When this universally cherished production debuted 20 years ago, it captivated Chicago audiences. It did the same in 2012, and this season it returns again by popular demand. This rivetingly modern, astonishingly inventive view of the Brothers Grimm's fairytale features an eye-popping production that does full justice to Humperdinck's glorious score. You'll be rooting for Hansel and Gretel at every moment in their battle against the witch in the massive, industrial-strength kitchen, and you'll be moved by the "Dream Ballet." From the exquisite "Evening Prayer" to the uproarious "Witch's Ride," this ever-fresh, whimsical masterpiece is packed with musical gems that make it a wonderful introduction to opera for audiences of all ages.
Hansel & Gretel
You can watch the livestream here: https://youtu.be/aLfHUYYzd1I If you watch the livestream, please support the artists by purchasing a livestream ticket. Since 1980, Friends of the Gamelan has been Chicago's premier ensemble that performs traditional Javanese gamelan music. Led by Artistic Director Alex Yoffe, the nonprofit provides quality instruction, performs world-class concerts, and presents engaging workshops with students, families, and gamelan appreciators of all ages and abilities throughout the Chicago area and beyond. In the late 1970s, a group began to meet regularly at the Field Museum to play on the same gamelan instruments from the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Eventually the instruments were archived and the ensemble acquired new instruments. Today's set of instruments was acquired by FROG in the 2000s. The ensemble has performed at various stages throughout Chicago, including Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion, the Field Museum, Navy Pier, and the Old Town School of Folk Music, to name a few. www.chicagogamelan.org
Jazz Septet feat. the music of Andy Baker & Steve Million.
The ESO’s 77th anniversary season opens with two of the symphonic canon’s greatest works. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, the “Jupiter,” was his final symphony, and the pinnacle of his symphonic output. A synthesis between classical and baroque eras, it is considered one of the supreme achievements of the Viennese Classical Period. Johannes Brahms’s passionate Symphony No. 2 journeys from complete serenity and melancholy to culminate in triumphal joy. Program Musical Insights Free Pre-Concert Preview the Friday before this concert.
Join us for an evening of festive cheer and holiday spirit at the Chicago Sinfonietta's "Holidays of Light" concert, featuring guest conductor Chelsea Tipton. The concert will take place at the beautiful and historic Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. The program will feature an exciting array of holiday music, ranging from classic Christmas favorites to traditional Jewish and Latin American tunes. The concert will begin with Robert Wendel's lively and enchanting "Christmas Ala Valse," followed by Irving Berlin's timeless "White Christmas." Next up is Alexander Glazunov's "Chopinanania Suite Op. 46," a delightful medley of Chopin's music that is sure to captivate audiences. Lukas Richman's "Hanukkah Festival Overture" will then take us on a joyful and celebratory journey through Jewish culture and tradition. The program also includes Duke Ellington's jazzy and playful "Nutcracker Suite," featuring three memorable movements from Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet. James Pierpont's classic "Jingle Bells Forever" will bring a smile to everyone's faces and keep toes tapping. After intermission, the Sinfonietta will perform a mix of traditional and contemporary holiday tunes, including Felix Bernard's "Winter Wonderland," Percy Grainger's "Irish Tune From County Derry," and Jerry Lovrien's "Minor Alterations." Victor A. Vanacore's arrangement of "Feliz Navidad" is sure to have the audience singing along. The concert will conclude with a series of lively and upbeat pieces, including Johann Strauss's "Champagne Polka," Eric Holcombe's "Fantasy on Auld Lang Syne," and Leroy Anderson's perennial favorite "Sleigh Ride." The audience will then join in for a heartwarming rendition of "Silent Night," sung unaccompanied and featuring one verse in Spanish, while luminarias light up the hall. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with the Chicago Sinfonietta and guest conductor Chelsea Tipton. Tickets are available now, so book your seats today and get ready for a magical evening of music and merriment! About Chelsea Tipton American conductor Chelsea Tipton II has won over audiences and critics with his vibrant musicality, versatility, accessibility, and commitment to art education. He served as Resident Conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra for seven exceptionally successful seasons and was Associate Conductor of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra for four seasons. He is currently in his fourteenth season as Music Director of the Symphony of Southeast Texas and eighth season as Principal Pops Conductor with the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.
Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for an evening of musical exploration with DEPTH, featuring renowned guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto and a lineup of works that delve into the complexities of the human experience. Witness the artistry of Prieto in the vibrant and colorful Sinfonia India by Carlos Chavez, where indigenous Mexican folk melodies blend seamlessly with the Western classical tradition. Then, immerse yourself in the vibrant rhythms of Juan Pablo Contreras' Mariachitlán, which blends traditional Mexican music with modern orchestral sounds for a truly unique experience. Finally, the concert concludes with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, a powerful and deeply moving work that reflects the composer's struggle to create art under the oppressive Soviet regime. Throughout the concert, the Chicago Sinfonietta will explore the depths of the human experience through music, showcasing the power and beauty of artistic expression. This promises to be an evening of music that will touch your heart and leave you inspired. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the Chicago Sinfonietta and the guest conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto in this unforgettable performance.
Join the Chicago Sinfonietta for an electrifying opening night concert, AMPLIFY, featuring a stunning lineup of contemporary and classic works conducted by the dynamic Mei-Ann Chen. Experience the Chicago premiere of Regina Harris Baiocchi's Muse for Orchestra, a powerful tribute to the muses who inspire and guide us. Then, immerse yourself in Viet Cuong's Re(new)al, a thrilling work that explores the intersection of digital and natural soundscapes, with striking percussion and intricate melodies. And finally, prepare to be transported by Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in D Major, "Titan," a beloved classic that never fails to captivate audiences with its sweeping themes and dynamic energy. With Conductor Mei-Ann Chen at the helm, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of music that will leave you inspired and energized. Don't miss your chance to witness the Chicago Sinfonietta AMPLIFY their sound and showcase their artistic prowess on opening night.
CSO Artist-in-Residence Hilary Hahn illuminates Brahms’ Violin Concerto, with its ardent beauty and fiery finale. Mikko Franck conducts Wagner’s ecstatic Prelude to Tristan und Isolde before concluding with Sibelius’ Seventh Symphony, an awesome, “time-bending journey” (The Guardian), and the Finnish composer’s crowning symphonic achievement.
The 2023/24 Season of MusicNOW illuminates works by a dynamic collective of Black composers, the Blacknificent 7. Jasmine Barnes performs a work by Dave Ragland and Damien Geter joins Barnes for her world premiere. From Thompson’s In Response to the Madness, which explores the composer’s angst in response to the chaos found today around the world, to Ragland’s Eight Tones for Elijah — a loving tribute to young violinist Elijah McCain who was killed by the police on his walk home — the program surveys current social themes. Also featured are works by Chicago’s own Shawn Okpebholo and Damien Geter. Nimble and accomplished improvisers, CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery and Carlos Simon perform of-the-moment interludes, woven between the other works on the program.
Michael Tilson Thomas lends his fresh insights to a compelling Austro-Germanic program. It includes Mozart’s whirling Six German Dances and his graceful and tender Piano Concerto No. 12, which features Orion Weiss, acclaimed for his “limpid touch, clean runs and purling legato phrasing” (Chicago Tribune). Schoenberg’s lavishly imaginative orchestration of Brahms’ Piano Quartet No. 1 completes the program.
Daniel Barenboim, who has enriched Chicago’s musical life for more than a half century, returns with the venerable Staatskapelle Berlin for an all-Brahms program. One of the world’s oldest orchestras, the Staatskapelle was established in the 16th century and later gave the premieres of major works by Mendelssohn, Wagner and Richard Strauss.
The Vienna Boys Choir rings in the holiday season with a program drawn from its repertoire of Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces and yuletide favorites. Cherished for its vibrant singing style and purity of tone, the choir builds on a history spanning some 500 years.
Join us for a thrilling performance of Disney's groundbreaking marriage of symphonic music and animation, Fantasia. Magnificent repertoire from the original 1940 version and Fantasia 2000, including The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and The Nutcracker Suite, will be performed by the CSO while Disney's stunning footage is shown on the big screen. Experience iconic moments and childhood favorites as you never have before! Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts