music
That's what Sebastian Forster has been called. He'll appear this 
Wednesday evening at 8PM at DePaul Music School's Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden in an offering from DePaul's excellent piano program, Amer Klavier.
There's no admission charge, and having heard Sebastian myself I strongly advise you not to miss what's bound to be an exceptional performance.
The program will include a group of Beethoven sonatas and some music by Ferenc Lizst.
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A special opportunity awaits us tomorrow at the DePaul Concert Hall. Ilya Kaler, a faculty member of DePaul Music School will give a violin concert that's certain to be exceptional.
He's won three Gold Medals at three of the world's most prestigious competitions: the Tchaikovsky, Moscow 1986, the Sibelius, Helsinki 1985 and the Paganini, Genoa 1981. Kahler's been compared to Heifetz and Perlman and we all have the chance to hear him free of charge, courtesy of the DePaul Music School programming.
I'd love to give you the program but it's not available until concert time. Go anyway!
The DePaul School of Music Concert Hall is at 800 W. Belden. It's the large chapel-like looking building just to the right inside the large black iron gate.
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Right now they're in the midst of a terrific Russian music celebration at De Paul University's Lincoln Park campus. Get over there tonight and hear this event's organizer, grande dame and 
artistic director of the music school's AmerKlavier music program, Eteri Andjaparidze, at right, show her stuff. She's the Keyboard Programs Co-ordinator at the university's School of Music and she's invited some other musical stars to join her this evening for piano, vocal and instrumental music par excellence.
The concert begins at 8PM at the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden.
Other events continue every evening this week, culminating in a 4PM musicale and painting exhibition on Sunday the 22nd at the Belden Stratford Hotel, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West.
For complete program details, visit www.musicdepaul.edu, where you can avail yourself of all kinds of DePaul music info via their email list. All these events are free and open to the public.
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Tomorrow, March 4th at 5PM, there's a rare chance and the last one to see a version of Carmen much more akin to Bizet's original than the productions around today. All the well-known arias are included and a spokesperson for 
American Opera Group in Oak Park indicated that this is a more serious production as well.
AOG's production of Mozart's Don Giovanni will be presented on May 13, 18 and 20 at 5PM, 7:30PM and 5PM, respectively.
Tickets for both operas are reasonably priced at $35 and $25 and are available in advance or at the door. Call 708.434.0485 for additional information.
Both productions will take place at The Arts Center, 200 N. Oak Park Av., Oak Park.
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AmerKlavier, a specialized piano program in the music department of DePaul University continues with their seasonal offerings. You can easily expand your musicial horizons at these free performances and join the groups' expanding audience.
On Thursday, February 15 an outstanding
group of pianists along with other musicians will offer an homage to Franz Schubert (1797-1828) including the Fantasy in F minor, 'The Shepherd on the Rock' and the Quintet in A Major, the 'Trout Quintet'.
The concert is organized by Eteri Andjaparidze, the coordinator of keyboard programs at DePaul. Ms. Andjaparidze will participate in this program along with her students and colleagues. It's a fine way to spend a winter evening!
Homage to Franz Schubert, Thursday, February 15, 8PM, DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden. Admission is free.
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I've never seen Dave Brubeck live but this is my chance and yours. He and the Dave Brubeck Quartet will perform at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut at Michigan, Wednesday, October 11 at 7:30PM. Tickets are still available as of today.
Brubeck is one of the best known jazz greats of all time. His "Take Five" 
with the Quartet is 
the first jazz production to sell over a million copies. The original Quartet disbanded 36 years ago, though Dave, a musical explorer par excellence, continues to innovate with the current group.
The first half of the program will include "Take Five" and other favorities and the second half will feature the Quartet, the Fourth Church Morning Choir and Tower Brass performing selections from Dave Brubeck's Sacred Oratorios.
Enjoy the photos of Dave, then and now (at 84).
Tickets are $20-$50, and at this time the most efficient way to obtain them is by credit card through www.ticketweb.com. You might call the number below to see if you can still pick them up at the church, cash or check only. All seats are unreserved. See you at the concert!
Dave Brubeck an the Dave Brubeck Quartet, Fouth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut. 312.787.2729 between 9AM and 3PM weekdays for ticket info.
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The Chicago Sinfonietta needs you and your cell phone, Monday, October 2 at Orchestra Hall at 7:30 PM. It's for the world premier of David Baker's Concertino for Cell Phones and Orchestra.
Do hurry because tickets are selling very quickly. The same program will be presented at Dominican University, 7300 W. Division in River Forest 
on Sunday, October 1 at 2:30 PM. (See photo of composer David Baker at left.) Call 312.236.3681, extension 2 for tickets.
Orchestra Hall and Dominican University are the two permanent performance halls for the orchestra.
Yes, there are other offerings on the program including Liszt's Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major.
The Chicago Sinfonietta is celebrating its' 20th anniversary this year and its' mission, "Musical Excellence through Diversity" captivated my attention right away. The innovative programming includes, classical, romantic and contemporary offerings and the artistry is of the highest professional quality. That's no doubt why they're the official orchestra of The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. The diversity of the group is reflective of the very rich cultural landscape Chicago offers.
Mark your calendar right now with the dates: Nov.7; Jan. 15; March 19; June 4. All these performances will be at Orchestra Hall at 7:30PM; duplicates at Dominican University
...check website below for other presentations and complete orchestra schedule.
Access Chicago Sinfonietta's excellent website http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org and you'll learn much more. Featured artists may be as prominent as Poi Dog Pondering and Rachel Barton Pine or lesser known talented musicians you've yet to encounter.
