Northbrook Star

Former ‘Idol’ Lee DeWyze back in town

Sun, 12 May 2013 06:15:59 -0500

There’s nothing like a homecoming. On April 19, Season 9 American Idol winner Lee DeWyze returns to Viper Alley in Lincolnshire. DeWyze, who previously played Viper Alley’s anniversary show in 2012, hails from Mount Prospect.

Ravinia Festival tickets now on sale

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:43:41 -0500

Forget the calendar. Summer runs from June 6 through Sept. 15 at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, with more than 120 events, including more than 80 festival debuts.

Festival celebrates the ‘sheer genius’ of Handel

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:46:00 -0500

In the panoply of Western classical music, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759), is among the greats, ranking beside J. S. Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. His output was vast, and his talent encompassed opera, song and oratorio, as well as instrumental works.

Downhome opera fires up a ‘Barbecu’

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 11:52:57 -0500

Picture Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” transplanted to Texas. Imagine five actors playing all 30 roles from a singing cowboy named Seigfried to a trio of triplets. Shows don’t get much sillier than “Das Barbecu.”

Last rodeo for Country Calendar concert

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:24:00 -0500

Attention old-time country music lovers: If you’ve ever been a fan of artist Heather McAdams’ annual Country Calendar and its accompanying blowout concert parties, don’t miss this year’s release celebration. It’s going to be the last one for the foreseeable future. The 2013 Country Calendar Show — featuring 12 musical acts covering songs by the vintage country stars spotlighted each month in the calendar McAdams creates — will be presented Dec. 7 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. “This one’s going to be a little bittersweet because it’s the last one for at least a little while,” said McAdams, who is preparing …

Supremes singer helps tell Lena Horne’s life story

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:59:16 -0500

If you know all there is to know about the great Lena Horne, or if you couldn’t pick her out of a lineup, a new show aims to teach everyone something about the dazzling singer. North Central College presents “Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project” on Nov. 17. It stars Mary Wilson of The Supremes in a multi-media tribute performance. Horne biographer James Gavin serves as narrator of the show, which is based on his award-winning book and combines story, song and images from Gavin’s wealth of material. The story covers Horne from her Cotton Club glory days and the …

Concert celebrates Dia de los Muertos

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:30:00 -0500

El Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a night of reflection and celebration in the Latin communities that dates back to the Aztecs. The Chicago Sinfonietta presents a concert dedicated to this theme at 8 p.m. Nov. 2 at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville. Joining the Chicago Sinfonietta will be Uruguayan conductor Gisele Ben-Dor and bandoneón master and Latin Grammy Award-winner Raul Jaurena, said Sinfonietta executive director Jim Hirsch. “This will be our third year presenting a concert loosely organized the around the Mexican celebration Dia de los Muertos. It’s a really interesting …

Orchestras tuning up for a busy season

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:34:01 -0500

Summer is winding down, but things are just warming up for area orchestras. Here is a look at the upcoming classical music season. Chicago a cappella opens its season with “Genius in the Synagogue: A Musical Portrait of Max Janowski,” with songs by the Chicago composer of Jewish music, on Saturday, Oct. 20. Upcoming concerts include “Navidad en Mexico” Dec. 1; “Spirit/Breath/Voice” Feb. 15, and The A Cappella American Songbook and April 20, all at 8 p.m. in Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Visit www.chicagoacappella.org. DuPage Symphony Orchestra opens with “Great Explectations,” including “The Five Sacred Trees,” a …

Ravinia extends classical concert season

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:48:01 -0500

Building on the success of the summer’s many classical concerts in Bennett Gordon Hall for $10 each, the Ravinia Festival is presenting eight programs in the 450-seat theater this season for that very attractive price. Titled “BGH $10 classics,” the series runs October through April and includes the Chicago premiere of James Whitbourn’s “Annelies: The Choral Setting of the Diary of Anne Frank” in 2013, as well as what surely must be the first-ever Christmas concert the Ravinia Festival has ever presented. Those two concerts are only available for $10 to persons who have purchased three other concerts. The series …

Hall & Oates bringing ‘rock ’n’ soul’ to Ravinia

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:46:00 -0500

Darryl Hall and John Oates, one of the most influential rock duos during the Reagan years, return to Ravinia on Sept. 1. Better known as Hall & Oates, the two men rocked the pop stage with their rock and R&B fusion throughout the late ’70s and early ’80s, en route to being named Billboard’s best duo of all time.

Piano virtuoso playing at Ravinia

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:21:59 -0500

“As I pianist, I feel we’re all so different,” said Barnatan, an Israeli-born piano virtuoso. “I never believed that if somebody is getting a concert, they’re getting a concert that could have been mine. Or vice versa. I feel like if you do what you believe in and if you’re good enough, there will be a spot for you.”