Author: Andrew Holm

Abbi Waugh, former JPL librarian, says hi to everyone.  She and her friend were at one of my concerts this past weekend.  Her birthday was yesterday, and she said that she was taking off work and getting a massage.

Upcoming Des Moines Symphony concerts:

Saturday, October 15th at 7:30 PM:  The Music of Queen

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-music-of-queen/

Saturday, October 22nd at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, October 23rd at 2:30 PM: The Firebird

https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/the-firebird/

For the Queen concert, Martin Herman will be guest conducting with MiG Ayesa as vocalist.  The Firebird concert will feature Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini with Charlie Albright as piano soloist, William Bolcom’s Ragomania, and St. Georges Symphony No. 2.

https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/7130/7131?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_9b81bff4-622a-41b1-8d49-10316c8dc3da~ts_1663700706~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_1b22b09cec255f49dab53c8becbb51da5ea4adc4994e8498ccc9a829c3b61213

The above link can be used to purchase online access for this weekend’s masterworks by the Des Moines Symphony, and Andrew Holm is playing in this.  Remember, there’s also an opportunity on Saturday at 7:30 PM at Johnston Town Center and Riverview Park in Des Moines to watch it via a large screen for free!

Next Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 PM, there will be a free watch party for the season debut of the Des Moines Symphony at the Johnston Town Center as well as at Riverview Park in Des Moines.  I have been having trouble finding information about this on their website, but if you like the Des Moines Symphony facebook page or follow them on Instagram, there will be more information.

The first Masterworks symphony concerts of the season are September 24th at 7:30 PM, and September 25th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines.  We will be playing Gershwin’s An American in Paris, Daphnis et Chloe suite by Maurice Ravel,  Fantasia para un gentilhombre for guitar and orchestra by Joaquin Rodriguo, and the world premiere of Kevin Puts Heartland Canons.  Sharon Isbin will be our guitar soloist.  This will be the only concert livestreamed this season, and here is a link to purchase your access:  https://www.dmsymphony.org/livestreams/.

Here is a link to purchase in-person tickets:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6330?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_6b6e0cfb-1137-4004-ad85-683431ddafb2~ts_1663167850~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_228b70514fcc90675c4087d2f2cae86012cba40e48f7ce49f79aea5477842d14

I am pleased to inform you that there are now two performances of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with the Des Moines Symphony in January.  Dates and times are as follows:

Friday, January 27th: 7:30 PM

Saturday, January 28th: 1:30 PM

Get your tickets at this website:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/harry-potter-and-the-goblet-of-fire/

Seeing the symphony perform the entire movie may a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown, Bernadette Peters with the Des Moines Symphony in concert.  Get your tickets now!

I thought I would let everyone know about the upcoming Des Moines Symphony concerts next weekend at the Lauridsen Amphitheater at Waterworks Park in Des Moines.  Saturday the 3rd at 7:30 PM features music of Whitney Houston with Rashidra Scott as vocal soloist, and Sunday the 4th at 7:30 PM features music of Hollywood.  Both concerts are free, so please make plans with your family and friends to attend!

Waterworks Park is located at 2251 George Flagg Pkwy in Des Moines.

Yesterday, I had a snack at the Johnston Panera with Abbi Waugh, a former JPL staff member, and she said to tell everyone hello.  She is enjoying working at the downtown library as a cataloging librarian.

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/bernadette-peters-in-concert/

Be sure to purchase your tickets for the Bernadette Peters concert on Thursday, September 8th at 7:30 PM at the Civic Center downtown Des Moines.

Please make plans to come to Lauridsen Amphitheater at Waterworks Park in Des Moines Labor Day weekend to hear music of Whitney Houston (Saturday the 3rd at 7:30 PM) and of Hollywood (Sunday the 4th at 7:30 PM).  Both concerts are FREE!

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/the-music-of-whitney-houston/

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/hooray-for-hollywood/

Please check the symphony website for more information about the upcoming season:  https://www.dmsymphony.org/  We have The Planets, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, Saint-Seans Cello Concerto No. 1, and American in Paris, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the music of Queen, and more!

