Artelize - Celebrate Sibelius: Orchestral Wonders Across Chicago, Wheaton, and Elgin

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Celebrate Sibelius: Orchestral Wonders Across Chicago, Wheaton, and Elgin

Chicago, Wheaton, and Elgin are set to resonate with the enchanting compositions of Jean Sibelius over the coming months. From the haunting 'Swan of Tuonela' performed by the Grant Park Orchestra to the thrilling 'Violin Concerto' showcased by Christian Tetzlaff with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), audiences will be treated to a series of mesmerizing events. Don't miss Seong-Jin Cho's masterful interpretation of Sibelius' Fifth Symphony or the evocative 'The Oceanides' at the hands of the CSO. Add to this the dynamic collaborations between Tchaikovsky and Sibelius at the Elgin Symphony Orchestra and the rich orchestral landscapes promise an unforgettable musical journey.

Jun 24, 2024

1. Bruckner Symphony No. 4

Carlos Kalmar celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of fellow Austrian Anton Bruckner with the lush Symphony No. 4. The Grant Park Orchestra opens the program with Sibelius' hauntingly beautiful Swan of Tuonela and includes the suite from Janáček's piquant opera The Cunning Little Vixen.

2 - 3 Aug, 2024

Grant Park Music Festival

Chicago, IL · Harris Theater for Music and Dance

2. Tetzlaff Plays Sibelius

The rugged, windswept beauty of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is a perfect showcase for Christian Tetzlaff, whose “fiery and compelling” 2022 CSO performance was named one of the year’s 10 best by Chicago Classical Review. Schoenberg’s Pelleas and Melisande is a lush, quintessentially romantic orchestral portrait of Maeterlinck’s mysterious, symbolist play, while Wagner’s prelude delivers a thrilling opener.

14 - 16 Feb, 2025

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago, IL · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

3. Seong-Jin Cho Plays Prokofiev

The cool of the Arctic meets the warmth of Italy. The brooding, majestic themes of Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony evoke the remote landscapes of conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali’s native Finland. Tchaikovsky transports listeners to a Roman carnival in his Capriccio Italien. Seong-Jin Cho, lauded for his “expert music-making … miraculous in its execution” (The New York Times), takes on Prokofiev’s incendiary Second Piano Concerto.

Feb 27 - Mar 2, 2025

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago, IL · Chicago Symphony Orchestra + 1 other locations

4. CSO at Wheaton: Seong-Jin Cho Plays Prokofiev

Feb 28, 2025

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Wheaton, IL · Wheaton College

5. Canellakis Conducts Rachmaninov

Earth, in all its marvelous vitality and fragility, has inspired generations of composers. In The Oceanides, Sibelius conjures the water nymphs of Greek mythology and the broad majesty of the sea. Dvořák’s The Wild Dove is based on a dark folktale about a dove’s prophetic song. Childhood memories shape Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, his sumptuous, autumnal masterpiece.

3 - 5 Apr, 2025

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Chicago, IL · Chicago Symphony Orchestra

6. Tchaikovsky & Sibelius

4 - 5 Apr, 2025

Elgin Symphony Orchestra

Elgin, IL · Hemmens Auditorium

Conclusion

Whether you're a long-time admirer of Jean Sibelius or new to his captivating works, these upcoming performances in Chicago, Wheaton, and Elgin offer a perfect opportunity to experience his genius. Mark your calendars and prepare to be swept away by the timeless beauty and power of these orchestral masterpieces. Each event brings something unique, ensuring there's something for every classical music enthusiast to enjoy.

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