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Classical Mon Feb 03 2014
Pulling Strings: For classical music in Chicago, you got a guy - February 2014
By Elliot Mandel
This month's column is dedicated to the memory of Deborah Sobol, a pioneering champion of the arts who believed that music is as essential to living as air and water. Her vision was limitless, her energy infectious. She was a friend, colleague, mentor, teacher, and advocate for countless musicians, students, and arts professionals around the city. Debbie changed the classical music experience in Chicago and her legacy will be heard for years to come. No doubt she now has a front row seat watching Brahms and Schubert perform piano music for four hands. In Debbie's memory, here are some of her favorite ensembles appearing in Chicago this month.
Chicago Chamber Musicians
Oboist Anne Bach replaces Alex Klein and joins brass and woodwind members of CCM in a beautiful program of music by Mozart and Mahler, and recent works by Stacy Garrop and James Stephansom. Tickets are $35 - $45; students $10. 7:30pm. Sunday, February 9, Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Monday, February 10, Gottlieb Hall, Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St., Chicago.
Spektral Quartet
SQ retools its popular Sampler Pack program to include friends from around the new music community. The program includes music by August Read Thomas and Marcos Balter. Grab a beer and dig the new tunes. Tickets are $10. Sunday, February 9, 8:30pm. Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave. 21 and over.
Fulcrum Point New Music Project
The astounding trumpeter and Fulcrum Point leader Stephen Burns is joined by mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley and violinist Matthias Tacke in a convergence of music and poetry at the Poetry Foundation. Free. Wednesday, February 12, 7pm. Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior.
Third Coast Percussion
Augusta Read Thomas's Resounding Earth features the sounds of dozens of bells from around the world in a piece written especially for TCP; you won't see anything else like it. The program includes John Cage's Third Construction. Tickets are $25, $5 for students. Friday, February 21, 7:30pm. Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.
Fifth House Ensemble
In a program of music by Philip Glass, Charles Zoll, Astor Piazzolla, and Augusta Read Thomas, the versatile members of 5HE and storyteller Sarah Becan explore the ancient and magical concept of inspiration. Free. Sunday, February 23, 3:00 p.m. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington, Chicago.
Avalon String Quartet
Continuing its cycle of Bartok quartets, the Avalon returns to the Art Institute to perform the Hungarian master's Quartet No. 5, along with Haydn's Quartet in A Major, Op. 20, No. 6. The music is paired with a discussion of painter Vasily Kandinsky. Free with museum admission. Sunday, February 23, 2:00 p.m. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.
And mark your calendars for the Rush Hour Concerts Summer Concert Series, each Tuesday evening from June through August, and Make Music Chicago on June 21.
Programs, artists, and prices subject to change. Tickets subject to availability.
About the author: Elliot Mandel plays cello, attends lots of concerts, writes reviews, and takes pictures.