The Orion Ensemble Joins Ballet Chicago for 'Instruments of Revelation'

In a first-time collaboration, The Orion Ensemble, Chicago's nationally recognized and critically acclaimed chamber music ensemble, joins Ballet Chicago dancers for the world premiere of "Instruments of Revelation" by Victoria Bond, on a program that also includes works by Rezsö Kókai and Franz Schubert. Performances take place February 27 at Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston, March 6 at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva and March 9 at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall in Chicago.

World premiere: "Instruments of Revelation"
"Instruments of Revelation" was commissioned by the Orion Ensemble in collaboration with Ballet Chicago Artistic Director Daniel Duell, supported by a gift from Mary Ann and John Gee. This world premiere by Victoria Bond is in three movements, based on three cards in the Tarot deck: the Magician, or the Juggler in some decks, represents ambiguity, with music shifting suddenly from the mysterious and solemn to the cunning and dexterous; the High Priestess, possessing wisdom, passion and secrets of the law, inspires music of calmness that slowly ignites into throbbing desire, ending with a return of quiet murmuring; and the Fool, both the holy mystic and the intoxicated lunatic, is embodied in music with a touch of both comedy and chaos.

Ballet Chicago's Duell commented, "Victoria's music, being so image driven, provides much visual and spiritual reference for movement. The unconventional performance spaces for dance in this series opens up the opportunity to explore the instinctual responses of dancers and choreographer to Victoria's music in a setting different from the usual large proscenium stage. I am quite excited about it."

Victoria Bond has written works for the Houston, Shanghai and Richmond Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, American Ballet Theater, Pennsylvania Ballet, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival and the Audubon String Quartet, among others. The first woman to be awarded a doctorate in conducting from The Juilliard School, Bond was appointed by Andre Previn as Exxon/Arts Endowment Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1978. In 1986, she was appointed music director and conductor of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, and shortly thereafter became artistic director of Opera Roanoke, holding both posts until 1995.

During the week prior to the premiere, Bond will participate in several public activities:
• an open rehearsal/concert on Sunday, February 20, 2 p.m., Ballet Chicago, 17 N. State, 19th floor
• a master class on Thursday, February 24, 6 p.m., Roosevelt University; Bond will talk about her new work for Orion, her composition techniques and her career as a composer and conductor, and she will hear some of the student compositions created for an Orion Composition Competition
• a pre-concert lecture on Sunday, February 27, 7 p.m. Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, prior to the premiere at 7:30 p.m.

2010-11 season
Orion's 2010-11 season concludes in May with a concert program featuring Mahler, in celebration of the composer's 150th birthday; "Simple Gifts," arranged by John Williams for the 2009 Presidential Inauguration; and works by William Bolcom and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the latter welcoming special guests Baird Dodge and Stefan Hersh.

In addition to its annual four-concert series at three venues, the Orion Ensemble tours, performing in chamber music series across the country. Its most recent CD is Twilight of the Romantics.

The Orion Ensemble
Founded in 1992, the Orion Ensemble boasts a roster of five superb musicians- Florentina Ramniceanu (violin), Jennifer Marlas (viola), Judy Stone (cello), Kathryne Pirtle (clarinet) and Diana Schmück (piano)-who have performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony, Moscow Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chicago's Music of the Baroque orchestra, and at music festivals including Ravinia, Aspen, Mostly Mozart, Hollywood Bowl, Taos Chamber Music, Salzburg and Banff. The Chicago Tribune called Orion "one of Chicago's most vibrant, versatile and distinctive ensembles," and the Chicago Sun-Times said Orion is "what chamber music should be all about: Individual virtuosity melded into a group personality." The Orion Ensemble received a Chamber Music America/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming for its critically acclaimed millennium celebration, "An Inside Look at Contemporary Music." The group is also currently the Ensemble-in-Residence at Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts. The Orion Ensemble is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture; the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; and the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development.

Ballet Chicago
Ballet Chicago is dedicated to enriching the quality of life of its students, its audience members and underserved groups in the Chicago area. These goals are accomplished through excellence in dance instruction, presentation and education. From its beginnings as a performing company to its current role as a classical training institution with a pre-professional performing company, Ballet Chicago remains steadfast in its commitment to the cultural vitality of the city of Chicago.

Performance and ticket information
The Orion Ensemble's third concert program of the 2010-11 season takes place Sunday, February 27, 7:30 p.m. at Music Institute of Chicago's Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue in Evanston; Sunday, March 6, 7 p.m. at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church, 227 East Side Drive in Geneva; and Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. at Roosevelt University's Ganz Hall, 430 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago;. Single tickets are $26, $23 for seniors and $10 for students; children 12 and younger are free. A four-ticket flexible subscription provides a 10 percent savings on full-priced tickets. For tickets or more information, call 630-628-9591 or visit orionensemble.org.

 

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