Chicago Classical Music

With the Who's Your Daddy? Trio featuring Dan Trudell, Chris "Hambone" Cameron And Friends, and the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church Gospel Choir

Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Unveiled in 1935 by Chicago's Hammond Organ Company, the Hammond B-3 Organ, with its distinctive whirling "tone cabinet" sound, was intended as a less expensive option to church pipe organs. But it quickly found a happy home in many other venues and musical styles. This concert celebrates the B-3's unique sound and flair in all its jazz, blues, soul, pop, gospel, and Stax Records musical glory.

Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Eight-time Grammy-winning classical and jazz clarinet and saxophone virtuoso Paquito D'Rivera is one of today's most gifted and versatile musicians. His many honors include the National Medal for the Arts, a 2005 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award, and a 2007 Living Jazz Legend Award. Also a gifted composer, he won a 2004 Grammy for his Merengue as performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In addition to his success in the Latin and jazz arenas, he regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world. He is joined by his fellow trio members, pianist Alex Brown and cellist Dana Leong, as well as another longtime collaborator, harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy.
The Paquito D'Rivera Trio with special guest Howard Levy is generously supported in part by the Evelyn Dunbar Visiting Artist Fund.

Maja Cerar, violin soloist

Tomie Hahn, sensor-suited dancing conductor

Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Give your mouse a night off and enjoy the Chicago-area debut of the groundbreaking Princeton Laptop Orchestra (better known as PLOrk), cofounded by Dan Trueman and Perry Cook. Using customized laptop computers and individual sounds systems, this 20-member ensemble can sound like a full symphony orchestra, a jazz combo, or an electronica band. This exciting program will include works with solo acoustic violin, a work with a dancing conductor covered with electronic touch pads, and two world premieres. Far from being pre-programmed, PLOrk musicians independently control dynamics, rhythm and sound to create a true ensemble effect.

Osvaldo Golijov: Jewish Influences in My Music
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago

Sunday, April 6 at 2 pm
Tickets: $20 | $15 for Spertus members | $10 for students
Advanced tickets highly recommended.
Call 312.322.1773

 

 

 

 

 

 

“one of the few composers today whose works are profoundly shifting the geography of the classical music world”
— The New York Times

Osvaldo Golijov is a Grammy award-winning composer of classical music, known for his brilliant integration of musical traditions from around the world. Guest host Henry Fogel leads an engaging conversation with Golijov about the development of his work and the ways Jewish influences and experiences have impacted his music. The program will include a live performance of Golijov's Lullaby and Doina by musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Osvaldo Golijov grew up in an Eastern European Jewish household in Argentina, surrounded by classical, Jewish liturgical, and klezmer music, as well as Astor Piazzolla's tango. After studying at the local conservatory, he moved to Israel and immersed himself in Jerusalem’s colliding musical traditions. He earned his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied with George Crumb and was a fellow at Tanglewood.

In the 1990s, Golijov began work with the St. Lawrence and Kronos quartets, the first to project his category-defying style. His recordings with them include Yiddishbbuk with the St. Lawrence String Quartet, and Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind, Caravan, and Nuevo with Kronos. Golijov also collaborates with other artists, including Romanian Gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks, the Mexican Rock group Café Tacuba, tablas virtuoso Zakir Hussain, and legendary Argentine musician Gustavo Santaolalla.

A MacArthur Fellow, Golijov has been composer-in-residence at prestigious festivals including the 2007 Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center. He is co-composer-in-residence, together with Marc-Anthony Turnage, at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, through June of 2008. Other recent projects include Azul, a cello concerto for Yo-Yo Ma and the Boston Symphony, and the soundtrack for Francis Ford Coppola's film Youth Without Youth.

Sunday, April 6, 7:30 p.m.

Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

The New York Times calls the Bang on a Can All-Stars "a fiercely aggressive group, combining the power and punch of a rock band with the precision and clarity of a chamber ensemble." Newsday praises the group for "present[ing] new music the way it should be presented - with passion, precision, dynamism, stylistic authority, and a welcoming informality." This ensemble is dedicated to commissioning, performing, creating, presenting, and recording contemporary music. With an ear for the new, the unknown, and the unconventional, Bang on a Can has been exposing innovative music as broadly and accessibly as possible to new audiences worldwide for two decades. Joining the group is the brilliant percussionist Glenn Kotche, whose "other" job is playing drums for the critically acclaimed rock band Wilco.

