New Philharmonic celebrates life with Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”

The orchestra will open its 2019-2020 season with Beethoven’s masterpieces at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 29 at McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

Muspratt conducts NP and the NISO at the MAC. Photo by Venu Bhetanabhotla.

Out of all the grand figures in classical music, Beethoven is one of the most talented, heroic and strong personalities who despite his weakening hearing and eventual complete deafness composed a great number of immortal masterworks. He wrote Symphony No. 9 being completely deaf; yet, this symphony is considered to be one of the greatest classical compositions in world history. New Philharmonic, the only professional orchestra in DuPage County, is happy to present this masterpiece along with Beethoven’s famous Overture to “Egmont.” This concert program will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 28 and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 29 at McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

The program will open with Beethoven’s deep and extremely powerful Overture to “Egmont,” Op. 84 conducted by New Philharmonic Associate Conductor Ben Nadel. On September 29, New Philharmonic will perform it as a Side-by-Side with Metea Valley High School Symphony Orchestra. The music department of this Aurora-based high school has been acknowledged by the National Association of Music Merchants as one of the Best Communities for Music Education in America every year since 2012 and was named a Grammy Signature Gold School in 2016. Under the baton of Maestro Nadel, the orchestras will unite in presenting the Overture’s emotional opening, the beautiful themes and harmonies in the middle of it, and its victorious ending.

Associate Conductor Ben Nadel rehearsing with Meta HSSO. Photo: Courtesy of the MAC.

Maestro Kirk Muspratt will take the stage to present Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. Symphony No. 9 is the composer’s final complete symphony written between 1822 and 1824. Suffering from deafness and weakening health, Beethoven wrote this massive work by hearing it in his head. This masterpiece combines all the pain and struggle that the composer had to go through in his life, but it also carries joy, an uplifting mood and extreme energy. Every instrument, melodic line, and musical thought in this composition celebrates the beauty of life and its high purpose. Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 carries love and hope that are so needed by humanity and are extremely important for this struggling world.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Symphony No. 9 was first performed on May 7, 1824. Unfortunately, the composer was not able to hear it being played. At its premiere performance, Beethoven was conducting it standing alongside with another conductor, Michael Umlauf. The legend says that one of the musicians that was performing that day said Beethoven was “jumping around like a madman” because of his extreme excitement and deep involvement in the performance of this piece. Maestro was not able to hear the vigorous applause that followed this premiere, and the young contralto Carolina Unger had to turn him around to face the audience. Beethoven saw people standing, applauding and screaming in joy and excitement; now he knew how deeply his masterwork was appreciated.

"Immortal Beloved" Ode To Joy Scene

This composition is remarkable for being longer and more complex than any other symphony at that time and requiring a larger orchestra. Also called “Choral” symphony, it was the first work with the human voice being incorporated into the symphony form. It included four soloists and a chorus to form its Finale with the text being mostly based on the poem "Ode to Joy" that was written by Friedrich Schiller in 1785.

New Philharmonic will present this masterwork under the baton of Music Director and Conductor Kirk Muspratt, who uses all his skills, knowledge, time and talent to prepare unforgettable concert programs at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Maestro Muspratt was the recipient of the 2018 Illinois Council of Orchestras’ Conductor of the Year award. And the year before, New Philharmonic was honored with the 2017 Illinois Council of Orchestras’ Professional Orchestra of the Year Award.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 will feature such talented guest artists as Katherine Weber (Soprano), Kate Tombaugh (Mezzo-Soprano), James Judd (Tenor), Sam Handley (Baritone) and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus.

Katherine Weber (soprano) is well-known by local audiences as she performed as Violetta in New Philharmonic’s “La Traviata” in 2017 and as Rosalinde in “Die Fledermaus” in 2019. Weber also garnered considerable acclaim for her 2018 performance in the title role of “Iolanta” with Chicago Opera Theater.

Kate Tombaugh (mezzo-soprano) was seen in last year’s New Philharmonic season as a guest artist in “Show Boat and Show Tunes” and in the 2017 “The Best of Broadway: Rodgers and Hammerstein and Andrew Lloyd Webber.” She has successfully performed with opera companies and symphonies throughout the U.S. and in Europe, including Orchestra Seattle, the Apollo Chorus, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, and Winter Opera St. Louis.

James Judd (tenor) was most recently seen at the McAninch Arts Center in the role of Alfred in New Philharmonic’s January 2019 production of Strauss’s “Die Fleidermaus.” He has sung with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Western New York Chamber Orchestra, and The AIMS Festival Orchestra. Judd is renowned for his broad operatic repertoire.

Sam Handley (baritone) was last seen at the McAninch Arts Center in the role of Frank in New Philharmonic’s January 2019 production of Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus.” As a member of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, he performed more than a dozen operatic roles. He guested with the National Symphony with Leonard Slatkin, and the Chicago Symphony at Ravinia with James Conlon.

The performance of Beethoven’s legendary Symphony No. 9 will also feature the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus. This chorus was established in 1987 and consists of more than 100 talented singers drawn from all over Northwest Indiana and the South Chicago area.

The Saturday, September 28 concert will also feature a spotlight performance by flutist Emily Ruvoli, a winner of New Philharmonic’s 2019 Young People’s Competition, who will perform “Concertino” by Cecile Chaminade with New Philharmonic principal flutist, Carolyn May.

“Off with you! You're a happy fellow, for you'll give happiness and joy to many other people. There is nothing better or greater than that!” said Beethoven in 1822 to Franz Liszt, when Liszt, aged 11, had visited Beethoven and played piano for him. By saying that, Beethoven described himself and his own life. Despite the pain, suffering and struggle that the composer had to face, Beethoven created unforgettable masterpieces that still give this world light, love, happiness and joy.

For tickets and information, please call 630-942-4000 or visit https://www.atthemac.org/events/np-ode-to-joy/ . Tickets are $53. A limited number of $10 tickets are available for students with presentation of valid ID. A free MAC Chat will take place one hour prior to each concert.

Natalia Dagenhart