Fabulous French fairy tales open the Illinois Chamber Orchestra’s (ICO) 2012-2013 season celebrating Claude Debussy’s 150th Birthday with fanciful French fare led by new Music Director Alastair Willis on Friday Dec. 7, 2012 at St. Agnes Church in Springfield and on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 at Second Presbyterian Church in Bloomington. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Illinois Chamber Orchestra fêtes the 150th Birthday of Debussy with his exuberant Petite Suite and beautiful Danses Sacrée et Profane, enchants audiences with Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and Fauré’s elegant Pavane and parties to Ibert’s fancifully fun Divertissement. This is a spectacular evening of French fairytales, favorites and fun for the entire family during the holiday season!
Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis was appointed Music Director of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra in May 2012. Previous positions include Principal Guest Conductor with the Florida Orchestra's Coffee Concert series, Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony, and Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. Willis has guest conducted orchestras around the world including the Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Silk Road Ensemble (with Yo-Yo Ma) among others. His recording of Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges with Nashville Symphony and Opera for Naxos was Grammy nominated for Best Classical Album in 2009.
Tickets for the Springfield concert on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012 are available by calling 217-206-6160. Tickets for the Bloomington concert on Saturday, December 8, 2012 are available by calling 309-434-2777. Tickets for both performances may also be purchased at the door beginning at 6:00 p.m. the night of the performance. Ticket prices range from $5 for students (6 years ) to $20. Senior discounts are also available. Additional information about the Illinois Symphony Orchestra is available at www.ilsymphony.org.
The Springfield concert is sponsored by Illini Bank. The Bloomington concert is sponsored by the Illinois Symphony Guild of Bloomington/Normal. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
