Patriotic theme to open orchestra's season
The Northwest Symphony Orchestra, winner of many awards from the Illinois Council of Orchestras, has set its programs for the coming 2007-2008 season. As in the past, all concerts will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sundays in the Theatre for the Performing Arts at Maine West High School, 1755 S. Wolf Road, Des Plaines.
The opening concert on Nov. 11 features a work by American composer Michael Karasis.
With a Veterans Day theme, the program will be devoted to "Government Issue: G.I. Diaries from WW II -- An Oratorio for Orchestra, Chorus, and Narrator." Appearing with Maestro Paul Vermel and the NSO will be The Park Ridge Chorale, directed by Edward Zelnis, and special guests, narrators Clifton Truman Daniel and Wesley Truman Daniel. The narrators are the grandson and great-grandson of former President Harry S. Truman.
The winter concert, "A Baroque Festival," will be held on Jan. 13. Soloist will be harpsichordist Jory Vinikour, who will perform J. S. Bach's Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor and Haydn's Harpsichord Concerto in D Major. Other offerings include "Three Canzone for Brass and Woodwind Choirs" by Gabrieli and Haydn's Symphony No. 99 in E Flat Major.
On March 16, the orchestra's spring concert will feature cellist Benjamin Lash, winner of the Paul Vermel Young Artist Award. Mr. Lash will play Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 2 in D Major. Also on the program will be Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in A Major and John Corigliano's "Promenade Overture."
Continuing with its tradition of presenting a Pops Concert as its final program, the NSO celebrates Mothers Day, May 11. Featured soloists are singers Lauren Curnow and Edward Mout from the Lyric Opera's Ryan Opera Center, who will sing "Maria," "One Hand One Heart," "Somewhere" and "Tonight" from Bernstein's "West Side Story," and the Act I Finale of "La Boheme." Olga Rikova Ridgway will perform a great American favorite, George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."
The NSO will continue its popular preconcert commentaries by Carolyn Paulin, a member of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and a staff member of Chicago radio station WFMT. Her commentaries begin one hour prior to the concert.
Individual concert tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students. Save 25 percent on season tickets for the four-concert series: $60 for adults ($20 savings); $45 for seniors ($15 savings) and $30 for students ($10 savings). Children under age 14 are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets also will be available at the door on the day of the concert.
Those who wish to purchase tickets in advance may mail requests and payment checks to the Northwest Symphony Orchestra, 1100 W. Northwest Hwy., Suite 205, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 or order forms online at www.northwestsymphony.org