Your primer on names and concerts

I don’t know about you, but when it comes to classical music, I am very happy to set aside the summer of 2023. Chef John Eliot Gardiner He allegedly punched a singer Last month in France; he has since withdrawn from the rest of his performances this year. (This included a one-stage performance at the Harris Theater in Chicago in October.) Leonard Bernstein’s biography was so blatantly accused of anti-Semitism that Bernstein’s children released the film in support of it. an official family statement the size of their father’s nose. And what’s more sad than “Jerry Springer” in the news is that New York’s Metropolitan Opera Guild is closingHe took the Opera News broadcast with him, and Chicago’s Fine Arts Building announced it would replace manually operated elevators within the next two years; they were the companions of countless musicians who scrambled in elevators on their way to instrument repair appointments, to music. lectures and rehearsals for the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.

But I’m getting off topic. Bring autumn! There’s a lot of distraction here, that is, everything.

If you learned about female composers of the Baroque era in your music history class, the discussion probably started and ended with Barbara Strozzi, a prolific vocal composer. (If not, your professor’s next beer is on me.) Newberry Wife And Haymarket Opera for opening their season with the music of two of Strozzi’s often overlooked contemporaries: the composer’s portrait concert Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg And Francesca Caccini“The Liberation of Ruggiero from Alcina Island”, respectively.

• “In the Castle of the Moon: The Music of Sophie Elisabeth, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg.” 19:30 Sep 22 Hyde Park Union Church, 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave., 19:30 Sep 23 Roosevelt University Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Ave., Sep 24 4 pm St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman Ave., Evanston; tickets $45-65; newberryconsort.org
• “Ruggiero’s Liberation from Alcina Island”, 19:30 September. 29 and September. 30, 15:00 Oct. 1, DePaul University Holtschneider Performance Center, 800 W. Belden Ave.; tickets $52-97; haymarketopera.org

It’s not just window theater I had so much fun in the last few years – unfortunately so did the showcase opera companies. One of the big Third Eye Theater CompanyAfter 10 impressive years, it is closing its store with this production “Consul” by Gian Carlo Menotti performed in piano reduction. “The Consul,” September 23 through October 8, The Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway; tickets are $25; thirdeyete.org

As always, Chicago Symphony The season is so rich that it’s hard to pick a few shows: Some of the ones I’ve watched include, but are not limited to, conductor Jaap van Zweden and baritone Christian Gerharer on Mahler’s “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (October 12-15). ; Naperville pianist Conrad Tao’s “full time” NGO inauguration (October 19-21 and October 24); Michael Tilson Thomas is back on the podium for the first time since his brain cancer diagnosis (November 30 – December 2 and 5); and the return of NGO guest artist Hilary Hahn with Brahms’ Violin Concerto (December 7-9). But at the top of the CVS receipt-sized list are three world premieres: “Triumph of the Sekige” by Philip Glass Clarinet concerto by Christopher Theofanidis, Written for the NGO itself Stephen WilliamsonAnd Jasmine Barnes’ commission to be determined for soprano, baritone and chamber ensemblePart of MusicNOW shedding light on the composer collective carnation 7.

• “Muti, Glass & Mendelssohn Italian,” September 28-30, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets are $55-399; cso.org
• “Rachmaninov 3,” featuring the premiere of Theofanidis, November 9-11, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $49-250 cso.org
• “Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7”, Dec. 3, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets are between $30-50 cso.org

This classical, jazz and world music series is approaching a major milestone with a season that suits it. It starts with: Eighth Blackbird performance “Composition as Explanation” by David Lang A musical theater piece based on Gertrude Stein’s article of the same name and presented with a co-presentation Court Theater. Contemporary chamber orchestra Alarm will sound followed by a US premiere a week later “Winter Country” an evening piece Donny Dennehy inspired by his hometown of Ireland. In the first of two programs on campus, NGO musicians Respond to a homework assignment given by a UChicago professor: Prepare a concert exploring “music in the local language.” Also, this fall, Pacifica QuartetThe University’s former resident community and Alcee Chriss IIIA dazzling organist on the rise. Tickets for all of the following are $10-40. chicagopresentations.uchicago.edu

• “Composition as Explanation,” September 28-30, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.
• “Winter Country,” 7:30pm Oct. 6, Logan Arts Center, 915 E. 60th St.
• “Music in the Local Language”, 15:00 Oct. 8, Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.
• Pacifica Quartet, 7:30 PM Oct. 20, Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St.
• Alcee Chriss III, 5 p.m. Nov. 4, Bond Chapel, 1025 E. 58th St.

