schumann chopin donizetti puccini

tchaikovsky dvorak verdi beethoven

chopin schumann beethoven donizetti

puccini tchaikovsky dvorak verdi

schumann chopin donizetti puccini

tchaikovsky dvorak verdi beethoven

schumann chopin donizetti puccini

tchaikovsky dvorak verdi beethoven

chopin schumann beethoven donizetti

puccini tchaikovsky dvorak verdi

schumann chopin donizetti puccini

tchaikovsky dvorak verdi beethoven

schumann chopin donizetti puccini

tchaikovsky dvorak verdi beethoven

chopin schumann beethoven donizetti

Highland Park Strings31st Season • 2009-2010

Romance is in the Air!

Francesco MiliotoPrincipal Conductor

Romance is in the Air!31st Season • 2009-2010

Schumann, Chopin, Dvorak and Tchaikovsky represent a short list of the great masters of Romantic music we will highlight this season. Inspiration for symphonic music in the 19th Century stemmed from various sources as depicted by these composers -- nature, nationalism (folk music) and literature. Chopin added nuance and expressive depth to the solo piano repertoire. And, of course, Beethoven is the romantic catalyst heralding the New Age with his Third and Fifth Symphonies.

Operatic aphrodisiacs will spice up our Valentine’s Day benefit at Ravinia with romantic excerpts from operas by Puccini, Verdi and Donizetti, among others. Our holiday concert will showcase Handel’s “other” great oratorio with the Overture to Judas Maccabeus and Corelli’s popular Christmas Concerto.

Two soloists return for second engagements with the Strings – brilliant pianists Michael Yanovitsky playing Chopin and Elena Baksht in Mozart’s dramatic Concerto No. 20 in D Minor. Our Rising Star, 11-year-old Wunderkind cellist Johannes Gray, will reprise his prize-winning performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto. You won’t be surprised that icons such as Yo-Yo Ma and Janos Starker have taken notice of this major young talent. The mini-opera love fest will be sung by soprano Rachel Cobb and tenor Scott Ramsay, both on impressive career paths.

We enthusiastically welcome back our maestro, Francesco Milioto, who returns for his third season as principal conductor presenting a season of mostly new repertoire. To the Park District for its support and to the audience that unfailingly cheers us on, our continued gratitude. We also mourn the recent passing of Marilyn Shonfeld, our dear friend and valued concertmaster of many years.

Of note are two Strings premieres that occurred in our town this past summer -- a performance for the Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood at its 2009 Gala, which raised $20,000 to fund college scholarships for Highland Park School students, and our first outdoor plaza concert on the Summer Concert Series at Port Clinton with guest conductor Stephen Burns, who also wowed us and the family crowd with his virtuosic trumpet playing.

Lawrence Block

“To have this group playing classical music with such seriousness and offering free concerts to the community becomes more and more amazing every year. It is a tribute to the sponsorship of the Park District of Highland Park and the donors who turn out for the annual benefit concert. To say nothing of the determination of Larry Block, founder and co-principal cello.” – Dorothy Andries, Pioneer Press

Lawrence Block

Save the Dates!

Four Family Concerts“Sundays at 3 pm”

Preconcert Conversations at 2 pm

Free Admission(except benefit)

All concerts will take place at Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Ave., except for the February 14 benefit at Ravinia’s Bennett-Gordon Hall.

October 25, 2009Highland Park High School

December 13, 2009Highland Park High School

February 14, 2010Benefit ConcertBennett-Gordon Hall at Ravinia

May 23, 2010Highland Park High School

www.hpstrings.org

Design by Valerie Lorimer

Copy by Stephanie Ettelson

Strings photography byMichael Metzger

Francesco Milioto

Francesco Milioto, born in Toronto of Italian parentage, marks his third season as principal conductor of the Highland Park Strings. Previously, he served as assistant conductor for two years under Francis Akos. Acclaimed by the Chicago Tribune as “one of the best young conductors working in the Chicago area,” Milioto also has become one of the busi-est musicians with a high profile in a variety of pursuits.

