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From the Music Director
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
Dear Friends of the IPO,

It is such a joy to welcome you to the 49th season of your Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra!

Every new season gives us an opportunity to come together, experience extraordinary music, and continue building the special connection between our orchestra and the communities we serve. This year, I am especially excited by the incredible range of music we will share -   from some of the most well-known masterpieces in the repertoire to music that may be completely new to many in our audience.

We open the season with the brilliant violist Matthew Lipman in Walton’s beautiful Viola Concerto, alongside Glinka’s exhilarating Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture and the monumental First Symphony of Brahms.

In November, we explore the energy, color, and drama of Carmen, with Jessie Montgomery’s vibrant Starburst, Bizet’s youthful Symphony in C, and the spectacular Bizet/Shchedrin Carmen Suite. December brings us together for one of our most beloved traditions, Handel’s Messiah, once again joined by the Chicago Community Chorus.

The new year brings something entirely new for IPO as we celebrate the unforgettable music of Joe Hisaishi and Studio Ghibli, including Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, and more.

And in March, we bring together our orchestra and hundreds of young voices from across the Southland for one of the most powerful works ever written for orchestra and chorus - Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. I am particularly excited about this collaboration and the opportunity to share the stage with so many talented young vocalists from our own community.

What makes IPO so special, however, goes far beyond any single program. It is the musicians on stage, our wonderful staff and board, our supporters, and most importantly, all of you who continue to make this orchestra such a living and vibrant part of Chicago’s Southland.

I am deeply grateful to be sharing another season with our IPO family, and I cannot wait to experience this music together with you.

Here’s to a wonderful 49th season!


Sincerely,
Stilian Kirov
IPO Gibb Music Director