Their education and outreach after-school program, for '06 and '07 is available at no cost to participating schools and is aimed at 3rd through 8th graders. There are additional educational programs as well, such as Audience Matters and SEED, among others. Call Erika Walton at 312.236.3681, extension 1552 for all kinds of info.
If you're looking for musicians for a special event, large or small, a corporate gathering or an intimate wedding, Chicago Sinfonietta can assist. They'll help with program and instrument choice too. Roughly speaking, costs are from $150 to $300 per musician per hour. I love this idea, having found a harpist for my sister-in-law's home wedding many years ago. Call Erika for this too.
The Sinfonietta is always looking for volunteers for the variety of such opportunities it offers throughout the year. For each three hour volunteer stint you will be given one free concert ticket!
Chicago Sinfonietta, 312.236.3681.
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Definitely music for everyone! Saturday, September 16th is the date. It's the tenth anniversary of the free music marathon at Symphony Center. This year Macy's is continuing Marshall Field's traditional sponsorship.
There's a complete schedule available at the CSO website, http://www.cso.org. You'll see the Day of Music orange logo. Just click on "download complete event schedule."
The checkerboard format lists the events in the four different venues, all within Symphony Center, and color codes all events categorically; classical, family, world, jazz and guitar. Further details are available at 312.294.3000 after 10AM.
Included are two Chicago Symphony concerts at 1PM and 7PM for which it is suggested you arrive an hour early to secure seating. The multitude of other events are scattered throughout the day and evening in the ten hours between 1PM and 10PM. The Silk Road theme will be abundantly represented. No tickets needed for any event.
You can choose from: Patricia Barber's Mythologies, folk singer Ella Jenkins, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Hubbard Street 2, CSO Chamber Ensemble, DePaul University's Jazz Ensemble, artists from Chicago Guitar Showcase and much, much more.
On Michigan Avenue outside street performers will keep you entertained. Here you can witness a traditional Chinese Lion Dance, a Mariachi group, a traditional New Orleans style jazz group (from Chicago), among others.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Day of Music, September 16th.
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St. James Cathedral has just recently begun its' current season of summer Rush Hour Concerts. They are organized by the classical pianist, Deborah Sobol.
These short classical chamber music concerts presented on Tuesday evenings have earned quite a following. At the opening concert over 300 people attended Mozart's 250th birthday celebration. Performers at these mini concerts include members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Chicago Chamber Musicians. The season runs through August 29.
Pictured above prior to their recent performance of movements from Mozart's oboe Quartet in F major, K.370 are violinist Yuan-Quing Yu, oboist Timothy Sawyier, cellist Abraham Feder and violist Rami Solomonow.
This year a multicultural focus will highlight aspects of the cultures of China, France, Germany, Great Britain and Mexico. Included will be an unusual offering, a mini-opera, "Bon Appetit" with music by Lee Hoiby and words by Julia Child.
All this takes place in an architecturally fascinating cathedral built before the Great Chicago Fire when it suffered enormous damage. In the late 1980's a large scale restoration was completed of this elaborate Arts and Crafts Victorian Revival Style building. The hand-stencilled design recreation is a highlight.
Join other music lovers at St. James every Tuesday during the summer season at 5:15PM when light snacks will be offered prior to the beginning of the concert at 5:45. These concerts are free and open to the public. Seats are unreserved.
To access the complete summer program visit www.rushhourconcerts.org.
music, culture, parks
One evening last summer my husband and I wandered over to Millenium Park to view Terry Evans' photographs when suddenly we heard a deep bass voice singing from the bandshell. We knew there was no concert that evening but wandered over to discover Samuel Ramey, the world famous opera star rehearsing for one, wearing blue jeans, stopping and having casual conversations with staff, correcting things, and proceeding on. Susanne Mentzer, the mezzo 
soprano joined him and transformed herself magically from a normal-looking person in street clothes into the same with an extraordinary voice. It was a great behind the scenes experience. There were just a few people in the audience which added to our sense of privilege.
Unbeknownst to us at the time, and to many others, The Grant Park Orchestra holds regularly scheduled open rehearsals which are free and open to the public, rain or shine. If you want to hear a guest artist for an upcoming concert in a totally different atmosphere you should try these. Of course the same is true with the orchestral presentations.
If you want to hear a guest artist in rehearsal or a final rehearsal prior to a concert the best time to visit is the day prior to the concert itself. For example if you attend the rehearsal on Thursday, June 22 from 11AM-1:30PM it will be in preparation 
for the two concerts, A Tibetan Mozart Requiem, to be given Friday June 23 at 6:30PM and Saturday June 24 at 7:30PM. (See photo of the monks of Tibet's Drepung Loseling Monastery in photo at right.) The Requiem is preceded by Mozart's Piano Concerto #25 with Robert Levin at the piano.
Also before the regular performance itself, on specified Saturdays you may join Artistic and General Director James W. Palermo for a 45 minute backstage discussion which includes guest artists. On Saturday June 24, for example the discussion begins at 6:30PM. It is held backstage at the Pritzker Pavilion Choral Hall. Enter from the walkway just east of the Pavilion. Coffee is served. On July 1 and 8 the discussion begins at 8PM; on July 22 and August 19 it begins at 6:30PM.
For a complete rehearsal schedule access www.grantparkmusicfestival.com. You'll find all kinds of info re the regular schedule as well. You may be one of a few or many in the audience but it's great fun to peek behind the scenes like this. Everything, of course takes place in the Gehry bandshell at the foot of Washington St. at Michigan Av.
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