Music of the Baroque: "Baroque Heroes" at the Harris Theater Oct. 11

Music of the Baroque (MOB) continues its 2022-2023 Season with “Baroque Heroes” at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 9 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park.

In this program, guest conductor Patrick Dupré Quigley explores the concept of “hero” in an energetic, whimsical program. The soloist is the hero of C. P. E. Bach’s Cello Concerto. From the ridiculous to the sublime, Telemann and Rameau offer rich musical depictions of literary heroes in “Burlesque de Quixote” and “Suite from Castor et Pollux” respectively. The program also includes J. S. Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major. J. S. Bach was his son’s hero—as C. P. E. wrote in his father’s obituary, “Our Bach was the greatest organist and clavier player that we have ever had.”

Dance music composers from earlier generations are the great heroes of Baroque orchestral music. South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT) brings dances from Michael Praetorius’ “Terpsichore” to life with world-premiere choreography by SCDT founder and artistic director Kia S. Smith.

Declan McGovern, executive director of Music of the Baroque, commented, “We have been enjoying the meteoric rise of SCDT, one of Chicago’s most dynamic performing arts organizations, and their acclaimed performance this past at the Harris Theater. It was clear from our first conversations with Smith that she is a big fan of Baroque music. She jumped at the opportunity to bring to life this suite of dances from 17th-century composer Michael Praetorius’s iconic collection ‘Terpsichore.’ We are so thrilled to share this special collaborative treat with our audience, and also to partner with South Chicago Dance Theatre for ‘Music and Movement —An Afternoon with Music of the Baroque and South Chicago Dance Theatre,’ a special community performance featuring a preview of that work in Englewood’s Hamilton Park Cultural Center, in the run-up to our concerts.”

“Music and Movement — an Afternoon with Music of the Baroque and South Chicago Dance Theatre,” a special free dance/music concert 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Hamilton Park Cultural Center, 513 W. 72nd St. The program, “Music and Movement — an Afternoon with Music of the Baroque and South Chicago Dance Theatre,” will feature a preview of Praetorius’ “Dances from Terpsichore,” performed by members of the Music of the Baroque Orchestra with choreography by SCDC founder and artistic director Smith, performed by SCDT dancers. The program will also include C. P. E. Bach’s Cello Concerto in A Major, performed by Music of the Baroque musicians and Wade Schaaf's collaborative 12-minute contemporary ballet “Coeurs Séparés (Separated Hearts),” performed by SCDT dancers and inspired in part by the choreographer’s “kinship” with the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Admission to this performance is free but reservations are requested. To register or for more information, visit baroque.org/musicandmovement.

Music of the Baroque presents two performances of “Baroque Heroes”

• 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie,
• 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Harris Theater | Millennium Park, 205 E. Randolph (harristheaterchicago.org)

Tickets range from $25-$100. Visit baroque.org or call 312.551.1414

Students Go For Free at the Harris Theater: By popular demand, students will once again be able to attend any of Music of the Baroque’s seven performances at the Harris Theater during the 2022-2023 season free of charge. Students can reserve up to two complimentary tickets per valid student ID by visiting baroque.org or calling 312.551.1414. Student tickets will also be available at the Harris Theater box office starting two hours prior to the performance.