After a re-imagined 2020-21 season that included streaming concerts that were recorded at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra returns to live performances at the Palos Heights venue.
All American Opening Night kicks off the 44th season on Oct. 16 and marks the first time since All Tchaikovsky on Feb. 8, 2020, that Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra has an in-person audience at its 1,100-seat performance home.
“We are all excited to be back to more in-person performances,” said Stilian Kirov, music director of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, which recently presented a series of socially distanced summer concerts outdoors at Olympia Fields Country Club for the second year in a row.
“We are looking forward to opening with a great American program and also a program that includes a work that is under our equity, diversity and inclusion initiative. We are excited about coming back and performing this absolutely stunning program.”
The show includes the world premiere of a dance choreographed by Joffrey Ballet company artist Yoshihisa Arai to Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring.” That performance includes dancers from the Joffrey Academy of Dance, which is the official school of the Joffrey Ballet.
“‘Appalachian Spring’ was originally written as a ballet although we are familiar with the suite as it’s performed very often,” said Kirov, who noted that Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra executive director Christina Salerno has a ballet background including performing as a soloist.
“We were brainstorming how we can reach out to other arts and how we can collaborate. We were happy that the Joffrey Academy of Dance will join us. It means the world to us. Collaborating with Yoshi Arai will be great.
“Arts should work with each other. It is my strong belief that we should be finding ways to bring art together in many different ways. This is one of the first steps we are taking into doing this so we are excited to have a live ballet performance and dancers along with our musicians onstage.”
Florence Price’s Andante moderato “String Quartet in G Major” is also a part of All American Opening Night.
“This is a little movement of the quartet, which is stunning,” said Kirov of Sarasota, Florida.
“Florence Price is a composer that gets more and more discovered. We performed quite a bit of her works during the pandemic so we are bringing this little gem to our season opener. We are looking forward to this.”
The program also features one of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s principals.
“We will be performing ‘Down a River of Time” by Eric Ewazen, who is another great composer. Principal oboist Naomi Bensdorf Frisch will be performing as a soloist,” said Kirov, who conducts the entire All American Opening Night concert.
“This program has a lot of great ways to celebrate great music.”
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2021-22 season also includes Mozart & Beethoven at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 with Frisch, principal clarinetist Trevor O’Riordan, principal bassoonist Erin Kozakis and principal horn player Lee Shirer as soloists.
“We have many brilliant musicians who sit in our orchestra and who can perform brilliantly as soloists,” Kirov said.
“We want our audiences to get to meet and know our musicians, and the musicians often come up with inspired suggestions of repertoire.”
Back Together for the Holidays: The Snowman & Other Holiday Favorites at 3 p.m. Dec. 11; Still, Bologne & Dvorak with violin soloist Rachel Barton Pine at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19, 2022; and Stravinsky, Ravel & Abels at 3 p.m. March 12 are also part of the season.
The schedule also includes All Brahms with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra concertmaster Azusa Tashiro on violin and principal cellist Jacob Hanegan as soloists at 7:30 p.m. April 30 and Scheherazade with piano soloist William Wolfram and current composer-in-residence Martha Horst at 7:30 p.m. May 14.
“I like to think that we have a well-balanced season,” Kirov said.
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s third annual Classical Evolve composition competition on Sept. 22 at Trinity Christian College’s Marg Kallemeyn Theatre resulted in Jonathan Cziner being named composer-in-residence for the 2022-23 season.
“He is a brilliant young man who is original in his music but also has a masterful technique in composition,” Kirov said.
More Top Picks Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks Under 100
“This will give him one year to compose and prepare for the work that he will present to our audience.”
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s All American Opening Night
When: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16
Where: Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
Tickets: $37-$67 adults; $10 students; $27 We-Pick-Your-Seat general admission (must be ordered in advance)
Information: 708-481-7774; ipomusic.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.