The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will begin its 52nd season Saturday with a Gala Concert and Celebration featuring violin virtuoso Pinchas Zukerman at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.
The concert is a prelude to the orchestra’s regular subscription series, which begins in October. The performance will feature Rossini’s overture from “The Barber of Seville,” Respigi’s “The Pines of Rome” and Zukerman playing Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.
This is the third Gala Concert and Celebration hosted by the orchestra. After the performance, Zukerman will join 200 people at the sold-out Gala Celebration. At the celebration, the Elgin Symphony Brass Ensemble will entertain.
“Back in the 1996-97 season … our board made a concerted effort to make the transformation from a community orchestra to a regional orchestra,” said Julia Nicholas, publicist for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. “That kind of dictated that we would have to bring in the best talent in the world to perform with us.”
According to Robert Hanson, the orchestra’s music director, guest performances by musicians such as Zukerman help broaden the group’s reputation.
“It brings credibility,” Hanson said. “The thing is, when we are dealing with an artist of this level, it is not just a matter of paying their fee. You need to convince them that the orchestra will make them look good.”
Zukerman is the music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada and the artist in residence of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. .
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra was named Illinois orchestra of the year in spring 2000 by the Illinois Council of Orchestras. This year, Hanson was recognized as Illinois conductor of the year.
Guest performers and a growing reputation helped attract 25,000 people to the orchestra’s performances last year. This year, several features have been added to the season, including a Friday night Classic Series and a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” Dec. 16.
“Believe it or not, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra has never done Handel’s `Messiah’ before,” Hanson said. “We did a sing-along version … and portions of it before, but we have never done the entire thing.”
Tickets are available for the Gala Concert, which begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 150 Dexter Court in Elgin. Tickets range from $10-$42. For more information or to order tickets, call 847-888-4000.
