Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Opens Season with Grammy Winning Piano Concerto

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
Opens Season with Grammy Winning Piano Concerto

The Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), led by Music Director David Danzmayr, opens its 36th Season with a Grammy award-studded concert program that continues the Orchestra’s commitment to pairing American music with classical masterworks.

First, Grammy-nominated pianist Terrence Wilson takes center stage to perform the Chicago premiere of American composer Michael Daugherty’s piano concerto, Deus ex Machina. The 2011 recording of this work by Terrence Wilson and the Nashville Symphony Orchestra was nominated for five Grammy awards, and won two - for “Best Orchestral Performance” and “Best Engineered Album, Classical.” Since Mr. Wilson’s world premiere performance of the work in 2007, Deus ex Machina has become one of the most celebrated contemporary piano works in the classical repertoire.

“Deus ex Machina is one of the finest contemporary concertos I have conducted,” noted Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Music Director, David Danzmayr. “Given our commitment to programming and performing American  music, this fine work immediately came to mind as a perfect piece for the first program of the Season.”

Under the baton of David Danzmayr, the Orchestra rounds out the program with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov’s masterpiece, Scheherazade, a stirring musical interpretation of the legendary Persian Queen, storyteller and narrator from The Arabian Nights.

Following the performance, concert-goers are invited to stay for a lively post-concert conversation with Maestro Danzmayr, IPO Executive Director Andrew Bradford, and special guests: composer Michael Daugherty and soloist Terrence Wilson.

 “We pride ourselves on the Orchestra’s reputation as being one of the most accessible, innovative performing arts organizations in Chicago,” said Bradford. “Our informal post-concert conversations are fantastic opportunities for audience members to learn more about what we do and get to know our brilliant Music Director, musicians, and guest artists on a much deeper level,” he said.

Sponsored in part by Great Lakes Bank, the IPO’s Opening Night Concert begins at 8 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center, 19900 S. Harlem Avenue, Frankfort. Tickets are $35-$55. Group discounts available for 10 or more. For details, visit www.ipomusic.org or call (708) 481-7774.