Elmhurst Symphony season opens with 'Elgar's Enigma' Sept. 30
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra is opening its 2023-24 season with "Elgar's Enigma" on Saturday, Sept. 30, at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church, the symphony's home venue.
Soprano Amanda Majeski, acclaimed for her voice of "silvery beauty" (Musical America), will perform German composer Richard Strauss's final completed works, "Four Last Songs."
She has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera of New York, and countless opera houses and concert halls around the world. A native of the Chicago area and graduate of Northwestern where she studied with Elmhurst Symphony conductor Stephen Alltop, Majeski returns to the Elmhurst Symphony for the first time since 2007.
The program, led by music director and conductor Stephen Alltop, also will feature American composer Michael Abels' "Outburst" and English composer Edward Elgar's "Variations on an Original Theme" ("Enigma Variations").
American composer Michael Abels is best known for his award-winning scores for the Jordan Peele films "Get Out," "Us," and "Nope." Unlike those horror films, "Outburst" is a dazzlingly buoyant and colorful work, and an exciting roller coaster ride to kick off the 2023-24 season.
On Oct. 21, 1898, Edward Elgar sat down to noodle at the piano after a long day of teaching. His wife, Alice, suddenly interrupted, saying "Edward, that's a good tune … Play it again, I like that tune!" The tune of which Alice was so enamored eventually became the "Enigma Variations" - one of the greatest and most popular orchestral works of all time.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. at the church, 149 W. Brush Hill Road in Elmhurst.
Season subscriptions and single concert tickets are on sale now. Subscribers can save up to 25% off single ticket prices and take advantage of discounted tickets throughout the season. Additional subscriber benefits include priority seating and flexible ticket exchange privileges.
Subscriptions and single tickets may be ordered online, by phone, or at the box office the day of the event. Visit ElmhurstSymphony.org/elgars-enigma or call the Elmhurst Symphony office at (630) 941-0202.
Follow facebook.com/ElmhurstSymphonyOrchestra or instagram.com/elmhurstsymphonyorchestra/.