(Photo: Elliot Mandel)
Monday, November 9 — Chicago a cappella
Chicago a cappella is a vocal ensemble that has been acclaimed as “a jewel in the crown of Chicago’s musical life” (The American Organist). The performers are among the area’s most accomplished choral singers and soloists. The ensemble presents repertoire spanning from the 9th to the 21st centuries and is an ardent champion of today’s composers.
Music
Lo Yisa Goy (Prayer for Peace) by Stacy Garrop
Shall I Compare Thee to A Summer’s Day by Robert Applebaum
Tuesday, November 10 — Cavatina Duo
19th-century salon music was characterized by the combination of hit tunes from popular operas and great instrumental virtuosity. The works performed by the Cavatina Duo on this album impressively demonstrate this style. Flutist Eugenia Moliner and guitarist Denis Azabagic combine peerless technique with sensitive musicianship, making them ideal interpreters of this repertoire.
Music
Fantaisie brillante on Themes from Bizet’s Carmen by François Borne
Wednesday, November 11— Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert: Masha Lakisova and Lyudmila Lakisova
Violinist Masha Lakisova and her mother, pianist Lyudmila Lakisova, present a live recital from the Chicago Cultural Center. At just nineteen, Masha is fast becoming one of the rising stars of her generation. As a collaborative pianist, Lyudmila provides her skills to the students of Chicago’s well-known violin and piano teachers.
Music
Thursday, November 12 — John Hagstrom and Chicago Brass Choir
The Chicago Brass Choir plays music from the Renaissance to the late Romantic period on their album Pictures in Brass. John Hagstrom, trumpeter with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is the featured soloist on two works: Ernst Sachse’s Concertino in E-flat and Vincenzo Bellini’s Oboe Concerto, arranged by musical director Michael Stewart.
Music
Concerto in E-flat major by Vincenzo Bellini
(Photo by Richard Sklar)
Friday, November 13 – Impromptu Encore: Smetana Trio
Founded in 1934, the Smetana Trio borrows its name from the 19th-century Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. While the luminaries of the Czech classical tradition remain central to the ensemble’s repertoire, the trio now frequently ventures beyond its national boundaries. Current members of the group performed live on Impromptu in 2018.
Music
Music of Dmitri Shostakovich Antonín Dvořák