He is active on the podium as opera and symphonic conductor, and from the keyboard as chamber musician, collaborative pianist and vocal coach. Since 2003, he has been engaged as a regular rehearsal pianist and assistant conductor at the Ravinia Festival where in 2009 he worked closely with Maestro James Conlon, the CSO and soloists on productions of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde.

This season will see Milioto return to Chicago Opera Theater as assistant conductor and chorus master for productions of Rossini’s Moses in Egitto and Jack Heggie’s Three Decembers. Other ongoing Milioto projects are as music director and conductor of the Chicago Cultural Center Annual Summer Opera, the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra and the New Millennium Orchestra, which he also co-founded. In addition to the Cultural Center, the NMO performed for the first time for a Ravinia Kraft Kids concert in 2009 and will debut this year at the Harris Theater.

History & MissionUnique Among Community OrchestrasFounded in 1979 by Lawrence Block, an attorney who serves as co-principal cellist and general manager, the mission of the Highland Park Strings remains to provide community concerts free of charge where families, friends and North Shore neighbors can gather for an afternoon of musical enjoyment at the highest level featuring top-notch soloists, many from the Chicago Symphony, others from the world stage and gifted rising stars.

The unique policy of free admission is made possible primarily by The Park District of Highland Park, which assumed the improbable role of sponsoring a classical ensemble. Its ongoing support is augmented by funds from an annual benefit concert, Y.E.A.! Highland Park and the generosity of individual donors.

But it is the extraordinary commitment of accomplished amateur chamber musicians now blended with a

smattering of professionals who have established the ensemble’s reputation as a cultural institution on the North Shore called the “little miracle in Highland Park” by the Chicago Tribune. For 28 years, the esteemed Francis Akos was at the helm as music director and conductor until becoming emeritus in May 2007. Now the baton has passed to his talented successor Francesco Milioto.

“The Highland Park Strings is thriving under its new music director Francesco Milioto. The ensemble at the first concert of its 30th anniversary season…showed a fresh clarity and precision that is a direct result of Milioto’s exacting hand.”

– Dorothy Andries, Pioneer Press

“Even so, it was Milioto, a terrifically talented local conductor, who was the spark plug of this performance. He presided over a confident, well-drilled 26-piece orchestra with Bernsteinesque bravura, shaping the vocal lines deftly and keeping the music (“Candide”) bouncing along with irresistible verve.”– John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune

Preconcert Conversationswith Stephanie EttelsonMusicologist, Critic, Violinistpromptly at 2 pm

All are welcome to attend!

Principal ConductorFrancesco Milioto

Schumann Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 97 (Rhenish)

ChopinConcerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra in E MinorMichael Yanovitsky, Piano

October 25, 20093 pm • Free Admission • Highland Park High School • 433 Vine Avenue

Michael Yanovitsky returns to the Strings for his second appearance. Born in Leningrad (St. Petersburg since 1991) and a graduate of the Moscow Conservatory, he emigrated to the United States in 1991 and immediately won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions under whose auspices he made his New York and Kennedy Center debuts, becoming the most frequently engaged artist on the roster. Among his many competition triumphs were two coveted Gina Bachauer Piano Scholarships for graduate studies with Seymour Lipkin at Juilliard. He completed his doctorate at Temple University and currently serves on the faculty of Northeastern Illinois University.

Yanovisky has appeared with the New York Chamber Orchestra under Gerard Schwartz, the San Francisco Symphony, the Moscow Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Cape Town Symphony and, most recently with the Shanghai Symphony and the Philadelphia

Chamber Orchestra. He is a sought-after recitalist and has conducted master classes throughout the United States, Europe, Russia, Israel and Japan.

“Russian-born Mikhail Yanovitsky is a pianist in the big style, a player whose hands seem to devour the keyboard while piling up masses of sound and color.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

“A ‘master of dynamics,’ Yanovitsky’s range of colors…went from a mere whisper to a scream and embraced all the shadings in-between. He showed his astonishing ease and ability to change moods and styles. A true master!”

