New Philharmonic announces its 2019-20 season

Posted April 13, 2019 8:10 pm

By Scott C. Morgan

The New Philharmonic, the resident orchestra at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, has announced its 2019-20 season, which features symphonic standards as well as a mix of operatic and balletic productions.

Music director and conductor Kirk Muspratt has programmed and will conduct the six-concert season:

• "Ode to Joy": Symphony No. 9 and "Egmont Overture" (Sept. 28 and 29) is part of the worldwide celebration this season commemorating the 250th birthday of composer Ludwig Van Beethoven. Guest soloists for the Symphony No. 9 include soprano Katherine Weber, mezzo-soprano Kate Tombaugh, tenor James Judd and bass-baritone Sam Handley, along with the 100-voice Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus.

• Former Canadian Brass trumpeter Jens Lindemann (Nov. 2 and 3) is the guest soloist for concerts featuring Alexander Arutiunian's Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major, along with Wagner's overture to "Rienzi" and Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade."

• "The Nutcracker" returns (Dec. 14 and 15), this time with Salt Creek Ballet and artistic director Sergey Kozadayev's spin on Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas evergreen.

• New Year's Eve Concert (three performances on Dec. 31) features the debut of mezzo-soprano Annie Rosen amid the usual selection of Strauss waltzes, polkas and more.

• "The Merry Widow" (Jan. 24-26) is Franz Lehar's most popular comic operetta, and it involves efforts to reunite two ex-lovers to prevent a financial crisis in a fictional European country. Michael La Tour directs the production, which will be performed in English.

• "A Salute to Frida" (April 18 and 19) is a concert featuring all Latin composers in anticipation of a Frida Kahlo exhibit coming to College of DuPage in June 2020. Of note is "Misa Tango" by Academy Award-winning Argentine-born composer Luis Bacalov, which features soprano and tenor vocalists, a 100-voice chorus and the bandoneon accordion.

Discounted season tickets (20 percent off) are on sale now, with full-price single tickets going on sale on Saturday, July 20. For details, call (603) 942-4000 or visit atthemac.org.

Kirk Muspratt is the music director and conductor of the New Philharmonic, which is based at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Courtesy of McAninch Arts Center

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