Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents 'Old American Songs' April 2 and 3
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra welcomes Grammy Award winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green and Venezuelan-born Spanish conductor José Luis Gomez when it performs "Old American Songs" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
The program also includes Barber's Overture to The School for Scandal and Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, op. 95, B. 178, E minor "From the New World." A preconcert chat with the conductor will take place one hour before each concert.
Green has performed at prestigious opera houses, including The Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, and Theatre an der Wein, and has been a guest soloist with several U.S. symphonies. In 2020, he made his debut with Columbus Opera for a digital residency and broadcast of the stage version of his best-selling book: "Sing for Your Life." The book, published in 2016 and a New York Times bestseller, details Green's personal and artistic journey from his time spent in Virginia's juvenile detention facility to his rise on The Met stage.
Maestro Gomez is in his sixth season as music director at the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Gomez began his musical career as a violinist. He won international attention when he was awarded First Prize at the International Sir Georg Solti Conductor's Competition in Frankfurt in September 2010, securing a sensational and rare unanimous decision from the jury, and leading to his appointment as assistant conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. In addition to his performance at the ESO, he is also conducting in Belgium, and with the Colorado Symphony and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra during the 2021-22 season.
Tickets are available at the ESO Box Office, 20 DuPage Court, Elgin, by phone at (847) 888-4000, or at ElginSymphony.org. Youth and student tickets are $10; adult tickets are $35-$65.
Proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination is required for all attendees; masks are optional.