ESO performs Tchaikovsky's brilliant and very personal Fourth Symphony March 3-5
On March 3-5, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, led by resident conductor Stephen Squires, will perform Tchaikovsky's brilliant Symphony No. 4, an emotional work that reflected the turbulent and life-changing events occurring in the composer's life at that time.
Tchaikovsky shared the process of composing this symphony with his benefactor Nadezhda von Meck in letters written while he recovered from a disastrous short-term marriage, a nervous collapse and suicide attempt. Tchaikovsky noted that the main idea in the opening and throughout the symphony is fate, "the fatal power which hinders one in the pursuit of happiness."
For the remainder of the piece, Tchaikovsky explores different responses to fate: one can escape through daydreaming, reminiscing about the past and finally, in the last movement with its fleeting burst of joy, there is solace to be found among the people.
"Rejoice in others' rejoicing," he says. "To live is still possible!"
The ESO concerts also feature beloved American composer Aaron Copland's "Billy the Kid Suite" and his Clarinet Concerto, composed for Benny Goodman and performed by clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein. For tickets, which start at only $30, see ElginSymphony.org or call (847) 888-4000. Student tickets are $12 with an ID.
ESO Resident Conductor Stephen Squires is a musician with a career that blends his passions for conducting, teaching, and performing. Squires has had the honor to conduct for many exceptional artists, including Frederica von Stade, Samuel Ramey, Janos Starker, Pinchas Zuckerman, Shmuel Ashkenasi, John Browning, Leon Bates, Stewart Goodyear, Richard Stoltzman, Ani Kavafian, Wendy Warner, James Tocco, Kevin Cole, Vadim Gluzman and most of the principal players of the Chicago Symphony and Lyric Opera Orchestras. Fully committed to conducting the music of living composers, he has premiered over eighty new works. His current professional appointments include resident conductor of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra (Rockford), music director of the Millar Brass (Evanston), and music director of the Illinois Brass Band (Arlington Heights).
Clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein is recognized for playing that combines flawless technique and consummate musicianship with graceful phrasing and a warm soulful tone. Considered one of today's most exceptional clarinet players, he has performed in recital and with prestigious orchestras and chamber music ensembles throughout the world. Winner of a 2009 Avery Fisher Career Grant Award, as a soloist, Fiterstein has appeared with the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Lincoln Center, Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, Korea, Polish Chamber Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. He has performed in recital at the National Gallery of Art, the Kennedy Center, the 92nd Street Y, Carnegie's Weill Hall, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, the Louvre in Paris, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and the Tel-Aviv Museum. A dedicated performer of chamber music, Fiterstein frequently collaborates with distinguished musicians and ensembles, and performs at esteemed chamber music festivals and societies. Among the highly regarded artists he has performed with are Daniel Barenboim, Mitsuko Uchida, Richard Goode, Emanuel Ax, Pinchas Zukerman, Steven Isserlis and Elena Bashkirova; and he has joined the American, Borromeo, Daedalus, Fine Arts, Jerusalem, Mendelssohn, Muir and Vogler string quartets and appeared with the Ensemble Wien-Berlin. Fiterstein was a member of the prestigious Chamber Music Society II of Lincoln Center from 2004 to 2006, and continues to perform with the CMS each season. He also participated in the Marlboro Music Festival for four summers and toured with Musicians from Marlboro. Fiterstein has performed chamber music at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the 92nd Street Y, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and at the Louvre in Paris; and he has appeared at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival in Germany, the Storioni Festival in Holland, and the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival.
Now in its 66th season, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra offers programming unmatched for an entertaining, informative and relaxing cultural experience. The ESO has won Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year an unprecedented four times - in 1988, 1999, 2005 and 2016 - and works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region.
Area student musicians often perform in the lobby before concerts and patrons can purchase gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique. Preconcert chats are given by Andrew Grams, guest artists and others one hour before most Classics Series performances and Saturday night patrons are invited after concerts to "Mingle with the Musicians" at the Elgin Public House. In addition, free Listeners Club lecture/discussions presented by music historian Jim Kendros are offered before ESO Classics Series concert weekends at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at the Gail Borden Public Library.
Flex passes are available for purchase so that you can choose your concerts at a later date based on your own schedule. And if a patron can't make a concert, the ESO offers free exchanges to subscribers and to single ticket buyers for a $5 fee. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available.
The ESO is a world-class orchestra providing quality musical explorations that are entertaining, hassle-free and conveniently located close to home in the western suburbs. For more information, see ElginSymphony.org.