Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Thursday, March 28

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


Transmission
« Hop in with the Jacuzzi Boys Zola Jesus and Xanopticon @ Lincoln Hall 10/12 »

Feature Tue Oct 11 2011

Pulling Strings: For classical music in Chicago, you got a guy

By Elliot Mandel

Pulling-Strings_300.jpgI love October in Chicago: pumpkin ale on tap, no more Cubs games jamming up the Red Line, and classical music returns to stages all over the city. The classical scene in Chicago covers the range of the genre, from the Baroque style of the 1600s to brand new pieces performed on laptops; all of this music can be heard in intimate venues or grand concert halls--and all of it is affordable (and sometimes free). If you love the music like I do, if you've always wanted to attend a performance but needed some direction, or if you just want to know what a harpsichord sounds like, the following is a short list of my recommendations for the month. If you have other suggestions, please add them in the comments.

October 2011

Baroque Band
Dame Emma Kirkby, soprano

Chicagoans embraced Baroque Band immediately when it burst onto the scene in 2007. Since then, the Baroque and early music specialists have programmed imaginative concerts, and dazzled audiences with their sublime interpretations. Renowned soprano Dame Emma Kirkby joins the Band in songs by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Dieterich Buxtehude, John Christopher Smith, and Antonio Vivaldi. Tickets for all performances are $35, $30 for seniors, $15 for students. October 12, Grainger Ballroom, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. October 14, Nichols Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave, Evanston. October 15, Augustana Lutheran Church, 5500 S. Woodlawn Ave, Chicago. All concerts start at 7:30pm.


Chicago Chamber Musicians

Comprised of some of the best musicians from Chicago's large ensembles and university faculties, the venerable Chicago Chamber Musicians will perform an all-French program that begins with a rare chance to hear Camille Saint-Saƫns' bassoon sonata. CCM also performs Maurice Ravel's Piano Trio, a piece of wandering and vast musical scenes, and Olivier Messiaen's final and most famous work, Quartet for the End of Time, composed while imprisoned by the Germans in World War II--"the most ethereally beautiful music of the twentieth century," according to The New Yorker's Alex Ross. Tickets are $25 - $40, $10 for students. October 16, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. October 17, Gottlieb Concert Hall, 38 S. Peoria St., Chicago. Both concerts begin at 7:30pm.


Civic Orchestra of Chicago

In nearly every other city, the Civic Orchestra would be the best ensemble in town. As the CSO's training orchestra, the Civic provides soon-to-be pros an opportunity to learn the ropes; Chicago is lucky to have a professional-grade orchestra regularly perform for free. Evoking the folk music traditions of the Rhine region of Germany, Robert Schumann's Third Symphony is full of life and energy, a perfect fit for the Civic. Admission is free but tickets are required (a $2 service fee per ticket will be charged). Get tickets in advance--they go fast; doors open about an hour before start time. October 17, 8pm, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.


Chicago Symphony Orchestra

With their performance of Gustav Mahler's Ninth Symphony still echoing from the final performances of last season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents the Austrian composer's earlier symphonies this year in honor of the 100th anniversary of his death. Former Principal Conductor, and a favorite of audience and orchestra alike, Bernard Haitink returns to Orchestra Hall to join the CSO and soprano Klara Ek in Mahler's transcendent Fourth Symphony. Violinist Frank Peter Zimmermann performs Alban Berg's Violin Concerto, a requiem for the daughter of Alma Mahler, and the composer's final completed work. Tickets start at $32. October 20, 21, 22, 8pm. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.


Pacifica Quartet

Last year's performances of all of Dmitri Shostakovich's quartets by the Pacifica garnered wide acclaim; in the end, tickets were hard to come by. The University of Chicago's artists-in-residence present this program of Russian and Soviet music that includes Alfred Schnittke's tension-filled Quartet No. 3, Nikolai Myaskovsky's final work and prayer-like Quartet No. 13, and Shostakovich's wrenching Quartet No. 3. The Pacifica is one of Chicago's chamber music treasures. Tickets are $25, $5 for students. October 30, 3pm., Mandel Hall (no relation to the author), 1131 E. 57th St., Chicago.

~*~

About the author: Elliot Mandel plays cello, attends lots of concerts, writes reviews, takes pictures, and loves sports; his favorite composers are Bach and Shostakovich.

 
GB store

Kristene / October 21, 2011 7:03 PM

Check out the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Their Encore Chamber Orchestra performs for free on 10/22 and through out the season at various venues.

http://cyso.org/ConcertsEvents/tabid/70/Default.aspx

GB store

Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

Our Final Transmission Days

By The Gapers Block Transmission Staff

Transmission staffers share their most cherished memories and moments while writing for Gapers Block.

Read this feature »

Blogroll

  Chicago Music Media

Alarm Magazine
BackStage
Big Rock Candy Mountain
Boxx Magazine
Brooklyn Vegan Chicago
Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
Chicago Reader Music
Chicagoist Arts & Events
ChicagoMusic.org
Chicago Music Guide
Chicago Singles Club
CHIRP
Country Music Chicago
Cream Team
Dark Jive
Daytrotter
The Deli Chicago
Jim DeRogatis
Do312
Fake Shore Drive
Gowhere Hip Hop
Gridface
The Hood Internet
Innerview
Jaded in Chicago
Largehearted Boy
Little White Earbuds
Live Fix Blog
Live Music Blog
Loud Loop Press
Oh My Rockness
Pop 'stache
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Resident Advisor
Songs:Illinois
Sound Opinions
Sun-Times Music Blog
Theft Liable to Prosecution
Tribune Music
UR Chicago
Victim Of Time
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Windy City Rock

  Venues:

Abbey Pub
Andy's Jazz Club
Aragon Ballroom
Auditorium Theatre
Beat Kitchen
B.L.U.E.S
Bottom Lounge
Buddy Guy's Legends
The Burlington
California Clipper
Concord Music Hall
Congress Theater
Constellation
Cubby Bear
Double Door
Elbo Room
Empty Bottle
FitzGerald's
Green Mill
The Hideout
Honky Tonk BBQ
House of Blues
Kingston Mines
Lincoln Hall
Logan Square Auditorium
Martyrs'
Mayne Stage
Metro
The Mutiny
Old Town School of Folk Music
Park West
The Promontory
Red Line Tap
Reggie's Rock Club & Music Joint
The Riviera
Rosa's
Schubas
Thalia Hall
The Shrine
Smartbar
Subterranean
Symphony Center
Tonic Room
Township
Uncommon Ground
The Vic
The Whistler

  Labels, Promoters
  & Shops:

Alligator Records
Atavistic
Beverly Records
Bloodshot Records
Dave's Records
Delmark Records
Drag City
Dusty Groove
Flameshovel Records
Groove Distribution
He Who Corrupts
Hozac
Jam Productions
Jazz Record Mart
Kranky Records
Laurie's Planet of Sound
Minty Fresh
Numero Group
mP Shows
Permanent Records
Reckless Records
Smog Veil Records
Southport & Northport Records
Thick Records
Thrill Jockey Records Touch & Go/Quarterstick Records
Victory Records

GB store

Events

Featured Series














 

Transmission on Flickr

Join the Transmission Flickr Pool.


About Transmission

Transmission is the music section of Gapers Block. It aims to highlight Chicago music in its many varied forms, as well as cover touring acts performing in the city. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Sarah Brooks, sarah@gapersblock.com
Transmission staff inbox: transmission@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

Transmission Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15