New Philharmonic Celebrates New Year's Eve with Three Concerts Dec. 31

New Philharmonic, the professional orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), and Music Director/Conductor Kirk Muspratt presents a fantastically fun New Year’s Eve program filled with works from classical to opera to pops, a champagne toast, secret surprises and more in three New Year’s Eve concerts at 1:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31. Acclaimed Mexican-American bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba who wowed audiences last New Year’s Eve, returns by popular demand.

The skilled musicians of New Philharmonic will be showcased in Johann Strauss Jr.’s spritely “Furioso Polka“ and “Roses from the South Waltz, op. 388;” Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s processional “Polonaise” from the lyric opera “Eugene Onegin,” Jules Massenet’s “Navarraise” from “Le Cid,” Elmer Bernstein’s stirring “The Magnificent Seven Suite,” Johann Strauss Sr.’s celebratory “Radetzky March” and more.

Ollarsaba will be featured in “Le tambour major” from Thomas Savage’s comedic opera “Le Caïd;” and John Kander’s “Maybe This Time” from the Tony Award-winning musical “Cabaret” before leading the audience in a rousing sing-along of the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.”

A critically hailed and versatile vocalist, Ollarsaba represented the U.S. in the 2019 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, one of the most prestigious international vocal competitions. He also was a member of the prestigious Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago for three seasons, and a grand finalist in the 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Ollarsaba won the American Opera Society of Chicago 2015 Best Vocalist Award. Recent credits include singing title role in “Don Giovanni” with Opera Hong Kong; and the role of Figaro in “Le nozze di Figaro” with New Zealand Opera and Minnesota Opera.

New Philharmonic presents three New Year’s Eve Concerts at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., on the campus of College of DuPage, Dec. 31 at 1:30, 5 and 8:30 p.m. The 1:30 p.m. performance is sold out, however tickets remain for the 5 & 8:30 p.m. performances. Tickets are $70-$80. For tickets visit AtTheMAC.org or call 630.942.4000. The McAninch Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday, noon – 6 p.m. and two hours prior to performance. These concerts are sponsored by the Sullivan Taylor Family Trust. Media Sponsor is 90.9 FM WDCB Public Radio.