– El Porvenir, Monterrey, Neuvo León

Mikhail Yanovitsky

“Wow, wow and triple wow! The concert was not to be surpassed. Rachel and Wendy,

and the entire orchestra, knocked the socks off every person having the privilege of

seeing and hearing the amazing musical event.”

“The entire afternoon was very uplifting. The Strings sound robust and the program was stirring.

There’s something about classical music that makes one optimistic about mankind

(and womankind too!)”

Audie

nce Wei

ghs in on 30th Anniversary Season

December 13, 2009 ~ Holiday ConcertSponsored by Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood3 pm • Free Admission • Highland Park High School • 433 Vine Avenue

At age 11, cellist Johannes Gray is walking off with top awards as fast as competitions present themselves. As a toddler he was drawn to the Bach Cello Suites and began cello studies at age 2 ½. Most recently, the Wilmette 6th grader and cello student of Gilda Barston and Hans Jensen at the Music Institute of Chicago, was the Overall Winner of the Walgreens National Concerto Competition held at the Midwest Young Artists campus in Fort Sheridan

He also took first place in the primary division of the 2007 Society of American Musicians Competition, the Junior Division of the 2008 Sejong Music Competition and in the Youth and Junior Divisions of the 2005 and 2006 Chinese Fine Arts Society Music Competitions. In 2006 he performed at pre-concert events for the Chicago Symphony’s Gala as a part of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Project.

Already an active chamber music performer, he plays with his string quartet, Shades of Gray, and a piano trio. He has played live on WFMT and in master classes for Lynn Harrell, Amit Peled, Janos Starker, Tim Eddy and Aldo Parisot. At MIC he also studies piano with SooYoung Lee and composition with Matt Hagle. In February 2009 he performed the first movement of the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the MYA Symphony Orchestra at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall.

Gray performs on a small Montagnana model cello designed and crafted for him in 2009 by Lawrence Wilke.

HandelOverture to Judas Maccabeus

CorelliConcerto Grosso in G Minor,Op. 6, No. 8 (Christmas Concerto)

BoccheriniSinfonia in D Minor,Op. 12, No. 4 (La Casa del Diavolo)

DvorákConcerto for Cello and Orchestrain B Minor, Op. 104Johannes Gray, Cello

Johannes Gray

30th Anniversary

Benef t

February 14, 2010Benefit Concert Sponsored by Y.E.A. Highland Park 3 pm • Bennett-Gordon Hall at Ravinia $40 General AdmissionCall Park District for tickets at 847.831.3810.

American soprano Rachel Cobb has earned critical acclaim in the United States and Europe as a total performer with incredible dramatic intensity. Notable roles in her repertoire include Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, Nedda in Pagliacci, Marguerite in Faust, Micaëla in Carmen, and Countess in Le nozze di Figaro. First prize winner of the Farwell Award in Chicago, second place winner at the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in Chicago, she also is a 2007 Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition Grant Winner and a two-time finalist in the highly esteemed Loren L. Zachary Competition.

As Mimì in Opera Pacific’s production of La bohème conducted by John DeMain, she was named Most Promising Young Artist. She also has achieved success on the concert stage in recent appearances with the Fairbanks Symphony in performances of the Verdi Requiem, and in Washington D.C. in November 2008 with Strauss’ Four Last Songs.

ePraised by the New York Times for his “impressive…bright-voiced tenor,” Scott Ramsay is establishing himself as a leading tenor on the opera and concert stages of America and abroad. Following his acclaimed performance of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at Lyric Opera, his European debut in the same role at the Dublin International Opera Festival received equal praise.

In the 2008-09 season, Ramsay performed in Lyric’s new production of Lulu conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in addition to many other debuts in opera and concert roles.

His 2009-10 season includes his return to Opera New Jersey for his role debut as Belmonte in a new production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Rodolfo in La bohème at Duluth Festival Opera, Fritz in La Grand Duchesse de Gerolstein with Opera Boston, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte at Arizona Opera. On the concert stage, he appears as soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Nashville Symphony; Verdi’s Requiem with both the Louisville Orchestra and the Bel Canto Chorus in Milwaukee; and Mozart’s Requiem with Music of the Baroque and the Pasadena Symphony Orchestra.

