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ESO to perform 'Pastoral Symphony'

Posted February 03, 2009 10:00 pm

On Feb. 6-8, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra's performances of Beethoven's "Pastoral Symphony," with guest conductor Alastair Willis, includes three elements of irresistible attraction. The program opens with "Tangazo," a passionate piece from composer Astor Piazzolla whose music fuses tango and jazz, and depicts the sounds of life in lively Buenos Aires. Then, Yolanda Kondonassis, master of one of the most hypnotic instruments, performs Ginastera's magnificent Concerto for Harp. The program concludes with the beloved Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral," which conveys Beethoven's personal emotions discovered through his trips into the Viennese countryside.

Performance times are 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 at Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts, then 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Hemmens Theatre in downtown Elgin. Tickets for all performances start at $25.

For details, call the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, or visit www.ElginSymphony.org. Groups of 10 or larger qualify for discounted tickets - speak to a box office representative for more details.

Yolanda Kondonassis is recognized as one of the world's foremost harpists, performing as a concerto soloist and recitalist throughout the United States, Far East and Europe. With over 100,000 albums sold worldwide, she has won critical acclaim for her 12 discs, including her own (and the first-ever) harp transcription of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" with the Orchestra of Flanders. Her newest CD, "Air," from which the royalties will be donated to environmental organizations promoting the health of our own air, debuted in October 2008. Also in the 2008-09 season, Kondonassis performed the world premiere of Bright Sheng's Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, which was composed for her, and underwritten by the San Diego and Dallas Symphony's as well as other commissioning orchestras.

Alastair Willis, who last joined the ESO in 2004, was resident conductor of the Seattle Symphony from 2002-03, after serving as assistant conductor there since September 2000. He was previously assistant conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops orchestras, and music director of the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, and has appeared with numerous orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. In 1999, Willis was honored as one of six up-and-coming conductors chosen to participate in the American Symphony Orchestra League's National Conductor Preview.

Upcoming Concerts

• "Patriotic Pops" Feb. 20-22 with Maestro Robert Hanson conducting music by John Philip Sousa and Aaron Copland. This President's Day, the ESO's "Patriotic Pops" promises to be one of the most inspiring programs of the season with "The Washington Post March," "Stars and Stripes Forever," "America the Beautiful" and more. Plus, experience the powerful Lincoln Portrait just in time for Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.

• "New World Symphony" March 6-8 with Hanson conducting Dvorak's Symphony No. 9. "From the New World" is a favorite work of audiences worldwide, depicting the composer's voyage from his Czech roots to America, where he found inspiration from Native American music and African-American spirituals. Janacek and Kurka offer works rounding out a program that travels from Eastern Europe to the New World.

• "All Mozart" April 3-5 with conductor Shi-Yeon Sung and soprano Arianna Zukerman. In 2006, Shi-Yeon Sung became the first woman to have the distinction of winning Frankfurt's George Solti International Conductor's Competition. The ESO welcomes her and highly sought-after soprano Arianna Zuckerman as they present a program including Mozart's "Exultate Jubilate" and Symphony No. 40.

• "Big Band Blast" April 17-19 with conductor Robert Hanson and pianist Rich Ridenour. Blast into spring with audience favorite Rich Ridenour and a celebration of beloved big band gems. "In the Mood" for the "A-Train"? Call "Pennsylvania 6-5000" to "Begin the Beguine." Dance the night away in the aisles if you must, "Stardust" and more await you.

• "Leonard Bernstein: American Icon Festival" May 1-3 with Hanson conducting violinist Isabella Lippi. The ESO and Maestro Hanson celebrate the work of a true American Icon, Leonard Bernstein, as part of a multiyear effort to explore American voices in orchestra music. A program including the Overture to "Candide" and "Symphonic Dances" from "West Side Story" explores the way in which Bernstein's music found relevance outside of the concert hall and into the fabric of American culture.

• "Greig's Piano Concerto" June 12-14 with Hanson conducting pianist Terrence Wilson. Wilson is quickly establishing a reputation as one of America's most gifted young pianists. He performs Grieg's famous Piano Concerto, while works by Sibelius and Nielsen round out a program featuring music from Scandinavian composers.