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Orchestras tuning up for busy seasons
Francesco Milioto
Updated: September 12, 2012 2:44PM
Summer is winding down, but things are just warming up for area orchestras. Here is a look at the upcoming classical music season.
Chicago Chamber Choir
opens its season with “Bewitched: More Music for the Dead of Night,” eerie classical music by Bach, Britten, Verdi and Schubert, followed by creepy theater favorites from “Sweeney Todd,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28 at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, 815 Wilmot Rd., Deerfield. The audience is encouraged to attend in costume. Subsequent programs include “Bach Magnificat: Christmas in Germany” at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Our Lady of the Brook Church, 3700 Dundee Road, Northbrook, and “Burst Out Singing!” at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1509 Ridge Ave., Evanston. Visit www.chicagochamberchoir.org.
Chicago Master Singers
opens its season with choral works by Beethoven and Vaughan Williams, accompanied by the Ars Viva
Symphony Orchestra. Two concerts: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. Christmas concert with Ars Viva Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 7 p.m. Dec. 9; and “Give me wings of faith” with music by Vaughan Williams, Joseph Jongen, John Rutter, and Kenneth Leighton, with the Ars Viva Brass and organ at 7:30 p.m. April 12, and 7 p.m. April 14. All concerts at the Divine Word Chapel, 2001 Waukegan Road, Techny. Visit www.chicagomastersingers.org.
Highland Park Strings
opens its season with violinists Nikki Chooi and Timothy Chooi in “The Fabulous Fiddlers.” Music by Handel, Bach, Haydn, Sarasate and Saint-Saens will be played at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21 at Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Ave. Subsequent programs featuring pairs of siblings will be “Two Shades of Gray” at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at Elm Place School, 2031 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park; “Schumann Squared,” a benefit program at 3 p.m. Feb. 17 in Bennett-Gordon Hall, Ravinia Festival, Highland Park; and “Brahms Doubled” at 3 p.m. May 19 at Highland Park High School, 433 Vine. Programs are free, except for the benefit Feb. 17. Visit hpstrings.org.
Lake Forest Symphony
continues its season with
“Virtuosic Trumpet” Friday, Oct.
19 and Oct. 20; “Sizzling Strings” Jan. 25 and 26; “Stormy Tchaikovsky” March 15 and 16; and “Mahler and Master Singers” May 17 and 18. Concerts are at 8 p.m. in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Visit lakeforestsymphony.org.
Northbrook Symphony Orchestra
holds the first concert of its 33rd season titled “Joie de Vivre,” Sunday, Sept. 30. Music by Rameau, Bizet, and Pierne, plus the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony with Patricia Lee as soloist. Subsequent concerts are “Eastern European Folk Fest” Nov 4; “From Classical … ” Feb. 17; “ … To Romantic” April 7; and “In Mahler’s Shadow” May 5. All concerts start at 4 p.m. in the Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, Glenbrook North High School, 2300 Shermer Rd., Northbrook. Visit www.northbrooksymphony.org.
North Suburban Symphony Orchestra
begins its season with “American Spirit,” a program of jazz and symphonic pops on Sunday, Oct. 7. Future performances are “German Masters” Nov. 18, “Russian Treasures” March 3 , and “Italian Passion” May 5. All concerts are at 4 p.m. in the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Visit www.lakebluffparks.org or northsuburbansymphony.org.
Pilgrim Chamber Players
opens its 16th season with the Fifth House Ensemble Sunday, Oct. 28. Music includes Martinu’s Trio for Flute, Cello and Piano; Ravel’s Sonata for Violin and Piano, “Blues” movement; Crumb’s “Voice of the Whale” for Flute, Cello and Piano; and Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 1 in D Minor for Piano, Violin & Cello. Season programs continue with “Winter Song,” Jan. 27; “String Fantasy,” March 17; “Stars of Tomorrow,” April 21 (a free concert); and “Clarinet Colors,” May 19. All programs are at 3 p.m. in the Highland Park Community House, 1991 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. Visit www.pilgrimplayers.org. ~.
