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Resuming its belated celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, interrupted last year by the pandemic, the Evanston Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore Choral Society under the direction of Music Director Lawrence Eckerling combine forces with four distinguished vocal soloists April 10 to perform the composer’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor. The orchestra will also play William Grant Still’s Festive Overture. The concert, which resumes the ESO’s interrupted 2021-2022 subscription series, begins at 2:30 at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall in Evanston.
“It is always a privilege to perform this great masterpiece,” said Music Director Eckerling. “Every time I come to it, there are new revelations and an ever-deepening understanding of this work. And conducting it comes with an enormous responsibility, of which I am keenly aware.”
In addition to the North Shore Choral Society, the performance also features vocal soloists Kimberly E. Jones, soprano; Ola Rafalo, alto; Peder Reiff, tenor; and Keven Keys, bass.
The ESO will also perform for the first time the Festive Overture of pioneering African American composer William Grant Still. “During the COVID hiatus I spent a lot of time becoming acquainted with music that was unjustly neglected,” Eckerling said. “This work is one of them. The work was a blind entry into a competition sponsored by the Cincinnati Symphony, and it was declared the winner before anyone knew who composed it. The ESO and I are thrilled to present this work to our audience.”
“It is always exciting to hear a choral symphony and Beethoven’s Ninth is probably in almost everyone’s top three,” said ESO President Margaret Gergen. “We are so fortunate to have an orchestra of the quality of the ESO and an outstanding choral group of the stature of the NSCS come together to perform this amazing work with such talented soloists.”
On Friday, April 8, Eckerling, ESO General Manager David Ellis and alto soloist Rafalo will preview the program during “Musical Insights,” sponsored by The Merion, Evanston’s signature senior living experience. The three will provide an insider’s tour of the history and highlights behind the music. “Musical Insights” begins at 1:30 in the Crystal Ballroom at the Merion, 1611 Chicago Ave. The program is free and open to the public, but registration is requested by calling 847-570-7815.
One can still subscribe to the season online at evanstonsymphony.org or by calling 847-864-8804. Donations can also be made through the website and by phone.
Founded in 1945, the Evanston Symphony is the 2017 Illinois Council of Orchestra’s “Orchestra of the Year” and in 2019, was honored by the Council for “Community Relations of the Year” for its significant outreach to the Evanston community