In this heartbreaking monodrama written and produced by David T. Little Chicago Opera Theaterbaritone Nathan Gunn and an amplified chamber ensemble bring to life first-hand accounts of military veterans drawn from hours of interviews. Little draws on his experience as a rock drummer in the intense, tense music of the opera that evokes the psychological horrors of war. COT music director Lydia Yankovskaya executes. “Soldier Songs”, 7pm Oct. 5, Epiphany Arts Center, 201 S. Ashland Ave.; tickets $60-175; chicagooperaeater.org

July celebrates 400th anniversary of his death William Byrdprolific and pioneering English Renaissance composer. So why this dreadful celebration? We don’t know exactly when Byrd was born – exactly when he died is documented by an entry in Chapel Royal’s Checkbook, also calling him “Musikk’s Father.” It’s a death anniversary party and this is undoubtedly going to be a great party. Nice voice and behind the fun is a violin mate. “Byrd is the Wyrd,” at 7:30 p.m. on October 7 at Roosevelt University Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Ave. and on October 8 at 16:00 St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman Ave., Evanston; tickets are between $15-65 bellavoce.org

Can’t wait for the Lyric’s Terence Blanchard’s second opera “Champion” to arrive home after “Fire Shut Up in My Bones” (January 27 – February 11)? with them at this concert Chicago Philharmonic, bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green She just came out of her lead role in the Met’s production of “Champion” last season and is performing an aria from that opera and “Fire,” along with selections from Verdi, Wagner, Puccini, and Rossini. “Chicago Philharmonic Presents Ryan Speedo Green”, 7:30 PM, Oct. 14, Harris Music and Dance Theatre, 205 E. Randolph St.; tickets $20-125; chicagophilharmonic.org

In 2018 Daniel Barenboim’s answer was simple: Chicago the magazine asked the former CSO music director on why it took him 12 years to reunite with the orchestra: “I don’t like guest conducting.” A lot has changed since then. In January, the conductor and pianist resigned from Staatskapelle Berlin, which he directed for 30 years, due to health problems. So, his appearance here with the Staatskapelle in the Brahms symphony (Nos. 1 and 3) is not only rare, but very important. “Staatskapelle Berlin,” November 28, 7:30 pm, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $55-250; cso.org

No research on the 20th century string quartet would be complete without them. Bela Bartok‘s six earth-shattering contributions to the genre – truly so earth-shaking, it’s easy to imagine them coming out of his head, or perhaps from another universe, fully formed. Of course they didn’t, as respectable people Borromeo String QuartetA resident of the New England Conservatory of Music since 1992, he explains on this two-night expedition. The Borromeos trace the development of each quartet by showing the first drafts of the works along with their final versions. “Alternate Realities: The Borromeo Quartet and the Bartók Quartet Cycle”, 4 and 5 December 6:30 PM, Guarneri Hall, 11 E. Adams St., 3rd floor; tickets $10-40 for one night, $75 for two nights; guarnerihal.org

For once, we’re not talking about Bradley Cooper’s suspicious behavior. prosthetic shunt. It can Dmitri ShostakovichHis sharp and frenetic debut opera made its debut at the age of 23 and was staged at the Chicago Opera Theater with a rare local staging. Baritone Alexey Bogdanov and tenor by Curtis Bannister Starring in new production by Washington National Opera artistic director Frances Zambello. “The Nose,” 7:30 p.m. on December 8 and 3 p.m. on December 10, Harris Music and Dance Theatre, 205 E. Randolph St.; tickets are on sale on September 15 for $45-150; chicagooperaeater.org

Hannah Edgar is a freelance critic.

The Rubin Institute for Music Criticism helps finance our classical music publication. The Chicago Tribune retains editorial control over assignments and content.