Music of the Baroque continues its 2022-2023 Season. Concerts scheduled for January through May 2023 are as follows:
“Montero Plays Mozart”
Conducted by Dame Jane Glover
Featuring guest pianist Gabriela Montero with the Music of the Baroque Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph (www.harristheaterchicago.org)
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie,
9501 Skokie Blvd.(www.northshorecenter.org)
Tickets: $25-$100. Visit www.baroque.org or call 312.551.1414
Dame Jane Glover joins forces with “La Divina del Piano,” Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero, for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21. The Symphony No. 1 in G Major by virtuoso violinist and composer Joseph Bologne, the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, exudes the perfumed charm of late 18th-century France. With its sophistication and complexity, Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 hints at what might have been if its creator’s life had not been cut tragically short. Sponsor: The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation.
“London Calling”
Conducted by Nicholas Kraemer
Featuring the Music of the Baroque Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie,
9501 Skokie Blvd.(www.northshorecenter.org)
7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph (www.harristheaterchicago.org)
Tickets: $25-$100. Visit www.baroque.org or call 312.551.1414
“When one is tired of London,” said Samuel Johnson, “one is tired of life. Because there is in London all that life can afford.” Principal Guest Conductor and London resident Kraemer returns for this lively program of music with the city as the point of intersection. The concert includes the ensemble’s first performances of music by William Boyce, Symphony No. 5 in D Major; Mozart’s first symphony, written during a stay in London; Handel’s Water Music Suite No. 1 in F Major; and one of Haydn’s “London” symphonies, Symphony No. 101 (Clock). Project Inclusion Fellows will be joining the Music of the Baroque Orchestra for these performances.
“The St. Matthew Passion”
Conducted by Dame Jane Glover
Featuring guest vocalists Gwilym Bowen, “Evangelist” (tenor); Brandon Cedel, "Christus" (baritone); Yulia Van Doren (soprano); Krisztina Szabó (mezzo-soprano); Paul Appleby (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone) and the Anima—Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus with the Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus
7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie,
9501 Skokie Blvd.(www.northshorecenter.org)
7:30 p.m. Monday, April 3 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph (www.harristheaterchicago.org)
Tickets: $25-$100. Visit www.baroque.org or call 312.551.1414
Johann Sebastian Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” speaks as urgently of compassion and hope today as it did 300 years ago—and when Music of the Baroque first performed it in 1974. One of the greatest creative achievements of all time, Bach wrote his masterpiece for two choruses, two orchestras, children’s chorus, and soloists. In keeping with the vision of the composer, Glover leads the Music of the Baroque Orchestra, two choruses, a children’s chorus and a roster of world-renowned soloists in what is considered by many to be Bach’s crowning achievement. Sponsor: The Negaunee Foundation.
“Circle Of Friends”
Conducted by Dame Jane Glover
Featuring Music of the Baroque’s principal players: Gina DiBello (violin); Elizabeth Hagen (viola); Paul Dwyer (cello); Collins Trier (double bass); Anne Bach (oboe) and William Buchman (bassoon) and the Music of the Baroque Orchestra
7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie,
9501 Skokie Blvd.(www.northshorecenter.org)
7:30 p.m. Monday, May 8 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph (www.harristheaterchicago.org)
Tickets: $25-$100. Visit www.baroque.org or call 312.551.1414
Glover leads a program of music written by 18th-century composer friends Vanhal (Symphony in D Minor), Haydn (Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Oboe, Cello, & Bassoon), Dittersdorf (Sinfonia Concertante for Viola & Double Bass) and Mozart (Symphony No. 34 in C Major) performed by modern-day Chicago musician friends, Music of the Baroque’s principal players
Students Go For Free at the Harris Theater: Students are able to attend any of Music of the Baroque’s seven performances at the Harris Theater during the 2022-2023 season free of charge. Students can reserve up to two complimentary tickets per valid student ID by visiting baroque.org or calling 312.551.1414. Student tickets will also be available at the Harris Theater box office starting two hours prior to the performance.
About Music of the Baroque
Long recognized as one of the region’s top classical groups, Music of the Baroque’s professional chorus and orchestra is one of the leading ensembles in the country devoted to the performance of eighteenth-century works. The 2022-2023 season marks the 20th anniversaries of Music Director Dame Jane Glover and Principal Guest Conductor Nicholas Kraemer. Andrew Megill was named Chorus Director in April 2022.
Over the past four decades, Music of the Baroque has presented premiere performances of many early masterpieces, including Monteverdi’s operas and 1610 Vespers, Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Day of Judgment,” Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” and numerous Handel operas and oratorios. The ensemble has drawn particular praise throughout its history for its performances of the major choral and orchestral works of J. S. Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Haydn.
Opera News calls Music of the Baroque “one of Chicago’s musical glories” and the Chicago Sun-Times writes, “Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra may be the big guys on the local classical music scene, but in terms of sheer quality of performance…Music of the Baroque inhabits the same stratosphere.”
Music of the Baroque draws audiences from across the Chicago metropolitan area, performing regularly at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago and the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, as well as at intimate Chicago and suburban churches.
Listeners across the country enjoy Music of the Baroque’s work through radio broadcasts and recordings on 98.7WFMT Radio.
Music of the Baroque's available recordings include "Messiah—Live in Chicago" recorded live in November 2021; "Bach's Mass in B Minor" recorded live during the 2019-2020 season; and "On This Night," recorded live during the ensemble's 2017 and 2014 holiday concerts and conducted by William Jon Gray.
Through its "Strong Voices" program, Music of the Baroque conducts arts education to support and enhance music education programs at Chicago public high schools.
For more information about Music of the Baroque, visit www.baroque.org.