The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2018-19 season lineup that will feature violinist Simone Porter, award-winning pianist William Wolfram and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Robert Chen.
The seven concerts are given at the Ozinga Chapel on the campus of Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr. in Palos Heights.
The opening performance for this 41st season will be given Oct. 20 followed by concerts Nov. 17 and Dec. 8, Feb. 9, March 16, April 27 and May 18 with a special “Classical Evolve” concert on May 14 featuring works by three composers who will be competing for the IPO Composer in Residence honor for the 2019-2020 season.
Porter will be on the bill for the opening program that will have an “American Originals” theme as part of the Southland Arts, Municipalities and Business Alliance’s Made in America Festival. Works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Korngold are included, along with a work written by the IPO’s first Composer in Residence being named May 8.
Following the Oct. 20 concert, supporters will celebrate a new season with dinner and dancing at the Midlothian Country Club.
The Nov. 17 program will feature chamber pieces by composers from England, Czechoslovakia and Norway. Special performers will be Bulgarians Nadejda Tsanova on piano and Peter Makedonski on trumpet.
The Dec. 8 concert will have IPO Maestro Stilian Kirov conduct Handel’s “Messiah” with full choir.
On Feb. 9, the IPO will perform music by Williams, Debussy and Estacio set to video footage from NASA space explorations. The presentation is conceived and developed by astronomer Jose Francisco Salgado and his team at KV265 who collaborate with orchestras, composers and musicians to present films that provoke curiosity and a sense of wonder about the earth and universe.
On March 16, pianist Wolfram will join the IPO for a concert featuring Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 2,” Rachmaninoff’s “Second Symphony” and a piece composed by IPO’s Composer in Residence.
An All-Mozart celebration on April 27 will include a program with CSO concertmaster Chen that includes “Violin Concerto No. 5,” the overture from the “Marriage of Figaro” and “Symphony No. 41.”
IPO hosts its annual composer competition on May 14. Three candidates will have their original work rehearsed, performed and judged by a professional panel and the audience at this performance. The winner will be named IPO Composer in Residence for the 2019-2020 season.
The final concert on May 18 will be works by Richard Strauss. American soprano D’Ana Lombard will perform Strauss’ “Four Last Songs.” The orchestra will also perform “The Rosenkavalier Suite” and “Till Eulenspiegel.” IPO will also premiere a work by its Composer in Residence.
Subscription packages are available from a starter package of three concerts to a full seven-concerts. Special rates apply for new subscribers. Information is available by calling the IPO staff at 708-481-7774.