ChicagoClassicalReview.com praises the Dudok Quartet Amsterdam’s “unflappably elegant style” and “sublime, incandescent” playing. 2018 winner of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust award, the quartet has also received the coveted Kersjes Prize (The Netherlands’ highest honor for a chamber ensemble) and numerous Editor’s Choice awards from Gramophone magazine. The ensemble’s recent projects have included the world premiere of the Kaija Saariaho opera Only the Sound Remains with Philippe Jaroussky and the Dutch National Opera, as well as a collaboration with director Rosabel Huguet re-imagining Beethoven’s Op. 132 String Quartet for children. The group’s 2023 release, Circus Dinogad—a project conceived with contralto Hilary Summers and the theorbo and bass clarinet duo of Mike Fentross and Maarten Ornstein—traverses eras and genres, from Renaissance lute songs, folk songs, and lullabies to a newly-composed set of works covering the Seven Deadly Sins.

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Dudok Quartet Amsterdam

Northwestern University

Pianist, conductor, and scholar Jeffrey Kahane is in the fifth decade of an expansive and versatile career which has included concertos with the New York Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphonies, recitals with Yo-Yo Ma and Joshua Bell, and collaborations with the Emerson, Miró, Dover, Attacca, and Calidore String Quartets. Grand Prize winner of the 1983 Arthur Rubinstein International Competition, Jeffrey Kahane performs with his son Gabriel Kahane, a musician and storyteller whose work increasingly exists at the intersection of art and social practice. As a composer, Gabriel Kahane has been commissioned by many of America’s leading arts institutions, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Public Theater, which in 2012 presented his musical February House. A frequent collaborator across a range of musical communities, Kahane has worked with an array of artists including Paul Simon, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Phoebe Bridgers, Caroline Shaw, and Chris Thile.

Jeffrey and Gabriel Kahane Duo

Mary B. Galvin Recital Hall

Hailed for their “explosive vigor and technical finesse” by the New York Times, the Miró Quartet has garnered first prize at the Banff International String Quartet Competition and the Naumburg International Chamber Music Competition, among others. Highlights of the quartet’s 2023-24 season have included the performance and recording project Here on Earth with pianist Lara Downes, the premiere of a new version of Kevin Puts’s Credo with the Naples Philharmonic, and performances for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and Premiere Performances in Hong Kong.

Miró Quartet

Pianist Louis Lortie appears in the world’s most prestigious concert halls and festivals, including London’s Wigmore Hall, the Philharmonie de Paris, Carnegie Hall, Beethovenfest Bonn, and Liszt Festival Raiding. He has established long-term partnerships with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, and Dresden Philharmonic in Europe, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and St. Louis Symphony in the US. Lortie’s vast recording catalogue includes Liszt’s complete Années de pèlerinage, which was named as one of the top ten recordings of 2012 by the New Yorker. Lortie has studied with Yvonne Hubert, with Beethoven specialist Dieter Weber, and with Schnabel disciple Leon Fleisher. In 1984, Lortie won First Prize in the Busoni Competition and was a prizewinner at the Leeds Competition.

Louis Lortie, piano

Join us for a profound musical journey as the Evanston Symphony Orchestra commemorates the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's death with a stirring performance of his Symphony No. 5. This concert, taking place at 2:30 pm on Sunday, February 2, 2025, promises an afternoon of lyrical beauty and powerful emotion, capturing the essence of Shostakovich's work, which many interpret as a complex blend of despair and glory.

Under the baton of Lawrence Eckerling, Music Director, the program will also feature Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s "Variations on a Rococo Theme" with the talented Christine Lamprea on cello, bringing to life the elegance and charm of Tchaikovsky's composition. The concert will open with Jonathan Bailey Holland's "Motor City Dance Mix," a vibrant homage to Detroit that fuses classical, hip-hop, jazz, and more, showcasing Holland's innovative musical vision.

This special event will be held at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, located at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, with additional seating at Evanston Township High School Auditorium, 1600 Dodge Avenue, Evanston. Free parking is available for attendees.

Tickets are available for advance purchase at $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $5.00 for full-time students. At the door, prices are $39 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $5.00 for full-time students. Children 12 and younger can attend for free but must have an assigned seat. For ticket purchases and inquiries, please call 847.864.8804 or email tickets@evanstonsymphony.org.

