'Symphonic Dances,' Rachmaninoff's final composition, to be featured at ESO's opening concerts Sept. 17-18

Sergei Rachmaninoff's final composition, "Symphonic Dances," will be performed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the 2016 Illinois Professional Orchestra of the Year, on Saturday, Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 18, led by music director Andrew Grams.

Rachmaninoff fled Russia after the 1917 Revolution, and this is his only work composed entirely in the United States. First conceived as a ballet, Rachmaninoff had approached choreographer Michael Fokine to create the dances, but unfortunately the fellow Russian émigré dancer died before the project could begin. The world premiere took place in 1941 as a symphonic work with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The piece features a novel saxophone solo in the middle section and although very much in his familiar late Romantic style, the work also contains 20th-century dissonance and rhythmic irregularities. Rachmaninoff died two years after the premiere of the piece, just one month after he became a citizen of the United States.

The ESO program also holds Shostakovich's Festive Overture and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, performed by guest artist Simone Porter. For tickets, which start at just $30, call (847) 888-4000 or visit ElginSymphony.org.

Andrew Grams became music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra in June 2013 after an international search. A graduate of the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, he holds degrees in violin performance and conducting and has appeared with many of the great orchestras of the world. Grams was a protégé of Franz Welser-Möst and served as assistant conductor for the Cleveland Orchestra for three years. Named 2015 Conductor of the Year by the Illinois Council of Orchestras, his charismatic conducting and easy accessibility have made him a favorite of Elgin Symphony audiences. He has extended his contract with the ESO through 2021. To learn more about Andrew Grams, visit andrewgrams.com and www.instagram.com/andrewhgrams/.

Now in its 66th season, the ESO 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. The ESO works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the world-class magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available. 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 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 concert weekends at 1 p.m. Wednesdays at Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. in Elgin. 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. 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 information, visit ElginSymphony.org.