Elmhurst Symphony Presents ‘Elgar’s Enigma’ Sept 30

Elmhurst Symphony opens the season with a diverse program of composers and an internationally-acclaimed soprano.

What’s Interesting About This Concert

American composer Michael Abels is best known for his award-winning scores for the Jordan Peele films Get Out, Us, and Nope. Unlike those horror films, Outburst is a dazzlingly buoyant and colorful work, and an exciting roller coaster ride to kick off our 23/24 season!

Soprano Amanda Majeski, acclaimed for her voice of “silvery beauty” (Musical America), has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera of New York, and countless opera houses and concert halls around the world. A native of Chicagoland and graduate of Northwestern where she studied with ESO conductor Stephen Alltop, Majeski returns to the Elmhurst Symphony for the first time since 2007.

On October 21 1898, Edward Elgar sat down to noodle at the piano after a long day of teaching. His wife Alice suddenly interrupted, saying “Edward, that’s a good tune… Play it again, I like that tune!” The tune of which Alice was so enamored eventually became the Enigma Variations — one of the greatest and most popular orchestral works of all time!

What’s Playing

Michael Abels Outburst
Richard Strauss Four Last Songs
Edward Elgar Variations on an Original Theme (“Enigma Variations”)

Who’s Performing

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Stephen Alltop Music Director and Conductor
Amanda Majeski Soprano