Enhance your concert experience by attending the Musical Insights Free Pre-Concert Preview on Friday, February 9th, at 1:30 pm. This event offers an insider’s look at the concert program, featuring discussions with Maestro Lawrence Eckerling and our soloist, providing deeper understanding and appreciation of the music to be performed.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience the power and beauty of Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, and Holland, performed by the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. Reserve your seats today for an unforgettable musical experience.

 Shostakovich 5th

In the year marking the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s death, the ESO plays his lyrical and powerful Symphony No. 5, a work in which many listeners hear despair beneath the glorious melodies. The work is paired with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme with cello soloist Christine Lamprea. Opening the concert is a work by Jonathan Bailey Holland, composer and dean at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music: Motor City Dance Mix. It is a vibrant musical collage, in homage to Holland’s home city of Detroit, influenced by classical, hip-hop, jazz, and other musical genres.

Christine Lamprea with Evanston Symphony

Multifaceted guitarist Meng Su captivates audiences around the world with her stunning virtuosity and refined artistry. New York Concert Review called a recent performance “seemingly effortless and stunningly polished,” while Classical Guitar Magazine wrote that “she has already reached the status of a seasoned artist.” In addition to her busy solo career, Meng Su is an avid chamber musician who tours regularly in the Beijing Guitar Duo and as a soloist with many orchestras. She has performed in over 30 different countries around the world in venues including the Concertgebouw, Palau de la Música, Tchaikovsky Hall, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Su’s 2016 debut solo recording, Meng, was called “this year’s finest debut by far” by Classical Guitar Magazine, and her debut CD with the Beijing Guitar Duo, Maracaípe, received a Latin Grammy nomination for the titular piece. Su has won first prize in numerous international competitions around the world, most recently in the prestigious Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2015.

Meng Su, guitar

Helene Alving has spent her life suspended in an emotional void after the
death of her cruel but outwardly charming husband. She is determined to escape the ghosts of her past by telling her son, Oswald, the truth about his father. But on his return from his life as a painter in France, Oswald reveals how he has already inherited the legacy of Alving’s dissolute life. 

Ghosts

Gwydion Theatre Company

Pianist Tom Borrow earned sensational public and critical acclaim in January 2019 when, with only 36 hours’ notice, he replaced renowned pianist Khatia Buniatishvili to perform Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He went on to be named Musical America’s New Artist of the Month in 2021 after his US debut with the Cleveland Orchestra, and made his debut at the BBC Proms in 2022. Born in Tel Aviv in 2000, Borrow has performed as soloist with all major orchestras of his native country and has won every national piano competition in Israel, including first prize at the Israeli Radio & Jerusalem Symphony Young Artist Competition in Jerusalem, and three first prizes at the "Piano Forever" Competition in Ashdod. He was presented with the prestigious Terence Judd-Hallé Orchestra Award in 2023. Equally in-demand on the chamber music and recital fronts, Borrow has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, London Philharmonic, and Santa Cecilia Orchestra.

Tom Borrow, piano

Downbeat praises Billy Childs for “seeing colors and vignettes where others might just hear notes,” and the pianist and composer remains one of the most prolific and acclaimed artists active today. His original compositions and arrangements have garnered him a Doris Duke Performing Artist Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a composers award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, two Chamber Music America grants, and five Grammy Awards. His collaborations, arrangements, and productions have included Yo-Yo Ma, the Kronos Quartet, Wynton Marsalis, Sting, Chris Botti, and Leonard Slatkin. Recent commissions have included his Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra for Steven Banks (’17 MMus), his Violin Concerto No. 2 for Rachel Barton Pine, and In the Arms of the Beloved for the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Anne Akiko Meyers, the Lyris Quartet, and the Billy Childs Jazz Chamber Ensemble.

