In Tuesday’s (8/10) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein writes, “The sputtering economy does not appear to have seriously dampened the artistic plans of Chicago-area classical music organizations. If anything, city and suburban symphony orchestras are adopting a full-speed-ahead stance, as their programs for the upcoming season suggest. Approachability is the buzzword at the Ars Viva Symphony. The orchestra under Alan Heatherington will begin its five-concert season Oct. 24 with a centenary salute to Samuel Barber and a new suite from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ arranged by John Williams. … Several orchestras are luring audiences with comforting doses of Brahms. Both Ars Viva and the Northbrook Symphony conducted by Lawrence Rapchak are performing the composer’s delightful serenades. … Kirk Muspratt will lead his Glen Ellyn-based New Philharmonic in Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 2 in April. Kicking off Paul Freeman’s final season as music director of the Chicago Sinfonietta will be a program saluting working men and women; an ensemble of Japanese drummers and guest conductor Harvey Felder will take part in concerts Oct. 3 at Dominican University in River Forest and Oct. 4 at Symphony Center.”
Posted August 13, 2010
