Here are some interesting performances to check out this weekend:

Old St. Patrick’s
Siamsa Na Ngael
Symphony Center, Fri. 3/17
The performance will take place at the Symphony Center and will also feature the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra, Old St. Patrick’s concert choir, and Irish instrumentalists and dancers. General admission tickets range from $25 to $55 and can be purchased by calling the Symphony Center Box Office at (312) 294-3000.
I play this every year, and it is a great show–very over-the-top. Lots of traditional Irish folk playing, pagpipes, drum corps, dancers, etc. Check out more here.

Chicago Chamber Orchestra
David Tuttle, conductor, with clarinetists John Bruce Yeh, David Tuttle & Linda Baker (Wagner, Stamitz, Mozart). Sun 3/19, 3 PM, Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. 312-744-6630.

I play with this group from time to time. There are some really good players here, the hall they play in is beautiful, and, best of all, concerts are totally free! Here’s their website.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra Hall, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan: Sat 3/18, 8 PM, Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor, with soprano Celena Shafer, mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson & the Chicago Symphony Chorus (Mahler, Symphony no. 2). Preconcert talks are given one hour and 15 minutes before each performance. 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114.

Michael Tilson Thomas is one of the great conductors of our time. I have worked with him in Japan during the Pacific Music Festival. I imagine that this parformance is almost sold out, this is one that nobody should miss. Check out the Chicago Symphony here.

Ricardo Gallen
classical guitar – (Turina, Rodrigo, Brouwer, Pujol, Sor, Torroba). Thu 3/16, 7 PM, Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. 312-744-6630. Free.

This performance is it the same beautiful Preston Bradley Hall that the Chicago Chamber Orchestra also plays in. This facility used to be the Chicago Public Library.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
Carmon DeLeone, conductor, with violinist Emil Chudnovsky (Prokofiev, Mendelssohn). Sat 3/18, 8 PM, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, Stuenkel Rd. & Governors Hwy., University Park. 708-235-2222. Sun 3/19, 8 PM, Lincoln-Way Central High School, 1801 E. Lincoln, New Lenox. 708-481-7774.

Ilya Kaler & Andrea Swan
violin & piano (Brahms, Falla, Ysaye, Paganini). Sat 3/18, 8 PM, Lyon & Healy Hall, 168 N. Ogden. 800-595-4849.

Ilya Kaler is one of the most amazing violinists out there. He currently teaches at DePaul. He is the only violinist to win both the Tchaikovsky and the Paganini Competitions. Here is more information on Ilya.

Lyric Opera of Chicago
Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker: Wed 3/15, and Sat 3/18, 7:30 PM, Harry Bicket, conductor, with countertenor David Daniels & soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian (Gluck, Orfeo et Euridice). Fri 3/17, 7:30 PM, Sir Andrew Davis, conductor, with mezzo-soprano Viktoria Vizin, tenor Vincenzo La Scola & soprano Patricia Racette (Bizet, Carmen). 312-332-2244.

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