Elmhurst Symphony and Elmhurst Choral Union join in presenting 'Beethoven 9' May 6
On Saturday, May 6, the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra will present "Beethoven 9" featuring Beethoven's awe-inspiring masterpiece, Symphony No. 9, along with the beautiful and technically-challenging Violin Concerto by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.
Violinist Elinor Detmer, a Stanger Young Artist Competition winner, and the Elmhurst Choral Union will join the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra and music director/conductor Stephen Alltop at 7 p.m. at Elmhurst Symphony's home venue, Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Road.
Ludwig van Beethoven's Ninth Symphony adapts the text of the "Ode to Joy," a poem by Friedrich Schiller (with some additional text thrown in there by Beethoven himself). The very first symphony to ever employ a chorus (sung at this performance by the Elmhurst Choral Union), the work is considered Beethoven's greatest and one of the most significant pieces of music in history.
The program opens with Detmer in a performance of the Violin Concerto by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, widely considered one of the best (and most difficult) violin concertos ever written.
Joining the Elmhurst Choral Union will be members of Apollo Chorus of Chicago, as well as soprano Michelle Areyzaga, mezzo-soprano Tetyana Vakhnovska, tenor Peder Reiff, and bass-baritone Bill McMurray.
General admission tickets are $35, available online at ElmhurstSymphony.org/event/beethoven-9. Reduced fare tickets for students ($12) and seniors ($32).
Longtime lecturer taking final bow
The popular preconcert lecture with Ted Hatmaker will be held before the concert at 5:45 p.m. This will be Hatmaker's last lecture before his retirement.
His lecture, as with all his lectures, is designed to enrich the concertgoers' listening experience and focuses on the evening's lineup of musical selections.
Hatmaker has been a patron of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra for more than 30 years, during which time he served in various roles including as a board member, program annotator, and, most notably, preconcert lecturer.
When asked how he feels about retirement, Hatmaker acknowledged that it was a difficult decision but added that "There is so much to know about the music we listen to, and mine is only one point of view."
The Elmhurst Symphony community, including the Elmhurst Symphony board and concertgoers alike, developed a musical kinship with Hatmaker over the years, appreciating the musicologist's depth of knowledge, natural ability to teach, and contagious exuberance and good humor.
"Whenever I've been able, I'll sneak up to Ted's lectures before the concert. I enjoy them so much," added Stephen Alltop, music director and conductor. "I always appreciate his musical insights and hearing about the music to come that evening."
Hatmaker holds a B.A. in Music from Elmhurst College, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Music Theory from the University of Iowa. He taught music theory, aural skills and composition at Northern Illinois University for 24 years and at several other local colleges and universities. His daughter, Jean, is the cellist for the Kontras Quartet and principal cello for the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.