N.U. Contemporary Music Ensemble

Ryan T. Nelson, conductor

Matthew Coley, percussion

Monday, April 7, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Known for combining elements of pop, rock, jazz, and classical music, the brilliant contemporary American composers Steven Mackey and John Mackey are featured in a program celebrating their kaleidoscopic palette of sonic colors and compositional wizardry. This high-energy, entertaining program also features Matthew Coley playing traditional percussion instruments as well as an arsenal of toys and kitchen gadgets.

Steven Mackey, Micro-Concerto for Percussion and Five Instruments
John Mackey, Breakdown Tango
Steven Mackey, Physical Property
John Mackey, Juba

Tuesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

She has been called "a young, African Portuguese, Lisboan Parisian Gladys Knight." Born in Lisbon to Cape Verdean parents, Lura has created an exhilarating new style that blends French Afro-pop, traditional African music, Cape Verdean song styles, jazz, and Brazilian rhythms. Her music, powerful voice, and scintillating dancing prompted theTimes of London to call her "the most dynamic performer in world music right now." Joining Lura is her exciting instrumental ensemble.

Featuring Devin DeSantis and the Mercutio String Quartet

Ryan T. Nelson, conductor

Thursday, April 10, 7:30 p.m.
Lutkin Hall

The 1993 collaboration between pop star Elvis Costello and England's renowned Brodsky String Quartet was inspired by reports of a Verona professor who was answering letters he found addressed to Juliet Capulet. The result was a critically acclaimed series of 20 dramatic ballads, influenced by the songs of Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, in which male and female characters of varying ages and degrees of sanity tell stories of love, betrayal, and death. Don't miss this little-known theatrical, musical gem.

With the Who's Your Daddy? Trio featuring Dan Trudell, Chris "Hambone" Cameron And Friends, and the Greater Harvest Missionary Baptist Church Gospel Choir

Friday, April 11, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Unveiled in 1935 by Chicago's Hammond Organ Company, the Hammond B-3 Organ, with its distinctive whirling "tone cabinet" sound, was intended as a less expensive option to church pipe organs. But it quickly found a happy home in many other venues and musical styles. This concert celebrates the B-3's unique sound and flair in all its jazz, blues, soul, pop, gospel, and Stax Records musical glory.

Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall

Eight-time Grammy-winning classical and jazz clarinet and saxophone virtuoso Paquito D'Rivera is one of today's most gifted and versatile musicians. His many honors include the National Medal for the Arts, a 2005 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award, and a 2007 Living Jazz Legend Award. Also a gifted composer, he won a 2004 Grammy for his Merengue as performed by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In addition to his success in the Latin and jazz arenas, he regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world. He is joined by his fellow trio members, pianist Alex Brown and cellist Dana Leong, as well as another longtime collaborator, harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy.
The Paquito D'Rivera Trio with special guest Howard Levy is generously supported in part by the Evelyn Dunbar Visiting Artist Fund.

Chicago’s Newest Chamber Orchestra to Present Spring Performance

Chicago, Ill. – The Erato Chamber Orchestra, Chicago’s newest chamber ensemble, will present a Spring performance on Sunday, April 13 at 3:00 pm in the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, located in the Chicago Cultural Center. (78 East Washington St.) The performance is free and open to the public.

 

Music Director, Richard A. Haglund, will lead the orchestra in performing four unique works. Repertoire will include: Fingal’s Cave Overture, Op.26 (Hebrides Overture, Mendelssohn; Chamber Symphony No. 2, Schoenberg; Nocturne for String Orchestra, Paul Yeon Lee; and Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, Mendelssohn – featuring guest violinist, Michael Antonelllo.

 

Founded in 2007, by Richard A. Haglund, the Erato Chamber Orchestra is comprised of Chicago’s finest freelance musicians who love to make and share music from all genres.  As the goddess Erato is the Muse of Lyric Poetry, the Erato Chamber Orchestra seeks to lyrically communicate music at the highest possible level.  The orchestra’s style is characterized by virtuosic talent with warmth of sound, transparent textures and an infectious enjoyment of the pleasures of making music.  The artistic goal of the Erato chamber Orchestra is to "devote a major portion of its programs to wonderful literature, both classic and contemporary, that is not ordinarily performed by large symphonies."

