ESO concerts to highlight two women, Brahms symphony
Two accomplished women will highlight the January Elgin Symphony Orchestra Brahms Symphony No. 2 concerts. Although only in their 30s, Russian-American conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya and German-born pianist Schaghajegh Nosrati each have individually won numerous awards and accolades.
They will come together with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Nosrati will be featured on Clara Schumann's Piano Concerto in a concert also featuring Wagner's Overture to Flying Dutchman WWV63 and Brahms' Symphony No. 2. Ticket holders can enjoy a preconcert chat one-hour before each concert.
Tickets, priced at $35-$65 and $10 for youths, are available at the ESO Box Office, 20 DuPage Court, Elgin, or by phone at (847) 888-4000 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Tickets may also be purchased online at ElginSymphony.org. Masks and proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination are required for all attendees.
Those who subscribe to three or more Elgin Symphony Orchestra performances at the Hemmens Cultural Center between January and May will receive $5 off each adult ticket price. In addition to Brahms Symphony No. 2, upcoming performances include Beethoven's Eroica on Feb. 5 and 6; Sgt. Pepper on Feb. 19 and 20; Mozart Requiem on March 5 and 6; Old American Songs on April 2 and 3; and Mariachi! on April 30 and May 1.
Yankovskaya is music director at the Chicago Opera Theatre - the first woman to hold that title at a multimillion-dollar opera company in the United States - where her performances before and during the pandemic led the Chicago Tribune to name her 2020 Chicagoan of the Year. She has conducted more than 40 world premieres and has conducted at opera houses across the United States.
Yankovskaya's commitment to mentorship of future arts leaders is demonstrated in her volunteer efforts at the foundation Turn the Spotlight. A Russian refugee, Yankovskaya founded and serves as the artistic director of the Refugee Orchestra Project, promoting the cultural relevance of refugees to a worldwide audience.
Nosrati's reputation as an interpreter of Bach's music led to her early notoriety as an esteemed concert pianist and versatile musician. A guest at international music festivals since 1998, she received her master's degree from Hanover University of Music in 2015 and has since performed around the world. In 2020, she became a faculty member at the Barenboim-Said-Academy in Berlin, serving as the teaching assistant of Sir Andras Schiff.
The ESO is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization. To learn more or to support the ESO, visit www.elginsymphony.org.