Chicago Sinfonietta Set for WEST SIDE STORY CONCERTO 6/16-18

The Chicago Sinfonietta's final concert of the 2011-2012 season, titled Passion. Tragedy. Love., led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, continues to offer diversity in both musicians and musical styles with contemporary works, unique guest performers and a brand new orchestral arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's iconic musicAl West Side Story. The Chicago Sinfonietta presents Passion. Tragedy. Love. at the Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College in Naperville on Saturday, June 16 at 8 pm and at Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center in downtown Chicago on Monday, June 18 at 7:30 pm.

The Passion. Tragedy. Love. concert opens with excerpts of Felix Mendelssohn's romantic A Midsummer Night's Dream, inspired by Shakespeare's famous comedy and incorporating elements of the original text. Naperville Mayor George Pradel joins the orchestra as the narrator for the North Central College performance and CBS 2 Chicago News anchor Bill Kurtis narrates the Symphony Center performance.

Praised for their dynamic performances that infuse classical music with a fresh, youthful energy, the esteemed musicians of the Harlem Quartet (Ilmar Gavilan and Melissa White, violins; Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola; and Paul Wiancko, cello) return to the Sinfonietta for Michael Abels' Delights and Dances. Commissioned by the Sphinx Organization and premiered by the Harlem Quartet in 2007, it celebrates African-American and Latino culture. Abels' score for string quartet and orchestra blends the sound of jazz, blues and Latin dance into a contemporary and spirited whole. The Quartet continues with the orchestra for Benjamin Lees' Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra, which uniquely combines the orchestral concerto with the string quartet medium.

The concert, and the season, concludes with a world premiere arrangement for string quartet and orchestra by Randall Fleischer of Bernstein's West Side Story. "West Side Story is an utter masterpiece and, for me, the crowning achievement in American musical theater," said Fleischer. "Lush and romantic in the love duets, edgy, vigorous, even violent in the gang scenes, this brilliant show encompasses almost the entire range of the human experience within one evening.

"The challenge for me in crafting this arrangement was to retain everything that is unique about the score, its sensual colors in the love duets, its edgy 'bite' in the gang scenes, the Latin jazz flavor, and transfer all of Bernstein's unique genius from voices to string instruments. While doing so, I wanted to capture aspects of the idiomatic style of solo writing typical for each string instrument. It was a challenge but I feel much closer to West Side Story than ever before, spending six months of my life living with this amazing work."

Following the season closer concert, the Chicago Sinfonietta and Harlem Quartet will record a new album for Cedille Records to be released in spring 2013, the first commercial album by the orchestra in ten years and the first ever under new music director Mei-Ann Chen. The album will include Lees' Concerto, Abels' Delights and Dances and Fleischer's West Side Story Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra.

Bill Kurtis is co-anchor of the weekday CBS 2 News at 6 pm with Walter Jacobson. His distinctive voice is well known to generations of Chicagoans. Kurtis is an award-winning journalist who began his Chicago television career at WBBM-TV in 1966 as a reporter. The celebrated anchor team of Kurtis and Jacobson went on to earn the number one rating position for most of the 16 years they were on air. He is the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions, including more than 20 Emmy® Awards, the 1998 Illinois Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame Award, and the 2003 Kansas Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame Award.

George Pradel was elecTed Mayor of Naperville, Illinois in 1995 and re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011, making him the longest-serving mayor of Naperville. A former Naperville Police officer, Pradel is known for his many public appearances, friendly demeanor and his demonstrated enthusiasm for Naperville. After graduating from what is now Naperville Central High School, he served for three years in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1966 he joined the Naperville Police Department, where he spent much of his career visiting schools and speaking to children with the nickname "Officer Friendly," a moniker that stuck for 28 years and became an asset in his future election as mayor

The Harlem Quartet is an ensemble with the mission to engage young and new audiences and to advance diversity in classical music. Comprised of all First Place Laureates of the Sphinx Competition, this ensemble made its successful Carnegie Hall debut during the Sphinx Gala Concert in October 2006, to rave reviews. Other performance highlights include the legendary Apollo Theater, the White House, the U.S. Ambassador's residence in London, and an appearance on the Today Show. The ensemble released their professional debut CD, Take the 'A' Train, with the White Pine Music label in 2007.

Single tickets for Passion. Tragedy. Love. range from $35-$45 for the concert at Wentz Concert Hall (171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville) and $26-$96 for the concert at Symphony Center (220 S. Michigan Ave.), with special $10 pricing for students. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chicago Sinfonietta at 312-236-3681 ext. 2 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

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