Elgin Symphony Orchestra announces 75th season Classics Series

Posted February 20, 2024 5:45 pm

By Donna Lake, Elgin Symphony Orchestra

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra, led by Music Director Chad Goodman, has announced its 75th anniversary Classics Series. Courtesy of Carolyn Buhrow

Elgin Symphony Orchestra has unveiled the first in its lineup of extraordinary programming to commemorate the orchestra’s 75th anniversary.

This is the first season that has been programmed entirely by Chad Goodman, who was named music director at the ESO last May.

Subscriptions for the entire six-concert series go on sale Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Guitarist Ana Vidovic will join the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for its season opener. It will be her second appearance with the ESO. Courtesy of Barbara Gracner

“The 75th anniversary season is a celebration year for us, and we’ve found multiple opportunities throughout the season to go all out,” Goodman said. “In addition to many exciting new pieces, the season is filled with gateway pieces that made people fall in love with classical music, such as Tchaikovsky’s ‘Pathétique’ Symphony, Ravel’s ‘Bolero’, and Holst’s ‘The Planets’. For many people these were the pieces that introduced them to, and made them fall in love with, classical music.

“There is something on every program that is very special,” he added.

Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang returns to the Hemmens stage to perform with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra on Nov. 9-10. Courtesy of KT Kim

The virtuosity of the award-winning ESO will be showcased throughout the season that includes performances of masterworks by Ludwig van Beethoven, Edvard Grieg, Antonín Dvořák, Jean Sibelius, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Gustav Holst.

Additionally, audiences will have the opportunity to witness performances by renowned guest soloists, including violinist Stella Chen, who was named the 2023 Gramophone Young Artist of the Year; Albert Augustine International Competition winner guitarist Ana Vidovic, whose season-opening performance will be her second appearance with the ESO; Sphinx Competition winner violinist Samuel Vargas; a return appearance of Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang; and the ESO’s own Principal Cellist Matthew Agnew; as well as a collaboration with the Elgin Master Chorale.

Programming details of the Classics Series are available at www.ElginSymphony.org. Additional programming and special events for the ESO’s 75th season will be announced at a later date.

Classics Series subscriptions are available beginning by calling the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.

Current ESO subscribers will receive a renewal mailing or may renew their subscription by logging into their accounts on the ESO website, www.ElginSymphony.org.

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