Northern Illinois Community Calendar

From the elegance of Paris to the excitement of the circus, this all-French program celebrates imagination and orchestral color. Ravel’s Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé evokes a breathtaking sunrise and some of the lushest writing in the orchestral repertoire, while Saint-Saëns takes us on a musical tour through the animal kingdom. The concert concludes with Ravel’s hypnotic Boléro, an orchestral tour de force.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra closes its 77th season with a celebration of American music, featuring George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Bursting with energy, color, and jazz-inspired rhythms, the work captures the excitement and charm of the city while reflecting a uniquely American voice abroad.

Also on the program, which highlights the fusion of cultures and the spirit of musical exploration, are Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town,” John Adams’ “The Chairman Dances”, and an ESO co-commission of Juan Pablo Contreras’ first symphony, “MyGreat Dream”. ESO Music Director Chad Goodman will conduct the concerts.

Performances take place Saturday, May 1, 2027, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 2, 2027, at 2:30 p.m., at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets start at $20. Visit ElginSymphony.org for more information.

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra closes its 77th season with a celebration of American music, featuring George Gershwin’s An American in Paris. Bursting with energy, color, and jazz-inspired rhythms, the work captures the excitement and charm of the city while reflecting a uniquely American voice abroad.

Also on the program, which highlights the fusion of cultures and the spirit of musical exploration, are Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from “On the Town,” John Adams’ “The Chairman Dances”, and an ESO co-commission of Juan Pablo Contreras’ first symphony, “MyGreat Dream”. ESO Music Director Chad Goodman will conduct the concerts.

Performances take place Saturday, May 1, 2027, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, May 2, 2027, at 2:30 p.m., at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets start at $20. Visit ElginSymphony.org for more information.

Passion and spectacle come together in a season finale that celebrates the power of musical storytelling with Manuel de Falla’s La Vida Breve, which captures the spirit of Spain. The evening also features the regional premiere of Andrea Casarrubios’ Cello Concerto No. 2, a work co-commissioned by the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. The program then concludes with Respighi’s Pines of Rome, which culminates in one of the most breathtaking endings.