Feel the passion of Chopin's Concerto No. 2 with the ESO and pianist Natasha Paremski Feb. 9-10
On Valentine's weekend Feb. 9-10, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, led by music director Andrew Grams, presents "Natasha & the Romantics" with guest artist Natasha Paremski.
The pianist will perform Frederic Chopin's passionate Piano Concerto No. 2, which he composed at the age of 20. He epitomizes the Romantic era composer. His music pushed the boundaries of rhythm and harmony. He was a political exile from Poland, and a musical superstar of his time with a high-profile love life. A musical prodigy declared "the second Mozart", Chopin died an early death, penniless. He wrote his Piano Concerto No. 2 when he was only 20 years old, and the final movement features the dance rhythms of a Polish mazurka.
The program also will feature Romantic era composers Johannes Brahms and Robert Schumann.
Johannes Brahms composed "Academic Festival Overture" as an irreverent thank-you for an honorary degree. Dignitaries at the premiere didn't quite know what to think. A lighthearted, boisterous piece, he used melodies from student drinking songs throughout. Fans of the movie "Animal House" will recognize its familiar closing tune.
Schumann's Symphony No. 4 (1851) is considered by many to be his best symphonic writing and one of the most original in the Romantic repertoire. Schumann was a close friend of Johannes Brahms. He had a great love affair with Clara Wieck, forbidden by her father, which led to his outpouring of beautiful Lieder (vocal songs with piano). They eventually married, but happiness eluded him due to mental illness, and he died in an asylum. Schumann composed piano music exclusively for years and wrote only four symphonies. His Symphony No. 4 is his most innovative. All the movements are played without a break.
The concerts will be at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way in Elgin. Tickets start at $30. Tickets for youth or students are $11. There is accessible, free parking around the Hemmens Cultural Center and valet service available.
The concerts are sponsored by Northern Trust, Food For Greater Elgin, The Haight, Jim and Karen Mansfield, Robert and Jodie Stackowiak. Learn more at www.elginsymphony.org.
With her consistently striking and dynamic performances, pianist Natasha Paremski reveals astounding virtuosity and voracious interpretive abilities. She continues to generate excitement from all corners as she wins over audiences with her musical sensibility and flawless technique. Born in Moscow, Natasha moved to the United-States at the age of 8 and became a U.S. citizen shortly thereafter. She is now based in New York.
Paremski began her piano studies at the age of 4 with Nina Malikova at Moscow's Andreyev School of Music. She then studied at San Francisco Conservatory of Music before moving to New York to study with Pavlina Dokovska at Mannes College of Music, from which she graduated in 2007. She made her professional debut at age 9 with the El Camino Youth Symphony in California. At the age of 15, she debuted with Los Angeles Philharmonic and recorded two discs with Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra under Dmitry Yablonsky, the first featuring Anton Rubinstein's Piano Concerto No. 4 coupled with Rachmaninoff's "Paganini Rhapsody" and the second featuring all of Chopin's shorter works for piano and orchestra.
Her first recital album was released in 2011 and it debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart. In 2012, she recorded Tchaikovsky's first concerto and Rachmaninoff's "Paganini Rhapsody" with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Fabien Gabel on the orchestra's label distributed by Naxos.
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 to critical acclaim. 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. To learn more about Andrew Grams, visit andrewgrams.com, @andrewhilarygrams on Facebook and @andrewhgrams on Instagram and Twitter.
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 - and works to create an enjoyable entertainment experience that goes beyond the magnificent music performed by some of the best musicians in the region. Area student musicians often perform in the lobby before concerts and patrons can purchase unique, music-themed gifts at the Elgin Symphony League Boutique.
Preconcert chats are given by Music Director Andrew Grams, guest artists and others one hour before Classics Series performances and Saturday night patrons are invited after concerts to "Mingle with the Musicians" at area restaurants.
In addition, free Listeners Club lecture/discussions presented by music historian Jim Kendros are offered before ESO Classics Series concert weekends on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. at GreenFields of Geneva and 1 p.m. at the Gail Borden Public Library.
Patrons can curate their own series with a "Build your Own Series". If a patron can't make a concert, the ESO offers free exchanges to subscribers and to single ticket buyers for a small 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. The ESO-Transforming the Symphony Experience. For more information, visit www.elginsymphony.org.