Chicago Music and Theater

MARCH STRIDES IN WITH MARVELOUS MUSIC AND THEATER

By Joseph Cunniff

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

JOFFREY BALLET: The esteemed company’s “American Icons” showcases the dances of four great American choreographers, with Scott Speck expertly leading the Lyric Opera Orchestra.
 

The Opera House rang out with cheers for the four dances, beginning with “Kettentanz (“Chain Dance”), choreographed by Gerard Arpino. With 12 dancers exuberantly displaying the most amazing dexterity and skills pulsing withthe Viennese music of Johann Strauss, Sr. and Johann Mayer.

 

I loved the opening scene with the large tree in front of an orange background by stage and lighting designer Jack Mehler.
“Secular Games,” choreographed by Martha Graham, evokes a Greek island beach with men and women playfully tossing a ball back-and-forth and pursuing one another with sportive grace.
Choreographed by Robert Joffrey himself, “Postcards”charms with lovely singing by Camille Robles from the Lyric Opera’s Ryan Center training ensemble. The dancers delight in the ravishing music of ErikSatie.
 

The final dance, “Voluntaries,”choreographed by Glen Tetley, features the full company majestically bringing to a physical life the stirring music of Francis Poulenc’s “Concerto for Organ, Strings,and Timpani.”
 

No wonder the Joffrey is so treasured. Visit joffrey.org.
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Klaus Makela led the CSOin a much-anticipated program celebrating two mythic heroes, one from Finland and one from Germany. “Lemminkainen,” by Sibelius,tells the legend of a Finnish hero, and, in the CSO-Makela’s hands, in a bold and thrilling way. 
 

In the quietest section of the work, “The Swan of Tuonela,” the English horn solo by Scott Hostetler was haunting indeed.
Richard Strauss’s “Ein Heldenleben” (“A Hero’s Life”) perhaps somewhat immodestly tells a story about his own life, with excerpts throughout from his sumptuous scores. The CSO has long been a famed Strauss orchestra: Sir Georg Solti’s Strauss performances were unforgettable, and Fritz Reiner’s recording of “Ein Heldenleben” is considered among the greatest of classical recordings. 
 

Makela and the CSO kept this reputation alive, which should serve them well when they soon take this program to Carnegie Hall. March CSO highlights should include Riccardo Muti leading Tchaikovsky’s “Polish” symphony and Nino Rota’s music for “The Godfather” March 26, 27 (in Wheaton),28, and 29. Visit cso.org.
LYRIC OPERA will present Puccini’s timeless “Madama Butterfly” March 14-April 12. Then from March 21-April 4, Lyric presents “El Ultimo sueno de Frida y Diego,” an opera about Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, with music by Gabriela Lena Frank, sung in Spanish with projected English titles. Visit www.lyricopera.org.
 

GOODMAN THEATER: The classic play “Holiday” by Philip Barry, turned into a movie with Katherinne Hepburn and Cary Grant, is performed in a modern adaptation by Richard Greenberg, directed by Robert Falls. The wealthy world of Upper East Side New Yorkers features winning performances by a cast including Molly Griggs Bryce Gnangel, Jordan Lage, Wesley Taylor, and Luigi Sottile, and other top pros.
 

Goodman presents “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” an English stage adaptation of Junot Diaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, March 2 through April 5. Visit goodmantheater.org
 

STEPPENWOLF THEATER: Lovers of classic plays welcome a chance to see the work of Swedish expressionist playwright August Strindberg. Steppenwolf is presenting anew version by Conor McPherson, directed by Yasen Peyakov featuring some of Chicago’s finest actors, Jeffy Perry, Kathryn Erbe, and Cliff Chamberlain.
The play overall isgripping, but some feel that too many parts of it are played forcomedic effect. See for yourself through March 21. Visit steppenwolf.org.
 

AMERICAN BLUES THEATER: Audiences have been very positive about Wiiliam Inge’s classic drama “Come Back, Little Sheba” running through March 22 at American Blues, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.Box Office@AmericanBlues Theater.com.