Acclaimed soprano Christine Brewer joins ESO for Oct. 7 and 8 concerts

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 74th season with concerts on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 8, at 2:30 p.m., at the Hemmens Cultural Center.

Chad Goodman, newly appointed Music Director at the ESO, will lead the prestigious symphony in Strauss’ “Four Last Songs”, featuring life-long Illinois resident and Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer. The program also includes Mozart’s “The Magic Flute Overture” and Rachmaninoff’s “Symphonic Dances.”

Brewer has performed “Four Last Songs” more than 100 times in legendary concert halls across five continents and 13 countries – from St. Louis to Rio, from London to Sydney, from Rome to Tokyo, and from Kuala Lumpur to Madrid.

“I'm very excited to come to Elgin to perform Richard Strauss' Four Last Songs, which are some of my favorite pieces to sing,” said Brewer. “I think these valedictory songs about Spring and September and falling calmly to sleep and sunset are some of the most glorious songs ever written.”

A pre-concert chat, with Goodman discussing the music and the composers, will take place one hour prior to concert time. The opening concert is one of six concerts in the ESO’s classics line-up, which is also available as a subscription series.

Tickets for the concert start at $20 and are available at www.ElginSymphony.org, or through the ESO Box Office, open Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 20 DuPage Court in Elgin or by phone at (847) 888-4000. Single concert student tickets are $10. Subscriptions, offering access to all six concerts in the classics series, start at $98. Free parking in City of Elgin parking garages and lots is available.

Generous support for the 2023-24 season comes from Otto®, Seigle Foundation, The Pepper Family Foundation, Willow Springs Charitable Trust, John B. Sanfillipo & Son, Inc., Elgin Symphony League, and Elgin Cultural Arts Commission. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra also acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Opening Weekend Reception

The ESO will host a reception to celebrate the start of its 74th season and to welcome Music Director Chad Goodman. The reception will be held at The Heritage Ballroom, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, following the ESO’s Saturday, Oct. 7, concert. Guests will enjoy heavy appetizers, desserts, an open bar, and the opportunity to meet Goodman, the fifth music director in the history of the ESO. Tickets for the reception are available online at www.ElginSymphony.org or by phone at (847) 888-4000 for $50 in advance. The price at the door will be $60.