Get into a holiday mood with symphony
Holidays inject a bit of variety into the DuPage Symphony Orchestra's concert program, members say.
"It's traditionally a little bit of classical along with popular Christmas tunes," said Kathy Kane, the orchestra's board secretary and a longtime orchestra violinist. "I think the orchestra members enjoy the holiday concert because it's really a mix."
Kane said the all-volunteer, nonprofit orchestra counts about 85 musicians as members. Their backgrounds are diverse in terms of musical experience and age, she said.
"We have high school people to people who are well past retirement," she said.
The DSO will present this year's holiday concert, "An Old World Christmas," at 3 p.m. Sunday at Pfeiffer Hall on North Central College's campus.
"About half the contents of the program kind of go back to sort of the roots of old Christmas songs, old French carols and old English carols," conductor Barbara Schubert said. "They're sometimes presented on their own and sometimes presented as medleys."
Schubert, the DSO's maestra since 1986, also serves as music director and conductor of the University of Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Fine Arts Symphony in Park Ridge.
Old favorites on tap for the DSO concert, Schubert said, will include "I'll be Home for Christmas" and "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)."
"It'll be an afternoon of very enjoyable holiday music," Schubert said.
The concert also will feature Bach's "In Dulci Jubilo" and excerpts of the composer's "Christmas Oratorio."
Soprano Kimberly Jones will perform seasonal arias by Bach and Handel, including Handel's "Messiah," and popular holiday tunes. Jones is an alumna of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.
Kane said another perennial favorite, "White Christmas," is on the orchestra's play list.
"It'll put people in the spirit of the holidays, "she said.
The concert is the second in a five-concert subscription series. The next subscription performance, "Sweet Fragrances of France," is Feb. 9 in Pfeiffer Hall.
If you go
What: "An Old World Christmas" concert by the DuPage Symphony Orchestra
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $8 for children
Info: (630) 637-1003 or dupagesymphony.org