Mississippi Mud brownies

6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1 cup unsalted butter

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup dutch process coca powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups sugar

5 eggs

3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Topping:

3/4 cup marshmallow creme

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil sling and grease the foil.  Melt the unsweetened chocolate and butter in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, then cool slightly.  Combine flour, cocoa, and salt in another bowl; stir eggs and sugar together in another bowl.  Stir the melted chocolate mixture into the sugar and eggs, then stir in the flour mixture.  Fold in the pecans if using, and pour batter evenly into prepared pan.  Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean with wet crumbs attached, about 35 minutes.  Place on wire rack.

Spoon marshmallow creme over hot brownies, and let sit for about a minute.  Melt chocolate chips and oil, and spread cream over the brownies.  Then drizzle the melted chocolate over the cream.  Let cool for about two hours before serving.  Freezes well.

If you or others you know are allergic to gluten, feel free to use any chocolate brownie recipe in a 13×9 in pan, and follow the directions for the topping.

Brownies for my birthday (which is actually August 13th) are in the breakroom.  Please help yourself when you have a chance.

The Yankee Doodle Pops will not only broadcast live on Iowa PBS on Friday the 1st at 8:30 PM, but also on Saturday at 3:30 AM, and on Sunday at 1 PM.  Will also broadcast live on Iowa Public Radio Classical, but don’t know about re-runs on that network.  Again, it’s free, so feel free to bring family and friends, blankets, food, and lawn chairs.  https://dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/yankee-doodle-pops/

I would like to inform you about the 2022 Des Moines Symphony Yankee Doodle Pops, which will take place on Friday, July 1st, at 8:30 PM on the Iowa State Capitol grounds.  It’s free, so please feel free to bring your friends and family.  It will also be broadcast live on Iowa PBS and Iowa Public Radio.

https://www.dmsymphony.org/concerts-events/yankee-doodle-pops/

The Pleasant Hill Public Library is having a party to celebrate their 40th anniversary on Saturday, June 4th, from 1-4 at the library.  It is located at 5151 Maple Dr. in Pleasant Hill, and here is a link with information:  https://www.pleasanthilliowa.org/library.

The final series of the symphony season is this weekend, and we are playing Beethoven’s Overture to Consecration of the House, Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, Starburst by Jessie Montgomery, and Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorsky.  Here is a link for purchasing online access, and you will have 30 days after the live stream to watch it:  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6038.

If you would like to attend in person, the concerts will take place Saturday the 7th at 7:30 PM, and Sunday the 8th at 2:30 PM at the Civic Center in downtown Des Moines.

Information about next season is available online.  We will be performing Holst’s Planets suite, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite, Saint-Saens First Cello Concerto, and much more.

**EDIT: April Fools**

Someone broke into the library last night and knocked off a whole bunch of items, and we will need help re-shelving them.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause!

If you like the Des Moines Symphony facebook page, you may have noticed a post that is offering some guesses as to how many times the orchestra has performed Beethoven’s ninth symphony, which we are playing in April.  Don’t forget to like the page and make a guess, as this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Don’t forget to purchase online access for the concert set, which will take place on April 9th at 7:30 PM.  https://my.desmoinesperformingarts.org/0/6042?queueittoken=e_newdmpasafetynet~q_5f582942-0536-4181-93e2-50b79c00d8e9~ts_1648581481~ce_true~rt_safetynet~h_b8f25d1330155bff21fdc2802f58026674b3bf320245bbf22a1cf8b2fe3312e1.

We are also playing an opera overture by Beethoven, the Ukraine national anthem, a selection from Tristan and Isolde by Wagner, and a piece by Estonian composer Arvo Part.  The Iowa State Singers, Des Moines Choral Society, and soloists are joining us for Beethoven Nine.

Concert set featuring Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony and Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto is this coming weekend, and here is the link to get tickets:  https://desmoinesperformingarts.org/events/symphony-beethoven-shostakovich/.  If you purchase online access, you will have up to 30 days after the performance to watch it.