 

For more information on the Erato Chamber Orchestra, go online to www.eratochamberorchestra.org.

 

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EVENT AT A GLANCE

Event: Erato Chamber Orchestra

Date & Time: Sunday, April 13 at 3:00 pm

Admission: Free and open to the public

Online: www.eratochamberorchestra.org

Location: 78 East Washington Street, Chicago , IL

     The Erato Chamber Orchestra, Chicago’s newest chamber ensemble, will present a Spring performance on Sunday, April 13 at 3:00 pm in the Grand Army of the Republic Hall, located in the Chicago Cultural Center. (78 East Washington St.) The performance is FREE and open to the public.

     Music Director, Richard A. Haglund, will lead the orchestra in performing four unique works. Repertoire will include: Fingal’s Cave Overture, Op.26 (Hebrides Overture, Mendelssohn; Chamber Symphony No. 2, Schoenberg; Nocturne for String Orchestra, Paul Yeon Lee; and Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, Mendelssohn – featuring guest violinist, Michael Antonelllo.

     Founded in 2007, by Richard A. Haglund, the Erato Chamber Orchestra is comprised of Chicago’s finest freelance musicians who love to make and share music from all genres.  As the goddess Erato is the Muse of Lyric Poetry, the Erato Chamber Orchestra seeks to lyrically communicate music at the highest possible level.  The orchestra’s style is characterized by virtuosic talent with warmth of sound, transparent textures and an infectious enjoyment of the pleasures of making music.  The artistic goal of the Erato chamber Orchestra is to "devote a major portion of its programs to wonderful literature, both classic and contemporary, that is not ordinarily performed by large symphonies."

     For more information on the Erato Chamber Orchestra, go online to www.eratochamberorchestra.org

 

The nine voices of Chicago a cappella presents a colorful explosion of the finest a cappella choral music to come from Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. Discover hot new sounds filled with rhythmic vitality and harmonic beauty from brilliant Latino composers, sung with the “beautifully blended sound and sheer exuberance” (Chicago Tribune) that Chicago a cappella always delivers.

The Grammy-nominated Chicago Chamber Musicians offers the second concert in the ensemble's contemporary music series Freshly Scored.  "Music of the Heart" explores works inspired by or derived from emotion.  All three beautifully written works powerfully convey the dramatic, fiery, pensive, playful and peaceful landscape of the human heart.

Stephen Paulus: Concerto for brass quintet
Robert Chumbley: Three More Self Studies - world premiere!
Brian Prechtl: Visions of the Apocalypse (commissioned by ensemble artists Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer)

Chicago Master Singers, under the direction of Alan Heatherington, presents a concert of music of America and France

Includes Vierne: Grand Mass and Lauridsen: Ave Maria and O Magnum Mysterium as well as music of Pierre Villette and Randall Thompson

Friday April 18th at 7:30 pm

Divine Word Chapel
2001 Waukegan Road
Techny, IL

For tickets, call 877-825-5267

www.chicagomastersingers.org

This concert repeats on Sunday April 20th at 7pm

The nine voices of Chicago a cappella presents a colorful explosion of the finest a cappella choral music to come from Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. Discover hot new sounds filled with rhythmic vitality and harmonic beauty from brilliant Latino composers, sung with the “beautifully blended sound and sheer exuberance” (Chicago Tribune) that Chicago a cappella always delivers.

The nine voices of Chicago a cappella presents a colorful explosion of the finest a cappella choral music to come from Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal. Discover hot new sounds filled with rhythmic vitality and harmonic beauty from brilliant Latino composers, sung with the “beautifully blended sound and sheer exuberance” (Chicago Tribune) that Chicago a cappella always delivers.

