Chicago Sinfonietta presents Regresar/Revisit
“As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well used brings happy death,” said famous multitalented Italian painter Leonardo da Vinci. The combination of the words ‘happy’ and ‘death’ might sound strange for many of us, but not for the Chicago Sinfonietta. This unique orchestra celebrates Dia de los Muertos every year, and this year it prepared a nice concert program called Regresar/Revisit to honor the dead. It will take place at 8 p.m. on Saturday, November 4 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville and at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November 6 at Symphony Center in Chicago.
In honor of the Chicago Sinfonietta’s 30th Anniversary, guest conductor Maestro Hector Guzman, who conducted the Sinfonietta’s first ever Dia de los Muertos concert in 2010, returns and joins the orchestra for this year’s celebration of dead. Under his baton, the Chicago Sinfonietta will demonstrate all the beauty of works by Latin American composers alongside audience favorites such as Mozart’s Requiem staged with a Sinfonietta twist and the exuberant Huapango.
“It is an honor to be back as a guest conductor of the talented Chicago Sinfonietta,” said conductor Hector Guzman. “I look forward, once again, to a musical collaboration that includes masterpieces such as Mozart’s Requiem and the music of Mexican composers Revueltas, Cortes and Moncayo. The participation of phenomenal guest artists will enhance the Día de los Muertos concert, which has become one of the most anticipated events for the Sinfonietta."
It will be the Chicago Sinfonietta’s eighth annual Dia de los Muertos concert celebration of this colorful Mexican holiday. The celebration will start even before the concert as part of the orchestra’s audience engagement program called BRIDGE. It will include holiday-inspired crafts, a traditional altar, and much more and will be presented not only before the show, but also during the intermission. The orchestra’s audience engagement program will take place in the lobby at Wentz Concert Hall and in Grainger Ballroom at Symphony Center.
The concert program will start with the world-famous Libertango by talented Argentine tango composer Astor Piazzolla and arranged by Mexican producer and musical director Eugenio Castillo. This unforgettable composition consists of a touching and very expressive melody line and a tense and fast accompaniment. This piece is a great example of a new style of tango that was created by Piazzolla and called nuevo tango. It incorporates elements from jazz and classical music.
The concert will continue with Suite from Redes (Nets) by talented Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas. He composed the score for the film Redes in 1934-1935. A concert version of this composition was arranged in 1936, the same year as this film about exploited fishermen was released. However, this piece is usually performed in an arrangement by the legendary Viennese conductor Erich Kleiber, made in the 1940s after the composer’s death. It consists of two parts – The Fisherman and The Fight. This Suite was released in the United States as The Waves.
The night will continue with a chilling presentation of six powerful movements from Mozart’s Requiem performed with Roosevelt University Conservatory Choirs and will be presented, of course, with a Sinfonietta twist. Led by conductor Mark Crayton and director of choral activities Cheryl Frazes Hill, Roosevelt University Conservatory Choirs are known for their unique repertoire and diverse performing experience. The Choirs accompanied by the Chicago Sinfonietta will demonstrate all the mysterious nature and essence of Mozart’s Requiem not only by using their rich vocal abilities, but also by wearing skeleton costumes and masks. To complement the performance of Mozart’s composition, NewMoon Chicago Spectacle Services will provide visual accompaniment that will impress every audience member. As always, NewMoon Chicago will create a new event element that is as delightful as it is unexpected.
Chicago Sinfonietta will be also happy to welcome Cuerdas Clasicas, a Mexican folkloric group that will perform three pieces with the orchestra. Clasicas was founded by Rodolfo Hernandez in 1976, and since then this group has developed into a Chicago performing arts organization that promotes and supports Latin American culture through music not only in the United States, but also on an international level.
Aase’s Death, Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 by famous Norwegian composer and pianist Edvard Grieg will add a great color and emotion to the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Dia de los Muertos celebration. His deep and sincere music will not leave anyone in the audience indifferent.
It will be followed by the touching sounds of a composition called Marila by a virtuoso Mexican composer and violinist Gorgonio Cortes, and the final piece will be energetic and enthusiastic Huapango by famous Mexican pianist, percussionist, music teacher, composer and conductor Jose Pablo Moncayo. This very famous Mexican piece will conclude the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Regresar/Revisit Dia de los Muertos celebration.
If you are interested in attending this event, please call 312-284-1554 or go to http://www.chicagosinfonietta.org/1718season/dia-de-los-muertos/. Also, the tickets are available at the North Central College Box Office 630-637-SHOW (7469). The price range for Wentz Concert Hall is from $10 to $62 and for Symphony Center from $10 to $99.
Natalia Dagenhart