‘Siegfried,’ ‘Babi Yar’ among big events
A busy season ahead in classical music. Among the highlights:
“Considering Matthew Shepard.” Composer-conductor Craig Hella Johnson directs Conspirare and Windy City Performing Arts in the Chicago-area premiere of Johnson’s masterpiece, “Considering Matthew Shepard,” a profound and ultimately inspiring contemplation on the hate-crime muleadinrder of a young gay man. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Ravinia Festival’s Martin Theatre, LakeCook and Green Bay roads, Highland Park; $40-$60 tickets; $10 lawn; 847-266-5100 or www.ravinia.org.
Mozart Requiem. Jane Glover leads Music of the Baroque and soprano Amanda Majeski, mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack, tenor Jonas Hacker and bassbaritone Eric Owens in a landmark among requiems; the program also includes Handel’s Coronation Anthems 1, 4 and 3. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; also 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie (sold out); $25$78; 312-551-1414 or www.baroque.org.
Concert for Chicago. Music director Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Civic Orchestra of Chicago in Rossini’s Overture to “William Tell,” “The Four Seasons” ballet music from Verdi’s “I Vespri Siciliani” and Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.” 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph St.; free; 312294-3000 or www.cso.org.
“Babi Yar.” CSO music director Riccardo Muti opens the orchestra’s subscription season with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 13, “Babi Yar,” inspired by Yevgeny Yevtushenko’s poem on the massacre of Jews near Kiev during the Holocaust. Bass Alexey Tikhomirov and the men of the Chicago Symphony Chorus perform the text. 8 p.m. Sept. 21 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $35-$222; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org.
Chicago Sinfonietta. Music director Mei-Ann Chen leads the Sinfonietta in “I.D.: Images of Diversity,” a program that includes the Steep Theatre Company. The program features Peter Boyer’s “Ellis Island: The Dream of America,” a multimedia work, plus Verdi’s Overture to “Nabucco,” Copland’s Variations on a Shaker Melody and other works. 8 p.m. Sept. 22 at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $10-$99; 312-284-1554 or www.chicagosinfonietta.org.
“Serse.” Haymarket Opera Company presents Handel’s 1738 opus, featuring Suzanne Lommler in the title role in a production directed by Sarah Edgar, with Craig Trompeter as music director. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29, 5 p.m. Sept. 30 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Studebaker Theatre, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; $30-$85; 312-898-7446 or www.haymarketopera.org.
DePaul University’s Holtschneider Performance Center celebration. DePaul’s School of Music will celebrate the opening of its new performance nexus, which will encompass the 505-seat Mary Patricia Gannon Concert Hall, 140seat Murray and Michele Allen Recital Hall, 80-seat Brennan Family Recital Hall, 75-seat Mary A. Dempsey and Philip H. Corboy Jazz Hall and other spaces. Performances will include soprano Lauren Snouffer, baritone Andrew Garland, tenor David Portillo, the DePaul Concert Orchestra, Symphonic Choir and the Community Music Division’s Community Chorus in “Carmina Burana,” Nov. 1; Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Nov. 6; percussionist Evelyn Glennie with DePaul’s Wind Ensemble, Nov. 10; and violinist Itzhak Perlman, Nov. 11. music.depaul.edu.
“Siegfried.” Lyric Opera of Chicago continues director David Pountney’s “Ring” cycle with a new production of “Siegfried,” German heldentenor Burkhard Fritz making his Lyric debut in the title role. 6 p.m. Nov. 3 and 16; 1 p.m. Nov. 7 and 11; at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr.; ticket prices vary; 312-8275600 or www.lyricopera.org.
“Iolanta.” Chicago Opera Theater opens its season with Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta,” COT music director Lidiya Yankovskaya making her COT podium debut. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and 15; 3 p.m. Nov. 18; at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; $45$145; 312-704-8414 or www.chicago operatheater.org.
Opera Atelier. Based in Toronto, the company makes its Chicago debut with a double bill of Charpentier’s “Acteon” and Rameau’s “Pygmalion.” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16; $35-$135; 312-334-7777 or www .harristheaterchicago.org.