Final concert of the Avalon String Quartet's 2007-08 series in Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center, Sunday 4/20 at 3:00pm

program-

Ethan Wickman: "Namaste" for string quartet  **World Premiere

Beethoven: String Quartet op. 135 in F Major

Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, with Paul Katz, cello 

General admission $28, students $10; call Symphony Center box office: 312-294-3000

**Ten complimentary tickets available for ccm.org readers, on first-come basis.  Please email antolirob@yahoo.com.

Details of Avalon's 2008-09 Buntrock Hall series will be released at the concert.

www.avalonquartet.com

Presented by Northern Illinois University: www.niu.edu/music

 

Chicago Master Singers, under the direction of Alan Heatherington, presents a concert of music of America and France

Includes Vierne: Grand Mass and Lauridsen: Ave Maria and O Magnum Mysterium as well as music of Pierre Villette and Randall Thompson

Sunday April 20th at 7:00 pm

Divine Word Chapel
2001 Waukegan Road
Techny, IL

For tickets, call 877-825-5267

www.chicagomastersingers.org

The Chicago Sinfonietta presents the final concert of the Chamber Series at the National Museum of Mexican Art. This unique collaboration pairs members of the Sinfonietta with special guest artists in an exploration of the influence of Latin American traditional and folk music on the classical compositions that emerged from the region.

Chicago's premiere Mexican folk Ensemble Sones de México will be joined by members of the Sinfonietta, featuring piaist Donald Neale.  The program will explore the crossroads of folk and classical traditions. 

The concert takes place at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.

Call 312.236.3681 ext. 2 for tickets and information or click here.

Believing in Your Dreams: Part 1

Midwest Young Artists’ (MYA) Symphony Orchestra celebrates the end of their 07-08 concert season with a collaborative performance of Verdi’s Requiem at Chicago’s Civic Opera House on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at 7:30 PM. The concert features both MYA’s Chorale and Symphony Orchestra with Northwestern University Choruses and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Concert Choir. MYA welcomes guest artists Nancy Pifer, soprano; Amanda Tarver, mezzo-soprano; Noah Stewart, tenor; and Charles Robert Austin, bass, as soloists for this grand work. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Tickets are available at www.mya.org or by calling 847-926-9898.

With a vision to create an exceptional environment for young musicians, Midwest Young Artists (878 Lyster Road, Highwood, 847-926-9898) was founded in 1993. Currently reaching over 600 students from 74 cities in the metropolitan Chicago area, with students ranging in age from 2^nd through 12^th grades, MYA strives to provide the highest quality music experience for young musicians nationwide. MYA expects the best out of its students and provides a supportive and nurturing environment. It is a place where students are able to grow with their peers in a competitive, yet friendly atmosphere. MYA has 5 youth orchestras, more than 60 chamber music ensembles, 3 choral groups, an all-inclusive jazz program, and classes in music theory and history. Students have the opportunity to travel abroad and to perform in major venues throughout Chicago and around the world. Leading the nation in chamber music instruction, MYA's program is the most decorated and award winning chamber music program in the United  MYA graduates are accepted at the most selective conservatories, universities and colleges in the country.

 

Principal bassoon of the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 2004, Christopher Millard also played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orchestra for 29 years. He has appeared at festivals throughout Canada as well as with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Marlboro Festival, Grand Teton Music Festival, and World Orchestra for Peace. His numerous recordings on the Summit and CBC labels include a 2004 Juno Award winner featuring the Hetu Bassoon Concerto. Millard’s program features sonatas by William Hurlstone, and Lubos Sluka and music by Villa-Lobos, Mozart, Miroshnikov, and Doppler.

Tickets are $9 general admission, $7 for seniors and Northwestern University faculty and staff, and $5 for students. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sylvia Wang has performed as a solo and collaborative artist throughout the Americas, Europe, and the Far East. Her recordings include Debussy on Cadenza Classics, chamber music on Newport Classics and Boston Records, and contemporary American music on North-eastern and CRI. Anhonorary associate at London’s Royal Academy of Music, Wang made her London Purcell Room debut as an Avanti Award winner and was a winner or finalist in such competitions as London’s Royal Overseas League Festival, the Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition, and the J. S. Bach International Piano Competition. In a program with the theme “Variations on Variations,” Wang will perform works by Franz Joseph Haydn, Yehudi Wyner, Franz Schubert, and Robert Schumann.

Tickets are $9 general admission, $7 for seniors and Northwestern University faculty and staff, and $5 for students.