New Philharmonic Opens New Season with “Musica Italiana Dolce” Sept. 26 & 27

New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), opens its 2026-2027 season with "Musica Italiana Dolce" concerts at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. The program features some of the most popular operatic works, sparkling overtures and unforgettable film themes ever inspired by Italy. Free MAC Chats will precede each concert one hour prior to concert time.

"This season is a landmark for New Philharmonic as the organization turns 50," says New Philharmonic Music Director and Conductor Kirk Muspratt. "To celebrate that, we wanted to open the season with something special and are excited to offer three performances of a must-see program for every Italophile or anyone who wants to lose themselves in two hours of extraordinary music performed by a symphony orchestra of some of the Chicago area's most highly skilled artists and musicians."

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The "Musica Italiana Dolce" program features the following orchestral works

• The majestic 4th movement, "I pini della via Appia" ("The Pines of the Appian Way") from tone poem, "Pines of Rome" by Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
• The overture to "Barber of Seville" considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces of comedy within music, and is composed by Gioachino Rossini (1792-1868)
• Intermezzo from "Cavalleria rusticana" ("Rustic Chivalry") composed by Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945). This work has been widely used in films including "Raging Bull" and "The Godfather Part III" to evoke feelings of deep emotion, dignity, or reflection
• The 4th movement from Symphony No. 4 by Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847). This work was inspired by Mendelssohn's travels in Italy, and the finale is often interpreted as an expression of the country's vitality, color, and festive spirit
• "Napoli" by Sousa arranger and cornet virtuoso Hermann Bellstedt (1858-1926). For this work, New Philharmonic will be joined by former Principal Trumpet of the Bogotá Symphony Orchestra, Jhoan Garcia
• "Funiculi, Funicula" by Luigi Denza (1846-1922). This work, written to commemorate the opening of the first funicular railway on Mount Vesuvius, has become synonymous with Italian culture
• Cinematic classics including:

- The overture to Grammy Award-winning score for epic film "The Godfather" (1972) composed by Nino Rota (1911-1979)

- Themes from Academy Award-winning score for "Il Postino" (1994) composed by Luis Enríquez Bacalov (1933 –2017)

- The theme from the 1976 Academy Award-winner "Rocky" (1976) composed by Bill Conti (b. 1942)

- The main theme from the 1989 Academy Award-winning film "Cinema Paradiso" (1988) composed by Ennio Morricone (1928-2020) and Andrea Morricone (b.1962)

- A selection from Main Theme from the cult western "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" (1966) composed by Ennio Morricone.

In addition, acclaimed tenor Jesse Donner will be showcased in four selections:

• One of the best know tenor arias in all of opera "Nessun Dorma" ("Let No One Sleep") from the final act of the opera "Turandot" by Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924)
• The traditional Neapolitan song "O Sole Mio" by Eduardo di Capua (1865–1917)
• The Italian art song, "Mattinata" in D major by Ruggero Leoncavallo (1857-1919) known as the first piece, expressly written for phonograph recording by the Gramophone Company
• The timeless pop hit "Come Fly with Me" with lyrics by Sammy Cahn (1913-1993) and music by Jimmy Van Heusen (1913-1990), written specifically for Frank Sinatra, who initially recorded it in 1957.

Donner, last seen at the MAC in New Philharmonic's 2020 production of Franz Lehár's popular operetta "The Merry Widow," has distinguished himself on operatic and concert stages with his "vibrant" (Chicago Classical Review) and "fresh and juicy" (Chicago Tribune) voice. Donner has sung at the New York's Metropolitan Opera and Chicago's Lyric Opera. Recent seasons have included performances at the Union Avenue Opera, St. Petersburg Opera, the Louisville Orchestra, Toledo Opera and the Chicago Philharmonic. Donner's awards and honors include a Luminarts Fellowship and the Bel Canto Foundation grand prize, a special encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Auditions, and first place in the Michigan Friends of Opera Competition.

New Philharmonic opens its 2026-2027 season with "Musica Italiana Dolce" at 3 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27. Tickets are $58. $10 tickets are available to students (subject to availability).

For tickets or more information, visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC Box Office at 630.942.4000.