Reich also breaks down the upcoming months at the CSO, Lyric Opera and more.
A vibrant season ahead in classical music:
Winter Chamber Music
Festival. The annual event at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music celebrates intimate facets of music-making. On the schedule: violinist James Ehnes and pianist Andrew Armstrong, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 12; Aizuri Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17; Dudok Quartet Amsterdam, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19; Bienen Faculty and Guests, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 24; American String Quartet with mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26; at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; 847-4674000 or music.northwestern.edu
Chicago Sinfonietta.
The genre-bending orchestra presents its annual “MLK Tribute Concert,” honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Sinfonietta music director Mei-Ann Chen and guest conductors will present Patty Griffin’s “Up to the Mountain,” Joel Thompson’s “The Seven Last Words of the Unarmed,” John Legend and Common’s “Glory” from the film “Selma” and the fifth movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, “Resurrection,” featuring the North Central College Concert Choir and Roosevelt University Conservatory Chorus. 3 p.m. Jan. 19 at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville; and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 in
Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $10-$62; 312-284-1554 or www.chicagosinfonietta.org
Music of the Baroque.
Trumpeter Alison Balsom performs Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto on a program that includes the composer’s Symphony No. 30, “Alleluia,” and Mozart’s Symphonies Nos. 36, “Linz,” and 38, “Prague,” with Jane
Glover conducting. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.; and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 26 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $25-$85; 312-551-1414 or www.baroque.org
Andrew Davis with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Lyric Opera’s outgoing music director ventures across the Loop to lead the CSO in Tippett’s “Little Music for String Orchestra” and Praeludium for Brass, Bells and Percussion, plus Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4, with soloist Paul Lewis. 8 p.m. Jan. 30; 1:30 p.m. Jan. 31; 8 p.m. Feb. 1; and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4; in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; ticket prices vary; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org
Bryn Terfel. The majestic bass-baritone has a long and rich history at Lyric Opera, where he made his debut with the company in Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” during the 1992-93 season. He also played “Sweeney Todd” in 2003 and “Don Giovanni” in 2004. He returns as recitalist. 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; $49$219; 312-827-5600 or www.lyricopera.org
“Cavalleria Rusticana” at Chicago Symphony
Orchestra. Following the CSO’s European tour and just before its Florida residency, music director Riccardo Muti conducts the orchestra, chorus and soloists in a concert performance of Mascagni’s beloved one-act opera. The opportunity to hear Muti in this repertoire is not to be
missed. 8 p.m. Feb. 6, 7 and 8; Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; ticket prices vary; 312-2943000 or www.cso.org
“Freedom Ride.” Chicago Opera Theater music director Lydia Yankovskaya conducts the world premiere of Dan Shore’s opera exploring issues race and equity in 1960s New Orleans. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 and 14; 3 p.m. Feb. 16; at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; $45-$150; 312-7048414 or www.chicagooperatheater.org
Yuja Wang. The remarkable piano virtuoso offers an eclectic program spanning baroque to 20th century repertoire and including Bach, Chopin, Liszt, Albeniz, Scriabin and Berg. 3 p.m. Feb. 16 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $40$62; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org
“The Complete Beethoven Symphonies.” The CSO isn’t the only orchestra performing all Beethoven’s symphonies here to celebrate the composer’s forthcoming 250th birthday. John Eliot Gardiner will conduct the Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique in historically informed performances, with Symphony Nos. 8 and 9, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27; Symphony No. 1 and “Prometheus” and “Leonore” excerpts, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28; Symphony Nos. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29; Symphony Nos. 4 and 5, 7:30 p.m. March 2; and Symphony Nos. 6 and 7, 7:30 p.m. March 3; Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.; ticket prices vary; 312-3347777 or www.cso.org
Wagner’s “Ring” Cycle.
Lyric Opera presents its production of the most ambitious operatic work in the repertoire. The four-opera cycle will be presented on select evenings April 13 through 18; April 20 through 25; and April 27 through May 3; at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; ticket prices vary; 312-827-5600 or www.lyricopera.org
Howard Reich is a Tribune critic. hreich@chicagotribune.com