Northwest Symphony Orchestra to present ‘FREEDOM!’ concert
The Northwest Symphony Orchestra will present “FREEDOM!,” an inspiring and emotionally charged concert program, at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 22, at The Auditorium at Forest View, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. This performance brings together five monumental works that explore the human longing for liberation, dignity, and hope.
Under the direction of Tim Semanik, “FREEDOM!” invites audiences to experience music that speaks across cultures and generations — music that challenges, uplifts, and ultimately celebrates the enduring spirit of humanity.
The concert features a powerful lineup of works that illuminate the many faces of freedom:
• Jean Sibelius, “Finlandia”: A stirring national hymn of resistance and unity, “Finlandia” surges with strength and determination — an anthem for people rising together in the face of oppression.
• Margaret Bonds and Paul R. Cooper, “The Montgomery Variations”: A rarely performed masterpiece rooted in the Civil Rights Movement, this work transforms spirituals into a symphonic narrative of struggle, sorrow, and unbreakable resolve.
• Giuseppe Verdi, “Va, pensiero” from “Nabucco”: One of opera’s most beloved choruses, this moving meditation on the themes of exile and longing has become a universal symbol of hope and national identity.
• Aaron Copland, “Lincoln Portrait”: A quintessential American work featuring guest narrator Patrick Zielinski — accomplished actor, director, and Theatre Lab coordinating producer for Northwest Suburban High School District 214 Community Education. This stirring piece combines sweeping orchestral writing with spoken narration drawn from Abraham Lincoln’s own words — an evocative reminder of leadership, justice, and the promise of a more perfect union.
• Ludwig van Beethoven, “Leonore Overture No. 3”: Beethoven’s dramatic and triumphant overture to his opera “Fidelio,” celebrating courage, moral conviction, and the triumph of freedom over tyranny.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students with ID. Children younger than 14 attend free with a ticketed adult. Tickets are available at the door, online at northwestsymphony.org, or by calling (847) 965-7271.
This concert is presented in partnership with District 214 Community Education.