Northwest Symphony Orchestra concert to feature film favorites
The Northwest Symphony Orchestra's final concert of the season will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights.
The orchestra, under the baton of newly appointed music director Timothy Semanik, will play favorite themes from the movies, including Erich Korngold's "The Sea Hawk: Suite for Orchestra," Aaron Copland's "Our Town," and the familiar scores of John Williams.
Also highlighting this concert will be the "Lieutenant Kijé" Suite by Sergei Prokofiev. This music was originally written to accompany the film of the same name produced in Leningrad in 1933-34. It was Prokofiev's first attempt at film music and his first commission.
It tells the story of a fictional lieutenant in the Czar's army, who by virtue of his imaginary deeds, rises to the rank of general, but is eventually "killed off" when the czar demands to actually meet and honor this nonexistent hero.
After the film's successful release, the five-movement suite quickly became part of the international concert repertoire and remains one of the composer's best-known and most recorded works.
In addition to his post with the NSO, Semanik is currently music director of the Bradley Symphony orchestra and the Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, and has recently completed his 10th season with the Savoyaires of Evanston. He is the fourth conductor to hold the post of music director since the Northwest Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1951 by Perry Crafton.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors 65 and older, and $10 for students with ID. Children younger than 14 are admitted free with a paying adult.
Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the concert using cash, checks or credit cards; online; or through the Box Office at (847) 718-7702 with a credit card. This concert is presented in partnership with District 214 Community Education.
For information, visit www.northwestsymphony.org or call (847) 965-7271.