Opening Night Featuring Esperanza Spalding

Civic Music Association opened its 2010/11 Season with a near sold-out concert featuring Esperanza Spalding.  We were extremely proud to bring such a widely recognized talent to Des Moines and feature her as our season opener.  Since booking her last year, Esperanza Spalding has been featured in "O" Magazine, Glamour Magazine and on the cover of Downbeat Magazine. 

The concert featured tracks from Esperanza's new album "Chamber Music Society" and included an eight piece band including piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, backup vocals and Esperanza on bass/vocals.  In my tenure at Civic Music Association, I have never seen so much equipment on the stage of Sheslow Auditorium!

The audience experienced almost a dramatic play as Esperanza quietly walked on stage, took off her hat and coat and poured herself a glass of wine.  The concert also ended on a dramatic note as she put her coat and hat back on, took another sip of wine and headed off stage.  She returned to announce the names of her band, but otherwise kept pretty quite during the entire 90 minute set.

Our production day was very busy with making sure the stage was just right and getting all the sound equipment loaded in.  In addition, we had to borrow percussion instruments, an electric keyboard, and Drake student, Ben Morgerson was nice enough to let Esperanza play his bass for the evening!

Our evening was concluded with a Post Concert Reception in Levitt Hall with free food, open bar and a post-concert performance by local talent, Roxi Copland.  Roxi also provided the pre-concert talk prior to the concert.  Thanks Roxi! 

I hope you will join us for one of our upcoming concerts! 

Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet
Friday, October 1, 2010 - 7:30 pm
Drake University - Sheslow Auditorium
Pre-concert talk at 6:45 pm with Dr. Eric Saylor, Professor of Music History, Drake University
Tickets - www.midwestix.com or 515-280-4020