New Philharmonic returns indoors for 2021-22 season in Glen Ellyn

The New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn, plans to return to live, in-person performances for its 2021-22 season.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Philharmonic was forced to record and then stream performances online for its 2020-21 season.

"Nothing can replace the experience of live performance," said New Philharmonic music director Kirk Muspratt in a statement. "We are all looking forward with joyous anticipation to once again be performing before an in-theater audience for our 45th season."

The season opens with a "Halloween Spooktakular" on Oct. 2 and 3. It features classical French selections from Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld," Berlioz's "The Damnation of Faust," plus pop cultural favorites drawn from films such as "Psycho" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas."

Next is "Dvorák's New World" on Nov. 13 and 14. The concert features Dvorák's Symphony No. 9, plus guest violinist David Taylor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as the soloist in Saraste's "Fantasy on Bizet's Carmen."

The "New Year's Eve Concert" returns for three concerts on Dec. 31 at 1:30, 5 and 8:30 p.m. Baritone Ted Allen Pickell is the featured soloist in a concert filled with arias, waltzes and polkas.

Selections from silver screen classics such as "Gone with the Wind," "Jurassic Park" and "The Seahawk" light up "A Night at the Movies" on Jan. 15 and 16.

Rather than an opera or operetta as in past seasons, the New Philharmonic performs the musical "West Side Story" in concert on April 9 and 10. Four soloists and a 90-voice chorus join with the orchestra to perform Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's 1950s adaptation of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet."

The New Philharmonic also plays Tchaikovsky's evergreen holiday score for four performances of Salt Creek Ballet's "The Nutcracker" on Dec. 18 and 19.

Past subscribers receive up to 25% off single ticket prices if subscriptions are renewed by Aug. 10. New subscriptions are available beginning Aug. 16, and they are up to 20% off single ticket prices. Subscribers also have first chance at securing "Nutcracker" tickets before the general public.

Single-concert tickets go on sale for Aug. 24. All concerts subject to change. For more information visit atthemac.org or call (630) 942-4000.