Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra's November 18 concert honors Bulgaria's upcoming EU Presidency January to June 2018 in a program that features two outstanding Bulgarians: Composer Pancho Vladigerov and Conductor Stilian Kirov.
"We are honored to celebrate together with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra the upcoming 2018 Bulgarian EU Presidency. Bulgaria has always been very proud of its history, cultural achievements and talented people. The Presidency is a good opportunity for Bulgaria to showcase that music is universally recognizable and what brings Europe together. We are delighted to introduce two great Bulgarians - Maestro Pancho Vladigerov and Maestro Stilian Kirov," said Ivan Anchev, Consul General of Bulgaria in Chicago.
As the IPO season was mostly planned before Kirov was hired, his direct input into each concert was its opening work. For November, the evening begins with Vladigerov's Improvisation and Toccata. Kirov calls this, "A little gift I bring from my native Bulgaria that is very much in the Romantic spirit."
"It is through music that we can present Bulgaria at its finest," Anchev continued. "
Come and celebrate the diversity and richness of our European heritage on
November 18, 2017
!"
Also on the program, Guest Organist David Schrader joins the orchestra for Copland's Symphony for Organ and Orchestra. This piece features Ozinga Chapel's impressive 46-rank pipe organ in a three movement American work that moves from
contemplative to energetic to unrelenting with many shades of emotion in between.
Schrader, who gave IPO patrons a little preview of his talents at the Select Your Seat event in May, is well-known in the Chicago area and beyond. A longtime faculty member at Roosevelt University, Schrader has performed with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony Orchestra among others and has numerous recording credits.
Critic Edward Tatnall Canby hails Schrader as "... a fleet and vigorous player, easily matched to music that is extremely demanding both in finger technique and in rhythm and color."
Completing the evening is Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. With the original subtitle "A Soviet Artist's Response to Just Criticism," the symphony reveals Shostakovich's genius in composting according to strict Soviet nationalistic standards while still revealing shadows of the human despair that hover below the melodic surface.
A pre-concert Q&A with Schrader and Trinity Christian College's Professor Van Wyck will be hosted by IPO board member, Dr. Charles Amenta from 6:25-6:50PM in the auditorium. Trinity's student jazz ensemble will perform in the Grand Lobby from 6:45-7:15PM.
Single tickets start at $25 in advance. Student tickets are $10, and group tickets are available with a minimum of seven patrons. Ticketing fees may apply.
Great new subscriber rates of up to 40% off are still available for 3, 4, 5 or all 6 concert packages.
To order or for more information, visit ipomusic.org or call 708.481.7774. Ozinga Chapel is located at 6601 W. College Drive on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. The IPO Ozinga Chapel box office opens one hour before the performance on concert night.
