Illinois Philharmonic plans outdoor concert
With restrictions to slow the spread ofCOVID-19 continuing to limit large gatherings, the number of musicians in most orchestras prevents many of these groups fromperforming together in person.
Despite having to postpone several concerts originally scheduled forMarch toMay due to the pandemic, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra has continued to try to connect with the community through live performances involving only a few musicians.
“Tobe inParkForest and be on the green, it’s so easy for people to just come, enjoy and relax,” said violist Matt Barwegen about Illinois PhilharmonicOrchestra presenting Symphonic Sounds for the Soul at 2 p.m. Oct. 3 in Park Forest.
“For it to be outside and to hear it live, it’s a different sound altogether rather than just searching on the radio. Strings are a very unique sound.”
The free 45-minute concert, which requires attendees towear masks and observe social distancing, featuresworks by composers Johann Sebastian Bach, Georges Bizet and George Gershwin and hits by Adele, Beyoncé and
Elvis Presley.
Barwegen of Bourbonnais performs with violin
ists Stephane Collopy and Rachel Jacklin of Kankakee and cellistMaraMcClain of Winnetka.
“These are some great players in the symphony,” he said about his fellow performers.
“We are trying to mix it up and have an eclectic type of program to try to attract people who haven’t gone to the symphony in a while or have never gone.
“We’re trying to make it more classical mixed with some standards and maybe tango, jazz and things that are more appropriate to a light outing on the green and maybe even some pop arrangements. We’re calling it music for the soul.”
Barwegen, who is starting his 12th season as an Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra member, said people should take the opportunity to experience live music whenever possible.
“It’s actually a rare occurrence to have live music
and especially live music that’s brought to the community rather than for people to have to go out of theirway for it,” said Barwegen, a full-time freelance musician who also teaches a handful of viola students.
Symphonic Sounds for the Soul comes on the heels of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s IPO Summer@ Olympia Fields Country Club series, which featured amonthly outdoor string quartet concert fromJuly to September in Olympia Fields.
The summer performanceswere broadcast for a limited time on Illinois
Philharmonic Orchestra’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Offering those concerts virtually might have been good preparation for what is billed as a reimagined 2020-21 season.
“Coronavirus has affected me a lot,” said Barwegen, who is also a member of South Bend SymphonyOrchestra in Indiana and Orchestra Iowa in Cedar Rapids.
“When it first hit in mid-March our season for all three orchestraswere halted and canceled. We had no more performances for the rest of the season.
That meant the rest of March, April and Maywere done.
“June, July and August are off-season so that didn’t really affect me as much but our fall season is just play it by ear right now. That’swhywe’re lucky to be doing any performances.”
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra has postponed its concerts originally scheduled from October to December to similar dates in 2021 and, instead, launches its 43rd annual season with a free virtual opening night concert at 7 p.m. Oct. 24.
The 45-minute program featuring 30 string players will be available on Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s Facebook page and YouTube channel and Palos Heights TV Channel 4, a local community access channel broadcasting on Comcast in PalosHeights, Palos Hills, Worth and Hickory Hills.
“I feel elated that they’ve worked really hard to make at least a string program happen,” said Barwegen, who began playing viola around age 8.
“I’m very grateful, not because I havework but because it keeps us in the public eye. I think people want a sense of normalcy.”
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s opening night concert features George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings” and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings.” Donations to support the orchestra can be made through the performance’s broadcast pages or by clicking DonateNow under Support at ipomusic.org.
Music director Stilian Kirov and executive director Christina Salerno said Illinois Philharmonic Orchestrawill unveil additional virtual offerings, socially distanced concerts and interactive programming throughout fall.