Chicago Music and Theater

JUNE IS BUSTIN’ OUT WITH FINE MUSIC AND THEATER
By Joseph Cunniff​​​​

 

Following is a look both forward and back to some of the best in Chicagoland music and theater.
 

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: This writer has long been a fan of the music of Sir William Walton. His scores for the Olivier films of “Richard III” and “Henry V” are thrilling, and he wrote the magnificent music for the coronations of Queen Elizabeth, her father King George VI, and her son King Charles III. 
 

Walton’s Symphony No. 1 may be the greatest British symphony, and the CSO certainly made a case for it when conducted by British maestro Edward Gardner, a much-recorded expert on music of that “scepter’d isle.”
 

CSO Orchestra Hall highlights in June should include Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait” and Ellington’s “Harlem” Jume 18, 20, and 21. Visit cso.org. (312) 294-3000.
 

THE JOFFREY BALLET will dance “Eugene Onegin,” inspiredby Alexander Pushkin’s poetic novel and choreographed by Yuri Possokhov, at the Opera House June 4-14. The original score by Ilya Demutsky will be performed live by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
 

Tickets start at $46. At 2 pm June 6,7,13, 14 and at 7:30 June 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13. Visit JOFFREY.ORG. (312) 386-8905.
 

GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL: One of the grandest traditions of Chicago summers, the festival begins on Wednesday, June 10, at 6:30 with Giancarlo Guerrero conducting a program including Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from “West Side Story.”
 

The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra is a superb fully professional orchestra whose member play in symphony orchestras and opera houses throughout the U.S.A. and Europe. But every summer they come together and become the GPSO,and play mid-June through mid-August in the stunning Pritzker Pavillion in Lakefront Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue and Randolph.
 

Concerts are usually Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:30 and Saturdays at 7:30. You must buy a tickets for the best seats in the front part of the pavilion , but the back half of the pavilion is free, and so are the lawns, usually with many picnickers.
 

You can become a member and save 20% on nine concerts, or choose your own package of 4 concerts by visiting GPMF.ORG or calling (312) 742-7647.
 

ORION CHAMBER ENSEMBLE: The celebrated group has rung down the curtain after 35 stellar years to pursue other avenues in their busy musical careers with an enriching program oof music by Khachaturian, Prokofiev and Brahms. They were joined by the exceptional guest violinists Stephen Boe and Mathias Tacke.    
 

Music lovers salute the great core members of the Orion, violinist Florentina Ramniceanu, clarinetist Kathryne Pirtle, cellist Judy Stone, and pianist Diana Schmuck, and look forward to following their future musicalendeavors.
 

SECOND CITY: The famed comedy group opened their 114th mainstage review with a hilarious new show, “Pandemonium, Please Hold.”Written by Bill Letz and directed by Carisa Barreca, the show features an uproarious cast of Preston Parker, Eddie Mujica, Yazmin Ramos, and Zoe McKee.
 

This writer’s favorite skits were the ones making fun of a phone call answered by Artificial Intelligence and the robot delivery carts that scoot down our streets. Open Run at Second City Tuesdays-Thursdays at 8, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 and 9:30, and Sundays at 7. 1616 N. Wells. www.secondcity.com, (312) 337-3992.
 

TIMELINE THEATER, after 40 years of presenting outstanding shows in a church basement on Wellington Avenue, unveiled their stunning new $46 million theater with a knockout production of Henrik Ibsen’s classic “An Enemy of the People.”
 

As adapted by Amy Herzog and directed by Ron OJ Parson, the exciting show involves the audience in the ever-building drama and features terrific performances by Will Allan, Anish Jethmalani, Bezhad Dabu, Campbell Knausen, Grayson Kennedy, Charlles Andrew Gardner, Kenneth Hamilton, and David Parkes.
 

Remarkable indeed how the play relates to the events of today. Through June 7 at Timeline Theater, 5032 N. Broadway. $10 validated parking one door north. Timelinetheatre.com. (773) 281-8463.