Emerson String Quartet (Photo: Jurgen Frank)
Monday, October 7 — Emerson String Quartet at Ravinia
The Emerson String Quartet visited the Ravinia Festival on July 28, 2019, performing music by Haydn and Barber. Soprano Renée Fleming and pianist Simone Dinnerstein then joined the quartet for the Chicago premiere of André Previn’s final opus, Penelope, with text by Tom Stoppard, co-commissioned by Ravinia.
Music
String Quartet in D major, Op. 71, No. 2 by Franz Joseph Haydn
Tuesday, October 8 — Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Live
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Brass section has long been known for its matchless brilliance, mighty sound, and spectacular power, contributing to the Orchestra’s legendary and distinctive “Chicago Sound.” This live recording from 2010, conducted by Dale Clevenger, Jay Friedman, Michael Mulcahy, and Mark Ridenour, features works by Gabrieli, Bach, Prokofiev, and more.
Music
Sonata Pian e forte; Canzon duodecimi toni à 10; Canzon septimi toni à 8 by Giovanni Gabrieli
Wednesday, October 9 — Pianist Lucas Krupinski at Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert
Polish pianist Lucas Krupinski is the winner of the 2016 International Piano Competition in San Marino and all of the contest prizes – the Audience Award, the Music Critics Award, and the Orchestra Award. In 2017, his debut album Espressione was released, including compositions by Haydn, Chopin, and Scriabin, inspired by his musical travels to Italy.
Music
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 by Frédéric Chopin
Variations sérieuses, Op. 54 by Felix Mendelssohn
La valse by Maurice Ravel
Thursday, October 10 — Rachel Barton Pine Plays Vivaldi
The seductively charming sound of the Baroque-era viola d’amore takes center stage in this all-Vivaldi recording with violinist Rachel Barton Pine and the Chicago-based period instrument ensemble Ars Antigua. Pine and Ars Antigua perform all eight of Vivaldi’s virtuosic concertos for viola d’amore, an unusual instrument of the violin family with 12 strings: six played with the bow, the others resonating passively for a sweet, silvery tone.
Music
Viola d’amore Concerto in F major, RV 97 by Antonio Vivaldi
Nichols Concert Hall
Friday, October 11 — Chicago Duo Piano Festival
The Chicago Duo Piano Festival was founded in 1988 by Music Institute of Chicago faculty members Claire Aebersold and Ralph Neiweem. Its mission is to foster a deeper interest in the repertoire, performance, and teaching of music for piano, four hands and two pianos, in a fun and supportive atmosphere. Alexander Djordjevic and Gregory Shifrin performed at the 2019 Festival’s Faculty Concert on July 19 at Nichols Concert Hall.
Music
Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, Op. 17, III. Romance by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, Op. 5, IV. Russian Easter by Sergei Rachmaninoff