Tchaikovsky Overture-Fantasy Romeo and Juliet

Operatic Highlights e Puccinie Donizettie Verdie Gounode Rossini

Rachel Cobb. SopranoScott Ramsay, Tenor

“Rachel Cobb’s pure soprano has the charm and fragility requisite for the role of Mimi. The cleanly articulated line in “Mi chiamano Mimì,” the beautifully floated high notes in the final scene – all testified to an artist in full command of her craft.”

– Classical Voice

“He brought a passionate intensity to the role [Edgardo] that matched the fire of Dessay’s riveting Lucia.”

– Chicago Sun Times

Rachel Cobb

Scott Ramsay

Preferred seating for all contributors of $100 and above plus

Bonus Chamber Music Concertby members of the Highland Park Strings and Guests

3 p.m. • Sunday, March 28, 2010 • Highland Park Community House • 1991 Sheridan RoadBonus tickets will be mailed with benefit tickets.

May 23, 20103 pm • Free Admission • Highland Park High School • 433 Vine Avenue

Moscow-born pianist Elena Baksht first appeared with the Moscow Philharmonic at age 11 and has since concertized throughout the former Soviet Union, Europe, Central America and the United States as soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. She returns as Strings soloist for the second time.

Locally, she has appeared on the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series and the University of Chicago Recital Series. Before earning a master’s degree at the Juilliard School, she was a full scholarship student at The Manhattan School of Music in the studio of Nina Svetlanova. In 1998, she was a winner of the Artist International Debut Award Competition and a recipient of the Hélène and Jerome Dreskin Foundation Career Grant. A frequent performer at music festivals around the world, she has appeared at Tanglewood, Fontainebleau, France, the International Music Festival in Castelnuovo de Garfagena and the Bruges Recital Festival Series, among others. An active chamber musician, she regularly concertizes with her husband, violinist Dmitri Berlinsky, in this country and abroad. Currently, she serves on the piano faculty at the College of Music at Michigan State University.

SchumannOverture to Manfred, Op. 115

MozartConcerto for Piano and Orchestra, No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466Elena Baksht, Piano

BeethovenSymphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67

“The pianist with the magic touch.”

– Washington Post

“One of the most intriguing pianists of her generation.”

– Miami Sun Post

Elena Baksht

“The HP Strings have never sounded better. I know I repeat myself after every concert,

but with today’s performance, the ensemble has truly reached a new level! Kudos to Maestro Milioto

for a fantastic job.”

More Audience Kudos

www.hpstrings.org

Free admission sponsored by the Park District of Highland Parkwww.hpstrings.org

Residential Postal PatronHighland Park, Illinois 60035

Park District of Highland Park636 Ridge RoadHighland Park, Illinois 60035

Presorted StandardU.S. Postage

PaidPermit No. 127

Highland Park, IL60035

Highland Park Strings

Photo by Bill Shonfeld

Alice Anson, Hugh (Bud) Block, Lawrence Block, Dennis Burg, Lucy Colman, Jane Conway, Iris Cosnow, Elizabeth Duke, Stephanie Ettelson, Rachel Fisher, Elaine Fohrman, Igor Gersh, Betty Hill, Olena Hirna, Gregory Jacobson, Munkbagt Jihd, Dominic Johnson, Barbara Julis, Joseph Krzysiak, Stephanie Goldman Meis, Francesco Milioto, Girard Miller, Joan Noven, Stephanie Quinn, Joanne Ross, Francine Sherman, Susan Silverstone, Arnold Sklar, Margarita Solomensky, Mary Stoltz,

Jerry Taxy, Lorraine Wallace, Ronna Warshauer, Karen Weismehl, Nora Williams, Marylou Witz

Romance is in the Air!31st Season • 2009-2010

Four Family Concerts“Sundays at 3 pm”

October 25, 2009Michael Yanovitsky, Piano

December 13, 2009Johannes Gray, Cello

February 14, 2010 (Benefit)Rachel Cobb, SopranoScott Ramsay, Tenor

May 23, 2010Elena Baksht, Piano