Oistrakh Symphony Special Performance of Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” on Mother’s Day

Hello, readers of AChicagoThing. My name is Mina Zikri and I am the music director for the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago. We’re the local orchestra with a mission to expand the classical repertoire. 

We invite you and your family to join us for our Mother’s Day concert at the Art Institute. We will play “The Four Seasons” by Antonio Vivaldi, accompanied by world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler. “The Four Seasons” was revolutionary, and Vivaldi was a star, widely admired for his showmanship and playing. His melodies still evoke nature and the pleasures of each season. Nature, dulcet tones, star power—just like Mom. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day?

Vivaldi wrote four poems that are like “lyrics” for each season, summoning up the birds, the winds, the dances at harvest that you will hear. Playwright Donald Gecewicz will read his new translations.  

We will also present the world premiere of a new work by Composer-in-Residence Michael Druzinsky. Entitled “Fantods,” it complements our Vivaldi program. “Fantods” also takes the classical repertoire in a new direction.

  The event is on Sunday, May 8 at 2:00 P.M. in Fullerton Hall of the Art Institute of Chicago. Ticket prices are $35 for non-members, $30 for AIC members, and $15 for seniors & students. Tickets can be purchased at www.oistrakhsymphony.org. We hope to reintroduce you to Vivaldi the “Red Priest” and his timeless masterpiece.