As Urbana’s Krannert Center returns to a full schedule, the early fall promises a return to fine things, but on a modest scale. Ian Hobson begins the classical music season on September 17th, with a concert of 19th Century classics. His program features Rossini’s “William Tell Overture,” Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto #3” with the maestro at the keyboard, and Franz Schubert’s “Symphony #9.”
The Lyric Theatre of the School of Music begins its 2022-23 season with “Lyric Under Stars” at Allerton Park from September 22-24. This concert in Allerton’s Sunken Gardens will feature songs and arias from a variety of works. On the heels of this year’s PYGMALION guest artists on September 24th, the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra on September 27th will offer an unusual evening of international music. This performance, co-sponsored by the Krannert Center and the International and Area Studies Library is free but tickets are required.
Photo from the C-U Symphony’s website.
October begins with a week of classical music that ranges from our own resident string quartet and the opening concert of the C-U Symphony, to the debut of the new conductor of the U of I Symphony. On October 1st, the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, led by Stephen Alltop, will perform the violin concerto of Persian composer Bezhad Ranjbaran, with Elissa Lee Koljonen as the soloist. Then the newly minted Conductor of Year by the Illinois Arts Council will lead the C-U Symphony in “Brahms’ Symphony #1.”
Photo from Carolyn Watson’s website.
Newly minted conductor of the University of Illinois Symphony, Carolyn Watson, will lead her ensemble at Krannert for the first time on October 6th. The program consists of pieces by Purcell, Bonds, Elgar, and Webern. The University of Illinois’ String Quartet-in-Residence, The Jupiter String Quartet, will perform its initial Krannert program on October 8th. This diverse program features a 1994 quartet from Jamaican-born British composer Eleanor Alberga, a turn of century classic from Charles Ives, and an 1847 standard from Felix Mendelssohn.
Photo by Sarah Gardner.
That first week of October even has an unusual theatrical event for those looking for something unique on stage. Ravi Jain has rehabilitated Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” with his “Why Not Theatre: Prince Hamlet.” This complex reworking of a classic features American Sign Language and multi-cultural images. For those who are bored with more of the same, this program in the Tryon Festival Theatre on October 1st may satisfy a desire for something different.
All programs are at 7:30 p.m. and at Urbana’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, except “Lyric Under the Stars.” For updates contact: [email protected]. Tickets can be purchased at the Allerton Park and Retreat Center website. Tickets for all other events can be purchased at KrannertCenter.com. University protocols will be enforced for COVID and no word yet on a possible extension of Intermezzo’s hours, which currently are 8am-3pm, Monday-Friday.