It’s not that jam-packed February as it was in the pre-pandemic days, but life is returning to Urbana’s Krannert Center and visiting ensembles are also on the bill.
Image courtesy of UIUC School of Music.
The highlights begin at the Foellinger Great Hall on February 9 as the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra returns to Krannert. Maestro William Eddins has selected a program that includes shared conducting with David Stech. Beginning with naturalized citizen Erich Wolfgang Korngold, whose “Schauspiel-Overture, Op. 4″ from 1911, reminds us that Korngold was an established classical composer in Austria before he became the legendary film score master for Warner Brothers in the 1930s and 1940s.
Maestro Eddins completes the evening with Johannes Brahms’ Symphony #3. This program has already changed from the one posted on Krannert’s website. It is worth checking the School of Music website for further updates.
University of Illinois Theatre returns to the Studio Theatre from February 11-19 with an adaptation of Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” by University of Illinois faculty and students. This 1882 play has been updated before with a famous adaptation by Arthur Miller in 1950. This newest version is called “Varslaren, The Whistleblower” and is directed by Genesee Spridco.
The Lyric Theatre of U of I Opera will perform two evenings of songs from the French speaking world on February 18 and 19 in the Foellinger Great Hall.
Image courtesy of Krannert Center.
On February 26, the world of classical music comes to Krannert from the outside world with the Polish Wieniawski Philharmonic Orchestra. Their 19th century program consists of works by Brahms, Beethoven and the Tchaikovsky Violin concerto. Maestro Wojciech Rodek will conduct and Sara Dragan will be the soloist in the Tchaikovsky. Without giving away too much from the gems arriving in March, be notified that our beloved Chicago Symphony returns March 3 with another evening of 19th century music from Berlioz and Chopin conducted by Paavo Jarvi.
All tickets must be purchased online via Krannert’s website. All patrons must be have proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or produce a negative COVID-19 test. Face masks are also required regardless of vaccination status. All performances are at 7:30pm.