Madison Symphony Music Director John DeMain on a Life in Music

In Tuesday’s (3/17) Cap Times (Wisconsin), Matt Ambrosio writes, “John DeMain has had an extraordinary life in music, gaining him a unique insider perspective on American music-making and some of its most prominent practitioners. After this season, DeMain will retire from his 32-year position as artistic director of the Madison Symphony Orchestra. (He also leads the Madison Opera as principal conductor.) With the closing of his career nearing, DeMain put together a memoir, ‘Working with My Heroes: A Life in Music,’ where he tells stories from his remarkable life and career…. DeMain’s stories entertain while they also lay out his principled way of living devoted to music. The book alternates between stories narrated by DeMain and helpful contextualizations from his co-author, the late Greg Hettmansberger. The unique format gives the reader the impression of listening to the maestro at one of his dinner parties. DeMain worked with some of the biggest names in the history of music, such as Leonard Bernstein, Luciano Pavarotti, Ethel Merman and John Adams, and in the book, he shares behind-the-scenes interactions with the stars. More than cataloging the singular life of DeMain, each vignette provides a window into the American music scene over the past seven decades.”