One of the world’s most well-known violinists is preparing to play with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra in Palos Heights.
Rachel Barton Pine is the featured soloist for Feb. 19’s Still, Bologne & Dvorák at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel. A preconcert talk with Pine is slated for 6:30 p.m.
“I’m very excited about our work together,” said Stilian Kirov, music director of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, about his first collaboration with Pine.
“Rachel has been very supportive. We are very excited to have her. She’s a good friend of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. I’m very excited to be performing this concert with her.”
Pine, who plays a violin made in 1742 by Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu, was one of the featured musical performers for Showers of Sounds, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 43rd annual virtual gala in April.
Now she will perform Violin Concerto in A Major, Op. 5, No. 2 composed by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges in person with Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.
“He was born on Christmas Day 1745. He’s coming from this mixed relationship. He moved to Paris and got this quite extraordinary education with rigorous training in boxing, horse riding, swimming, and physical and social skills,” said Kirov, who conducts Still, Bologne & Dvorák.
“Later in his life he performed with many orchestras as a soloist and concertmaster. He wrote a dozen concerti for violin around the 1770s. His concerti were pretty contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s concerti but they exceed the technical demands of Mozart.
“I’m very much looking forward to performing this concerto. I discovered Bologne not long ago and I’m in absolute admiration of it.”
Still, Bologne & Dvorák, which is Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s first concert of 2022, takes place during Black History Month.
“The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra has had this quite strong mission that became even stronger during the pandemic to work on featuring equity, diversity and inclusion so this program is very meaningful in this regard because it includes Still, a composer of color,” said Kirov of Sarasota, Florida.
“It also includes Dvorák’s Ninth Symphony. He was a very big admirer of African American music and culture and this was very much the inspiration of this program.”
The concert opens with William Grant Still’s “Mother and Child.”
“The history of the work is very interesting because it was born out of a very disturbing experience Still had but also this experience led him to compose this beautiful work,” Kirov said.
“When Still was working as a musician and composer he had to participate in the popular music world. He arranged dozens of films. In 1943 he actually walked away from one of the biggest paychecks ever — the landmark musical ‘Stormy Weather.’
“He said the studio degraded (Black) people and the film had a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions. He felt that this was offensive so he walked away which is, of course, very admirable. In the same year he wrote the three movements for violin and piano.”
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“Mother and Child” comes from Still’s 1943 Suite for Violin and Piano.
The third piece in Still, Bologne & Dvorák is Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.”
“Symphony No. 9 is a very beloved work. It’s a true masterpiece,” said Kirov, who is also music director of Bakersfield Symphony in California.
“It’s a piece that I have had the chance to perform many times. Every time I perform it I discover something new, something fresh, something very exciting.”
Still, Bologne & Dvorák also includes a presentation of the Ruth D. and Ken M. Davee Excellence in Arts Award to Pine, who also performs baroque, renaissance and medieval music and founded the charitable Rachel Barton Pine Foundation in 2001 to expand awareness of and appreciation for classical music.
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra describes the honor as a way to recognize “an individual, group or organization whose exceptional commitment, vision, leadership and achievements have resulted in major contributions to the arts and music.”
“This award is in celebration of her artistry and everything she does for the community not only in Chicago but all around the world with her music and with her extraordinary talent,” Kirov said.
“We, first of all, are very privileged to have her perform with us and we are excited to present this award to her.”
Still, Bologne & Dvorák
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19
Where: Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
Tickets: $37-$57 general public; $10 students; $27 We Pick general admission in advance
Information: 708-481-7774; ipomusic.org
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.