CSO's David Taylor Joins New Philharmonic in Concert Nov. 13-14

New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), continues its 2021-2022 45th Anniversary Season with “Dvořák’s New World,” featuring his Symphony No. 9 in E-minor 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. The program also includes Sarasate’s Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen” featuring guest violinist David Taylor, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster. The piece is commonly regarded as one of the most challenging pieces for violin. Soprano Alisa Jordheim will also join Taylor for Richard Strauss’ “Morgen!,” Following each performance, Taylor leads a free MAC Chat and a special presentation of his photography.

Antonín Dvořák (1842 – 1904) is one of the first Czech composers to achieve worldwide recognition. He moved to the United States in 1892 and following his arrival wrote a series of newspaper articles reflecting on the state of American music. He supported the concept that African American and Native American music should be used as a foundation for the growth of American music. These sonic influences of his newly adopted homeland are evident in Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E-minor (New World Symphony), which he composed and premiered in New York City to great acclaim in 1893. It has been described as one of the most popular of all symphonies. Astronaut Neil Armstrong took a tape recording of the symphony along during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, the first Moon landing.

The program also features

• Pablo de Sarasate’s (1844 – 1908) Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen,” which is one of Sarasate's most well-known works and is considered to be one of the most challenging and technically demanding pieces for the violin. It contains five movements. The last, “Moderato,” is based on the scene at the beginning of Act II where Carmen and her friends are entertaining Zuniga and other officers. It is the most technically difficult movement of the five, employing fast arpeggios spanning the range of the instrument and a final virtuoso tempo acceleration. Guest violinist David Taylor joins New Philharmonic to perform this impressive feat.

• Richard Strauss’ (1864 – 1949) “Morgen!” Opus 27, No. 4 in G-minor. Guest soprano Alisa Jordheim joins Taylor on what is perhaps one of Strauss's best-known and most widely recorded works. Guest artist sponsored by John Rutledge and Betty Joseph.

Taylor joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as assistant concertmaster in 1979. With the Chicago Symphony, he has made numerous solo appearances, including performances with Sir Georg Solti. He also has served as acting concertmaster of the St. Louis Symphony and concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. As a lover of chamber music, he often appears in recital and solo performances in the Chicago area, at the Ravinia Festival and on WFMT-FM. A coach of orchestral violinists, he has students in orchestras across the United States and Japan and has developed a passion for photography. Taylor plays a J.B. Guadagnini violin, made in 1744. He made his debut with New Philharmonic in 2015 in "Bach to Bock."

New Philharmonic presents the “Dvořák’s New World” at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13; 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14. Tickets are $53 adult, $51 senior. $10 tickets are available for students.

A free MAC Chat featuring a special presentation by guest violinist David Taylor of his photography follows each performance. For more information visit AtTheMAC.org or call the MAC box office at 630.942.4000, Tuesday – Sunday, 12 noon – 6 p.m.

New Philharmonic and the McAninch Arts Center/College of DuPage value the safety and health of the audience, staff and artists, and are practicing safety guidelines set forth by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the State of Illinois.

Policies include:

• Masks that cover both the nose and mouth are required for everyone over the age of 2.
• Tickets are scanned touchless upon arrival.
• Digital programs are available.
• Hand-sanitizing stations are available at entrances. If a patron is not feeling well, has a fever, has been exposed to anyone symptomatic for COVID-19, or has recently been tested and waiting results, they are requested to postpone their visit for another day and contact the Box Office to reschedule or request a refund.
• In addition, for added comfort and safety, audience capacity will be limited.

For more information visit AtTheMAC.org, email the Box Office at themac@cod.edu or call 630.942.4000.