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Orchestras tuning up for busy season
The Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest was named 2011 Orchestra of the Year.
Updated: September 12, 2012 3:32PM
Summer is winding down, but things are just warming up for area orchestras. Here is a look at the upcoming classical music season.
Bella Voce
presents its opening concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20. Program includes William Byrd’s “Mass for Four Voices,” and Frank Ferko’s “Stabat Mater.” Soloist is soprano Patrice Michaels. Season concerts include Handel’s “Messiah” at 7 p.m. Nov. 16; “Holiday Delights” at 4 p.m. Dec. 9, and “The Sweetness of Spring” at 7:30 p.m. April 27, all at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman, Evanston. Visit www.bellavoce.org.
Chicago a cappella
opens its season with “Genius in the Synagogue: A Musical Portrait of Max Janowski,” with songs by the Chicago composer of Jewish music, on Saturday, Oct. 20. Upcoming concerts include “Navidad en Mexico” Dec. 1; “Spirit/Breath/Voice” Feb. 15, and The A Cappella American Songbook and April 20, all at 8 p.m. in Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Visit www.chicagoacappella.org.
Dominican University Performing Arts Center opens its season with Dar Williams and Loudon Wainwright III at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22. It is followed by “A Leahy Family Christmas at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; Bella Gala, a Poetic Vision of Earth from Space at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25; Imago Theatre-ZooZoo, a family event at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9; and “An Evening with Audra McDonald,” a benefit concert at 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9. All events take place in Lund Auditorium, Dominican University, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. Visit www.dom.edu/pac.
New Philharmonic, music director Kirk Muspratt, opens its season with “Brahms - Blissful and Bold” with the composer’s Symphony No. 4, as well as Yeol emu Son as soloist in his Piano Concerto No. 2, at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 in Lund Auditorium, Dominican University, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. Subsequent concerts are “Viennese Pops with a French Twist” at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 31 at Dominican; Mahler at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 in Edman Memorial Chapel, Wheaton College, 501 College Ave., Wheaton; Mozart’s “Cosi fan tutte” at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17 at Dominican, and “Great Russian Classics” at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at Wheaton College. (The McAninch Arts Center where the ensemble usually plays is being renovated, starting in the fall.) Visit home.cod.edu/atthemac/newphilharmonic.
Oak Park Concert Choral, director Dr. Paul Lindblad, presents two concerts this season, starting with “Star of the East” on Sunday, Nov. 18 and a spring concert on Sunday, April 21. Both begin at 4 p.m. in St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park. Visit www.oakparkconcertchorale.org.
Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest, artistic director Jay Friedman, opens its season with Wagner’s “Parsifal Prelude,” Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 “Unfinished,” Strauss’s “Death and Transfiguration,” and the Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5, with concertmaster John Gerson as soloist Sunday, Sept. 30. Subsequent concerts are “Season’s Greetings” Sunday, Dec. 2; “Celestial Sojourn” Sunday, March 3; “Spring Rhapsody” Sunday April 21, and “Passport to Adventure” Sunday, May 19. All programs are at 4 p. m. in Dominican University’s Lund Auditorium, 7099 W. Division St., River Forest. Visit www.symphonyoprf.com.
Unity Temple Concert Series opens its 40th season with jazz artist Patricia Barber on Saturday, Oct. 6. Additional concerts are Russian cellist Ian Maksin on Saturday, Nov. 3; the Lincoln Trio on Saturday Jan. 26; Sones de Mexico Ensemble on Saturday, Feb. 23; Celtic ensemble Shishonnah on Saturday, March 23, and pianist Ian Hobson on Saturday, April 27. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank Lloyd Wright Unity Temple, 875 Lake St. at Kenilworth Ave., Oak Park. Visit www.utconcerts.com.
