Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival: Dallas Symphony Orchestra with conductor Jaap van Zweden

Jul. 11, 2012

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra may be regarded as the largest and oldest arts organization in the southwest, but that doesn’t mean they’re coasting uneventfully into their old age.

Evidence: The Dallas Morning News critic Scott Cantrell’s appeal to readers in a review of Jaap van Zweden’s guest-conducting debut with the orchestra, “Sell the farm, mortgage the children, cancel the cruise. Do what you have to do to get the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s concerts this weekend.”

That 2006 debut eventually led to van Zweden’s designation as Music Director for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in 2008 and in 2012 Musical America named him Conductor of the Year. This year he returns to Vail for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s summer residency with the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. “To have him greet Vail every year at Bravo is a privilege,” says John O’Neill, Office Manager for Bravo, “and true commodity to the music lovers of Bravo.”

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has been a highlight of the Festival for 11 years. O’Neill describes their repertoire as one that captivates audiences “with classical fare as well as unique and progressive performances.” A highlight of their progressive work this summer was a stirring concert version of Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” led by Conductor Jeff Tyzik.

To catch a glimpse the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at work, here’s an excerpt from their performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio Overture at the 2012 Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival led by Jaap van Zweden: