« Preview: Austin Psych Fest in Chicago | The Salad Days of DC Punk Coming to Chicago » |
Classical Mon Mar 09 2015
Pulling Strings: For classical music in Chicago, you got a guy - March 2015
Lots of big works downtown this month. But do you also know about New Music Chicago? Check 'em out for up-to-date listings of all things in the contemporary music scene.
Hubbard Street's Spring Series
Hubbard Street Dance's Spring Series brings 300 years of music together in another round of solid and intriguing programming. HSD reprises two works by Jiří Kylián: "Sarabande," which Bach's Second Partita for Solo Violin with electronic manipulations, and "Falling Angels," set to Steve Reich's "Drumming" performed live by Third Coast Percussion. Alejandro Cerrudo's "Cloudless" is set to two short works by Nils Frahm, while Owen Belton's music accompanies the HSD premiere of Crystal Pite's "A Picture of You Falling." Finally, HSD gives the world premiere of "I am Mister B," choreographed by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano as an homage to George Balanchine, and set to Tchaikovsky's Third Suite for Orchestra. Pretty sure you'll want grab up some last-minute tickets, which start at $25. March 12-15, Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, Chicago.
Chicago Bach Project: St. John Passion
Chicago Bach Project consistently does Bach better than just about anyone else; certainly, some of the best large-scale early music you'll hear all season. For its fifth year, CBP brings back Grammy-winning conductor John Nelson to lead acclaimed soloists Nicholas Phan, Stephen Morscheck, Lisette Oropesa, Lawrence Zazzo, John Tessier, and Matthew Brook. Last year's St. Mathew Passion featured many of the same soloists and delivered a fiery and soulful performance; the St. John will surely follow suit. Don't miss this one-night-only show. Tickets start at $25. Friday, March 20, 7:30pm. Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph.
Chicago Sinfonietta: Primal Instincts
Chicago loves its Irish bagpipes, but Galician bagpiper Cristina Pato plays the Spanish gaita unlike anything you'll hear on St. Patrick's Day. A unique force around the world, she has toured with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, and blazed new roads for women in music. She will give the US premiere of Emilio Solla's tango-jazz concerto for bagpipes, piano, and orchestra — a work she commissioned — on a program surging with energy. Mei-Ann Chen conducts the Sinfonietta in two suites from Bizet's Carmen, followed by Carl Orff's bombastic and baudy Carmina Burana. Good stuff all around. Tickets start at $10. Monday, March 23, 7:30pm. Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
Programs, artists, and prices subject to change. Tickets subject to availability.
About the author: Elliot Mandel photographs classical concerts and you should hire him for your next show. He also writes reviews and plays cello.