Radio days return at Elgin Symphony Orchestra's holiday concert
This year the Elgin Symphony Orchestra is bringing you plenty of holiday cheer with some vintage 1940s flair.
On Saturday and Sunday, the ESO will put on Radio Holly-Days, a 1940s radio-inspired show performed in conjunction with the Minneapolis-based vocal quintet Five by Design.
Audience members will get the chance to tune in to a show that features Christmas tunes inspired by the performances of Bing Crosby and Gene Autry complete with vintage sound effects and costuming.
Performances will be held at 3:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at the Hemmens auditorium, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Radio Holly-Days is a departure from the ESO's typical holiday show, and that's exactly what the orchestra wants.
The performance will still feature Christmas classics from “Jingle Bells” to “Winter Wonderland” and also some 1940s favorites like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and the “St. Louis Blues March.”
“We decided to do something different this year ... because we thought it was time for a change,” said Mark Mallamo, director of operations and artistic administration for the ESO.
“There are sort of a few other (songs) thrown (into the show) that are not really holiday,” he said. “This whole thing is sort of set up like these old-time radio broadcasts from the 1940s.”
The 65-member orchestra will also be performing a few numbers of its own.
While this year's show concept may be new, Five By Design's presence is not. The group appeared in an ESO show earlier in the year and was brought back by popular demand.
“(Five By Design) were here before and the audience really enjoyed these guys,” Mallamo said.
“I'm just really interested to see Five By Design in action. I'm excited to see them in collaboration with the (ESO).”
Radio Holly-Days is what Five By Design singer Kurt Niska refers to as a Christmas-flavored version of their often-performed Radio Days show.
“We've been performing (Radio Days) for quite some time and had people tell us, ‘We'd like to hear it during the holiday season,” Niska said.
“It's more than a concert, but there's not a storyline. We look back at the music from 1939 to roughly 1946 and use the programming that was on the radio at the time. We take (the audience) on a journey of that experience. It's a little like being in a live radio audience.”
In an effort to stay true to the times, Five By Design members will also be wearing vintage clothing, drawn from a wide variety of places.
“Most of the things we're wearing are vintage pieces from the era, even down to the jewelry and the shoes,” Niska said.
“We try to stay authentic to the era. Whenever we can when we're traveling, we look for consignment shops. Over the years that's how we've acquired quite a few of our costumes. It's really been quite an adventure in itself.”
But the greatest adventure for the group is performing with big orchestras like the ESO.
“We perform in a variety of places from big bands to symphony orchestras. Every place is different and kind of new. It ups our consistency and musicianship and it's a real treat to be able to do that,” Niska said.
Tickets for Radio Holly-Days, which range from $20 to $65, can be purchased by calling the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000 or online at elginsymphony.org.
If you go
<p><b>What:</b> Radio Holly-Days, a 1940s-style holiday show by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, featuring the performance of Minneapolis-based vocal quintet Five By Design</p>
<p><b>When:</b> 3:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11-12</p>
<p><b>Where:</b> Hemmens auditorium, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin</p>
<p><b>How much? </b>Tickets range from $20 to $65. </p>
<p><b>Details:</b> Call (847) 888-4000 or visit elginsymphony.org</p>