To kick off its new season, the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (ESO) presents Howard Levy on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church. The program features music by Smetana, Chabrier, Rimsky – Korsakov, Weinberger, and will be anchored by the Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica & Orchestra composed by Howard Levy himself.
Interesting things to know about this concert
• Howard Levy invented an entire brand-new way of playing the harmonica. The Grammy award-winning performer and composer who some say single-handedly revolutionized the harmonica, will perform his own harmonica concerto.
• This concert is a throwback to an earlier (more fun?) era when orchestra performances featured short, happy crowd-pleasers. Listen to the last few minutes of Schwanda the Bagpiper and you’re sure to be in a happier mood.
• ESO’s conductor Maestro Stephen Alltop has been music director of the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra since 1995 and this concert will be his first time ever conducting España by Emmanuel Chabrier, proving that everyone including the musicians can experience new and exciting things at the symphony.
Selections at the concert will include Smetana’s Overture to The Bartered Bride; Levy’s Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica & Orchestra; Chabrier’s España; Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio Espagnol; and, Weinberger’s Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper.
General admission tickets are $35; reduced-price tickets are available for students and seniors. Tickets are available online at ElmhurstSymphony.org/event/the-amazing-howard-levy. For more information, call 630-941-0202 or visit elmhurstsymphony.org.
