Second-season bounty in classical music comes in a variety of packages. Here are the highlights:
Orchestras. Who needs the excuse of an anniversary year to pay homage to Mozart? Certainly not Daniel Barenboim. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra`s music director has prepared a grand Mozartfest of his own this month and next at Orchestra Hall, beginning with performances of Mozart`s Requiem next weekend and culminating in nine staged performances of the great trilogy of operas to libretti by Lorenzo da Ponte: ”The Marriage of Figaro” (Feb. 2, 7 and 12),
”Don Giovanni” (Feb. 4, 8 and 13) and ”Cosi fan tutte” (Feb. 5, 10 and 15). Christopher and David Alden provide the staging, Oscar de la Renta and Gabriel Berry the costumes. Barenboim will return in March to lead, among other works, John Corigliano`s Symphony No. 1 before taking the work to the Eastern U.S. and Europe as part of his first tour as CSO music director, March 30 to April 16.
The winter-spring parade of guest conductors will bring us Zubin Mehta in February, Erich Leinsdorf in March, Leonard Slatkin in April, and music director emeritus Georg Solti, James DePreist and Klaus Tennstedt in May-June.
Pride of place among visiting orchestras at Orchestra Hall goes to the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, performing at Orchestra Hall under music director Hugh Wolff (Feb. 23) and composer-conductor John Adams (March 22).
On the small-orchestra front, Concertante di Chicago will offer a program of string-orchestra music on Jan. 26, recent Russian music on March 15 and French instrumental and vocal works on May 3 (De Paul University Concert Hall). The Chicago Sinfonietta, conducted by Paul Freeman, will present the American premiere of Andrei Petrov`s ”Romantic Variations” May 31 and June 1 (various locations).
Not to be ignored is the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performing under Barenboim March 29. DePreist and Michael Morgan will preside over concerts Feb. 28 and May 2, respectively (Orchestra Hall).
Chamber music and recitals. The Chicago Symphony and the Art Institute of Chicago will join hands for a new series of programs exploring the relationship between visual art and chamber music; chamber concerts are set for Jan. 19, Feb. 16 and May 17 in the institute`s Fullerton Hall.
Chamber Music Chicago (CMC) will return to the Civic Theatre this winter to present a typically stimulating array of concerts. ”Sound Chamber”
headliners include the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio, Feb. 10; Alban Berg Quartet, Feb. 24; Arditti Quartet, March 2; and duo-pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque, March 29-30. The Vermeer Quartet will continue its series at De Paul Concert Hall with concerts Jan. 19, March 8 and May 17.
Three major singers from the world of opera will favor us with recital appearances: Frederica von Stade on Jan. 25 at Rosary College in River Forest; Marilyn Horne, performing Rossini songs in honor of that composer`s bicentenary, Feb. 1 at the Civic Opera House; and Jessye Norman, March 20 at Orchestra Hall.
As always, Allied Arts is making Orchestra Hall the place to be for Sunday afternoon piano recitals. This season`s lineup includes Andras Schiff, Feb. 9; Andrea Lucchesini, March 1; Maurizio Pollini, March 15; Andre Watts, April 5; Krystian Zimerman, May 3; and Robert Levin, May 31.
Clarinetist Richard Stoltzman will visit the University of Chicago chamber music series Feb. 28, followed by the Tokyo String Quartet on April 10. The Chicago Chamber Musicians will pay homage to jazz master Benny Goodman in its program Feb. 9-10 (various locations). Harpist Elizabeth Cifani will join the Rembrandt Chamber Players for a program of French works April 9 and 12 (various locations).
Early and choral music. Les Arts Florissants, one of the world`s finest early music ensembles, makes a welcome return to the city May 13, performing Henry Purcell`s delightful masque, ”The Fairy Queen,” at the Civic Theatre under auspices of Chamber Music Chicago.
More Purcell is in the offing from Music of the Baroque (MOB), which concludes its season May 13-22 with the English composer`s dramatic
”Dioclesian” (various locations). Other MOB events worth circling on your calendars: Telemann`s oratorio ”Day of Judgment,” Feb. 17-25; and Pergolesi`s Stabat Mater, April 27 and 29.
One of the glories of the baroque, Bach`s St. Matthew Passion, will inspire a collaborative effort by the Chicago String Ensemble and the New Oratorio Singers, Alan Heatherington conducting, April 4 and 10 (various locations). Another large-scale baroque choral work, Handel`s ”Israel in Egypt,” will have three performances by Basically Bach, Feb. 21-23 (various locations).
Music by the German master Heinrich Schutz will make up the spring concert by His Majestie`s Clerkes, May 2 and 3; the Orpheus Band will assist
(various locations). The Clerkes and Orpheus also will present John Blow`s neglected opera ”Venus and Adonis” under British organist-conductor Simon Preston Feb. 16 in Evanston`s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.
The William Ferris Chorale celebrates its 20th anniversary March 27 with a program of fanfares commissioned from eight composers, at Mount Carmel Church on West Belmont.
Countertenor Drew Minter will present a recital Saturday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral as part of the ”Early Music from the Newberry Library”
series. The Oriana Singers will add ”The Romantic Masters” to its repertory April 10 and 11 (various locations).
Opera. Chicago Opera Theater (COT) will open its year with an Italian opera of its own-Rossini`s ”Count Ory,” a rarity never before presented in the city (Feb. 15-29). COT`s opera-in-English season continues with Verdi`s
”La Traviata” (April 4-18) and a double bill of Gian Carlo Menotti`s
”The Medium” and Dominick Argento`s ”A Waterbird Talk” (June 13-27);
Athenaeum Theatre.
The Lyric Opera Center for American Artists will present the world premiere of resident composer Bright Sheng`s ”The Song of Majnun” (libretto by Andrew Porter) April 9 at the Civic Theatre.
More intimate operatic fare is forthcoming from Chamber Opera Chicago at the Ruth Page Auditorium-Puccini`s ”La Boheme” (opening April 18) and Verdi`s ”Falstaff” (opening April 25).
