The Elmhurst Symphony Presents "Mozart Requiem" February 25 and 26

 When the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra join forces, special things happen!  You’re invited to hear these two outstanding musical ensembles, under the baton of Music Director Stephen Alltop, as they present the ESO’s fourth subscription program of the season, “Mozart Requiem,” at 7:30 pm on Saturday, February 25, at Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, and at 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 26, at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, 149 W. Brush Hill Rd. in Elmhurst.

Following their highly successful collaboration on Verdi’s Requiem in 2010, the ESO and Apollo Chorus will come together around two magnificent and stirring works.  Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum brims with the composer’s sense of grandeur and ceremony.  From the rousing trumpet fanfares that announce the words “We Praise you, Oh God” to the majestic choruses that close the Te Deum, this is one of Handel’s most thrilling achievements in the English style.  Mozart’s Requiem dates from the last year of the composer’s life and holds a special place in the hearts of music lovers.  Balancing fire and solemnity, this music reflects the highest aspirations of the composer who was Amadeus, “Beloved of God.”   Guest artists for the concert are soloists Sarah Gartshore, soprano; Nina Heebink, mezzo-soprano; Harold Brock, tenor, and David Govertsen, bass-baritone.

This concert is sponsored in part by Jan Milano in honor of ESO Executive Director Cynthia Bergquist Krainc.  Handel’s Dettingen Te Deum is underwritten by a generous gift from Loretta Kalina.

The powerful 150-voice Apollo Chorus of Chicago, founded in 1872, is one of Chicago’s most exciting and talked-about musical organizations.  Each season the chorus thrills audiences with beautiful music, old and new, winning praise for its performances.  Well known for its annual presentations of Handel’s Messiah, which began in 1879, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago performs a wide range of masterworks for chorus and orchestra under the direction of Stephen Alltop.

The first performance of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra was November 19, 1961.  Over the last 30 years the orchestra has taken on increasingly more diverse and complex musical challenges and has added more and more professional musicians to its ranks, joining talented community volunteer musicians to be part of the ESO’s rich symphonic traditions.  The award-winning Symphony’s reputation of superior quality performances and programming continues to expand under the leadership of Stephen Alltop, now in his 16th season as Music Director.

As a prelude to the concert everyone is invited to attend a showing of the film “Amadeus” at York Theater in Elmhurst on Sunday, February 12th at 1:00 pm.  Tickets are $5 each for this fundraiser to help support the ESO. 

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Elmhurst concertgoers are invited to learn more about the music at a free concert preview with Ted Hatmaker on Sunday, February 26, at 1:45 p.m. in the upper level Gathering Room of the church.  Concert doors and the box office open at 2:15.  The church is handicapped-accessible and offers free parking.

Tickets cost $31 for adults, $7 for students. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are $25 per ticket.  A single concert family ticket for $65 will admit two adults and up to three students.  Purchase your tickets by visiting the ESO website www.elmhurstsymphony.org or calling the Symphony box office at (630) 941-0202.  For tickets to the Rockefeller Chapel concert, contact the Apollo Chorus at www.apollochorus.org or call 312-427-5620. 

 This concert is made possible in part by grants from the City of Elmhurst Tourism Fund, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency), Superior Ambulance, Suburban Bank and Trust, and the Auxiliary of the Elmhurst Symphony Association.