Murder, Mutiny, and Music: Chamber Music on the Fox's season opener

On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Chamber Music on the Fox will offer the unique opportunity for audiences to experience a live performance of two episodes from the 1950s CBS Radio docudrama series, "Crime Classics."

Brought to life by the Radio Players West, and with live music performed by the Elgin Symphony Orchestra trombone section, harpist Faye Seeman, and conductor Steven Ingle, these gripping stories were part of a year's worth of episodes scored by the great film composer Bernard Herrmann.

"Herrmann only had a budget for 3-4 four musicians per episode, and so the fact that these works are scored for 3 trombones peaked my interest when I first heard of them," explained Mark Fry, trombonist and co-artistic director of Chamber Music on the Fox. "The idea of this pairing of great music with fascinating true crime stories set me on a 15-year quest to find a way to perform the 'Crime Classics' episodes. I couldn't be more thrilled about this project."

The performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Kimball Street Theater of the Elgin Academy, Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue in Elgin.

General admission is $20; student tickets are $10. For details about the concert and to purchase tickets, visit www.ChamberMusicontheFox.org, call (224) 276-8881, or email sara.sitzer@chambermusiconthefox.org.

This performance is also part of "A Celebration of Music from the Golden Age of Cinema and Radio," a larger partnership with the Gail Borden Public Library and the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Visit gailborden.info/bernardherrmann for details.

Founded by ESO musicians Mark Fry and Sara Sitzer, Chamber Music on the Fox is a world-class classical chamber music series serving Elgin and the greater Fox Valley region, whose mission is to present engaging, enriching, and immersive performances and cultural experiences that enhance and enrich the cultural offerings of the area. Visit ChamberMusicOnTheFox.org.