Billy Childs Quartet

Beloved Impromptus and the joyous Sonata in A Major, D. 664

Schubert: The Sorrowful and the Sublime

Shin-ichi Fukuda began playing the classical guitar at the age of eleven under the direction of Tatsuya Saitoh and has since pursued a brilliant career as a leading guitarist. He has performed with orchestras and as a solo recitalist in concert halls around the world, including New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Museum, and Athens’s Megaron Concert Hall. Fukuda has earned international acclaim for his musicianship, receiving first prizes in the 1st Carpentras International Guitar Competition and the 23rd Paris International Competition, as well as top prizes in competitions and festivals in Italy, Spain, and Japan. Fukuda’s repertoire spans from the Renaissance to today, and he has premiered many pieces by 21st-century composers, such as Leo Brouwer’s Concerto da Requiem, an homage to Toru Takemitsu that is dedicated to Fukuda. A highly gifted and enthusiastic teacher, Fukuda is a guest professor at Shanghai Conservatory in China and has trained many pupils who have gone on to attain the highest honors, including Kaori Muraji, Daisuke Suzuki, and Yasuji Ohagi. He has produced 84 recordings in a career that spans more than four decades.

Shin-ichi Fukuda, guitar

Join us for one of the most beloved and enjoyable works in the choral literature: Johannes Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem. An exquisite piece celebrating the seasons of life and giving courage and consolation as we reflect on times past.

Choral Classics: Brahms

First United Methodist Church, Evanston

Pianist Christopher Guzman enjoys an international performing career that showcases a broad range of styles from the Baroque era to the avant-garde. Since winning top prizes in international competitions such as the Walter M. Naumburg Competition, the Seoul International Music Competition, and the Isang Yun Competition, Guzman has performed across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. As a result of winning the top prize at the Concours International de Piano d’Orléans in France, he has toured that country extensively, giving performances and teaching master classes. His CD of music of Paul Reale on the Naxos label, Chopin’s Ghosts, was included in Fanfare magazine’s top five releases of 2018. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with the classical music world’s most exciting soloists, including Ilya Gringolts, Antoine Tamestit, David Fray, and Jeremy Denk.

Christopher Guzman, piano

Join the Evanston Symphony Orchestra for a profound musical experience on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 2:30 pm, as they present Brahms’ German Requiem. This concert, under the baton of Music Director Lawrence Eckerling, promises to be a moving tribute to one of the great choral sacred works in the repertoire. The performance will take place at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, located at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, offering attendees a chance to immerse themselves in the rich sounds of classical music in a premier venue.

For this special concert, the Evanston Symphony Orchestra is joined by the North Shore Choral Society, led by Music Director Julia Davids, to bring Johannes Brahms’ masterpiece to life. Composed after the death of his mother in 1865, Brahms’ German Requiem is noted for its departure from the traditional Latin requiem by focusing on providing comfort and solace to the living. This theme of consolation is beautifully conveyed through the music and lyrics, making it a unique and touching piece.

Adding to the richness of the program, the concert will also feature two vocal compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: the exhilarating Exsultate Jubilate, performed by soprano Josefien Stoppelenburg, and a duet from Don Giovanni, where Stoppelenburg is joined by bass-baritone Evan Bravos. These pieces promise to showcase the exceptional talents of the soloists and add a diverse musical texture to the afternoon’s performance.

Tickets for the concert are available for advance purchase, with prices set at $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $5.00 for full-time students. At the door, prices will be slightly higher. Children 12 and younger can attend for free but must have an assigned seat. To ensure everyone’s comfort and safety, the Evanston Symphony Orchestra has made it clear that masks, vaccinations, and testing are no longer required for attendance. However, they kindly request that anyone feeling unwell stay home to prevent the spread of illness.

This concert is not just an opportunity to enjoy breathtaking music but also a chance to be part of a community coming together to experience the power of live performance. Don’t miss out on this exceptional musical event that promises to be both uplifting and unforgettable.

Brahms' German Requiem

Join the Evanston Symphony Orchestra for a profound musical experience on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 2:30 pm, as they present Brahms’ German Requiem in collaboration with the North Shore Choral Society. This concert, under the baton of Music Director Lawrence Eckerling, promises to be a moving rendition of one of the great choral sacred works in the repertoire, composed by Johannes Brahms after the death of his mother in 1865. Unlike traditional Latin requiems that focus on judgment and salvation, Brahms’ masterpiece, sung in German, seeks to offer solace and comfort to the living.

