Today’s program showcases some extremely talented young artists performing very old music. Fourteen year old Amy Pikler began her musical studies at the age of five and currently studies violin with Desiree Ruhstrat and recorder with Patrick O’Malley. Last year Amy appeared as soloist with the Sewanee (TN) Summer Music Festival Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and the North Suburban Symphony (Lake Forest, IL). Amy also serves as Concertmaster of Midwest Young Artists’ Concert Orchestra and also performs in the Symphony Orchestra and chamber music program.
Midwest Young Artists, located in Highwood Illinois, is the largest and most comprehensive youth ensemble music program in the Midwest. Founded in 1993 with one orchestra, MYA has grown to include 5 youth orchestras, more than 60 chamber music ensembles, 3 choral groups, an all-inclusive jazz program, and classes in music theory and history. For more information about MYA and upcoming concerts visit MYA.org or call 847.926.9898. MYA’s Early Music Ensemble, directed by Jerry Fuller, will present its next concert featuring gambist Mary Springfels on Sunday March 25 at 7pm in the Great Hall of the First United Methodist Church located at 516 Church St. in Evanston.
Chicago Opera Theater is a cutting edge opera company known for its exciting new productions of well-chosen repertoire and innovative artistic teams. Under the leadership of General Director Brian Dickie, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful – an image well suited to its surroundings at the new Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
We hope you enjoy today’s performance of excerpts from The Return of Ulysses and will want to hear and see the full production which runs March 28 through April 7 at the Harris Theater. For tickets call 312.704.8414 or visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org.
Concerto in C Major for Sopranino Recorder, RV 443
Antonio Vivaldi (c.1678-1741)
· Allegro
· Largo
· Allegro molto
Amy Pikler, recorder
Winner of the 2007 Early Music Division of the Ars Antigua-Midwest Young Artists Concerto Competition sponsored by Walgreens
Stephen Hargreaves, harpsichord
The Return of Ulysses
(Il ritorno d’Ullisse in patria)
Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
· Prologue
· Act I, Scene 1
· Act I, Scene 2
· Act V, Scene 1
· Act V, Scene 10
Chicago Opera Theater Artists:
Rizo Arellano, L’Humana Fragilita
David Young, Tempo
Kari Sorenson, Fortuna
Micaela Oeste, Amore
Melina Pineda, Penelope
Melina Pineda, Melanto
Edmundas Seilius, Eurimaco
Robert Burt, Iro
Jason Collins, Ulisse
Stephen Hargreaves, harpsichord
Craig Trompeter, violoncello
Jerry Fuller, violone