Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra Brings Famous Piece to Life
January 27, 2014
For more information contact: Randy Micheletti at randy.micheletti@gmail.com or at (630) 849-3072.
SKOKIE VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BRINGS FAMOUS PIECE TO LIFE
SKOKIE, IL (For Immediate Release) – The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra will present Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf featuring live puppetry by Chelsea M. Warren in a concert to be held on Sunday, February 16th. The concert will also feature Beethoven's iconic 5th Symphony. The show starts at 3 p.m. with a free pre-concert lecture at 2 p.m. All Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra concerts take place at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, IL 60077. Parking is free.
Peter and the Wolf is an orchestral composition that tells the story of a brave young boy's encounter with a dangerous wolf. The piece also serves as a child's introduction to the orchestra, with a different instrument representing each character in the story. Traditionally, a narrator tells the story while the music plays. The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra's presentation, however, will bring the story to life with scenery and actors operating life-sized puppets. “We've never done anything like this before,” says Francesco Milioto, conductor and musical director of the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra. “You'll be inside of the story vs. looking at it from the outside. This is something I think is going to be really quite special.”
The scenery and puppetry were handcrafted specifically for this production by award-winning Chicago theatre artist Chelsea M. Warren, who has designed sets for venues such as the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Victory Gardens Theater. “I have always loved the music and story for Peter and the Wolf,” states Warren. “One of my favorite parts in preparing for this production was bringing to life these characters who have been living in my head all these years.”
While the concert on February 16th is great for kids, the program will appeal to all ages. In addition to the one-of-a-kind presentation of Peter and the Wolf, the concert will feature Beethoven's famous 5th Symphony, a popular audience favorite. Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra president John Alberts explains how the theme of fate connects the two pieces: “Peter and the Wolf addresses a young boy's search for adventure and triumph against a great adversary within the context of a knowing and protective grandparent's attempt to avoid a dangerous fate. Interestingly, the opening of Beethoven's 5th Symphony has long been associated with the expression of the concept of fate.”
Founded in 1962, the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra has been presenting professional quality classical music concerts in the northern suburbs of Chicago for 52 years. The orchestra's purpose is to promote and sustain a community orchestra and to encourage the talents of young musicians.
Tickets for Peter and the Wolf and Beethoven's 5th Symphony on February 16th start at $30 for adults, $27 for seniors, and $10 for teens and young adults. Children 12 and younger are admitted free with a paid adult. For more information about the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, or to purchase tickets to the February 16th concert, visit www.svso.org or call (847) 673-6300.
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