The performance will be further enriched by two vocal compositions by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, featuring the exhilarating Exsultate Jubilate and a duet from Don Giovanni, "La ci darem la mano." These pieces will showcase the talents of soprano Josefien Stoppelenburg and bass-baritone Evan Bravos, adding layers of emotional depth and musical brilliance to the afternoon.

The concert will take place at the Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, located at 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston, with additional seating available at the Evanston Township High School Auditorium, 1600 Dodge Avenue, Evanston. Free parking is available for attendees.

Tickets are available for advance purchase at $35 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $5.00 for full-time students. At the door, prices increase slightly to $39 for adults, $35 for seniors, and remain $5.00 for full-time students. Children 12 and younger are admitted for free but must have an assigned seat. For ticket purchases and inquiries, please contact 847.864.8804 or email tickets@evanstonsymphony.org.

Enhance your concert experience by attending the Musical Insights Free Pre-Concert Preview on Friday, April 5, at 1:30 pm. This event, held at Merion's Crystal Ballroom, 529 Davis St, Evanston, offers an insider’s look at the music and composers featured in the concert. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.

Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the powerful and comforting music of Brahms’ German Requiem, performed by the Evanston Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore Choral Society.

Brahms’ German Requiem

The morning after graduating high school, Matthew wakes to a future
that looks bleak. Addicted to porn, dependent on pot, alienated from his father, Matthew has no job, no friends, no college to look forward to—no future. Desperate to find meaning, Matthew finds himself lured back to his cultish roots of the Ascensionist Church of Christ to perform in a play that asks: what if Abraham disobeyed God and chose not to kill Isaac? This dark and hilarious satire examines the spiraling impacts of toxic masculinity, leaps of faith, and ideological fanaticism.

Ascension

Lauded by audiences and critics alike, Michelle Cann has become one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. She made her debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2021 and has recently performed concertos with the Cleveland Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the symphony orchestras of Atlanta, Baltimore, and Cincinnati. A leading interpreter of the piano music of Florence Price, Cann performed the New York City premiere of Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with The Dream Unfinished Orchestra in July 2016 and the Philadelphia premiere with the Philadelphia Orchestra and music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin in February 2021. Her recording of the concerto with the New York Youth Symphony won a Grammy Award in 2023 for Best Orchestral Performance. Cann was the recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization. A celebrated chamber musician, Cann has collaborated with leading artists including the Catalyst, Dover, and Juilliard string quartets; violinists Timothy and Nikki Chooi; and cellist Thomas Mesa.

Michelle Cann, piano

Following his first public performance at the age of eight, Aniello Desiderio quickly established himself as a concert artist with a distinct voice. He has won 18 first place awards, including top prizes at international guitar competitions in Havana and Madrid and First Prize and Special Prize for the best interpretation of Tárrega’s music at the International Francisco Tárrega Competition in Benicàssim, Spain. He performs regularly as a recitalist in the most important theaters of the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Barcelona’s Palau de La Música, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. A frequent soloist with orchestras, Desiderio has performed with the Oregon Symphony, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, and Kremerata Baltica with Gidon Kremer, as well as by invitation from the legendary violinist and conductor Salvatore Accardo to the “Settimane di Musica Internazionali” in Naples, Italy

Aniello Desiderio, guitar

Witty and whimsical selections by Haydn, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Chopin, and Stravinsky.

Events in Evanston, IL

Dudok Quartet Amsterdam

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Jeffrey and Gabriel Kahan...

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Miró Quartet

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Louis Lortie, piano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Shostakovich 5th

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Christine Lamprea with Ev...

Sphinx Organization

Meng Su, guitar

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Ghosts

Greenhouse Theater Center

Tom Borrow, piano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Billy Childs Quartet

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Schubert: The Sorrowful a...

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Shin-ichi Fukuda, guitar

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Choral Classics: Brahms

Apollo Chorus of Chicago

Christopher Guzman, piano...

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Brahms' German Requiem

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Brahms’ German Requiem

Evanston Symphony Orchestra

Ascension

Greenhouse Theater Center

Michelle Cann, piano

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Aniello Desiderio, guitar...

Northwestern Bienen School of Music

Humor in Music

Northwestern Bienen School of Music