The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players Present “Café Music” in Park Ridge
The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players will continue its 2012-2013 season on Sunday, January 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Park Ridge with Paul Schoenfield’s Cafe Music for Piano Trio followed by Gabriel Faure’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Opus 15. Cabaret selections are arranged by Benton Wedge.
The concert will take place at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 205 North Prospect Avenue, Park Ridge, IL 60068. Advance Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for seniors. Tickets at the door are $20 for general admission and $15 for seniors. Students are free. There is a $2 handling fee added to all online ticket orders. For tickets, call 866.811.4111 or visit www.chicagophilharmonic.org.
The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players featured are Sarah Hibbard, Soprano; John Goodwin, Piano; Ann Palen, Violin; Karl Davies, Viola; and Judy Stone, Cello.
The idea to compose Cafe Music first came to Schoenfield in 1985 after sitting in one night for the pianist at Murray’s Restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He wanted to write a kind of high-class dinner music – music which could be played at a restaurant, but might also find its way into a concert hall. The work draws on many of the types of music including early 20th century American, Viennese, light classical, gypsy, and Broadway styles. Café Music was commissioned by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) and received its premiere during a SPCO chamber concert in 1987.
The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players’ performance of the Cabaret selections were arranged by violist Benton Wedge. Wedge has performed with groups including Lyric Opera, Grant Park Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Chicago Symphony and Jim Gailloreto’s Jazz String Quartet. Benton has also appeared with popular favorites, including televised performances with Celine Dion and Enrique Iglesias, appearances on Oprah, as well as WTTW Soundstage shows with Lyle Lovett, Randy Newman and others.
Gabriel Faure’s Piano Quartet No. 1, in C minor is one of two chamber works written by him for the conventional piano quartet combination of piano violin, viola and cello. The first performance of the original version was given on Valentine’s Day in 1880.
The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players are part of The Chicago Philharmonic Society, a musician driven, Chicago-based not-for-profit organization originally established in 1988 by principals of the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Over the years, the core group of Lyric players has expended to become a musical community of over 200 professional players who form the artistic strength of the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. A central goal of the Society is to bring the excitement and experience of live music to audiences throughout metropolitan Chicago.
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