic Center
Joseph Giunta, conducting
George Li, piano
MENDELSSOHN-HENSEL Overture in C Major
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 4 “Italian”
SAINT-SAËNS Piano Concerto No. 2
RESPIGHI Pines of Rome
Visit dmsymphony.org for complete season details. Find more information, including where to park and what to expect, atdmsymphony.org/about/plan-your-visit/
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Click here to download photos. For questions or interview requests, please contact Calla Whipp at calla@dmsymphony.org or 515.419.2124.
