Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
271
1956, the choir trains nearly 3,000 y oung singers a y ear. The choir r uns 61 in-school
choruses in 40 Chicago elementar y schools and five after-school Neighborhood Choirs.
The sho wpiece is the 125-v oice Concer t Choir, which includes Treble and Chamber
ensembles, Madrigals, and a Show Choir.
Office: Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington,
5th floor.
&
312/849-8300.
www.ccchoir.org. Tickets $27-$47.
Chicago Opera Theater
Ages 8 & up.
As the “ other” opera company in to wn,
Chicago Opera Theater doesn't get all the big names, but it does make opera accessible
to a wider audience with an emphasis on American composers and per formers who sing
in English. It also helps that tickets ar e less expensive and more plentiful than those for
the Lyric Opera. The opera has a wonder ful educational outreach program that features
one opera per season (a shor t one, usually!) that is per formed by and for childr en. Call
well in adv ance for tickets to the next per formance, as they always sell out. N o matter
what the bill, the talent and production values are top-notch.
Harris Theater for Music and
Dance, 205 E. R andolph Dr.
&
312/704-8414.
www.chicagooperatheater.org. Tickets $30-$105
adults, children half-price. Subway/El: Red Line to Washington/State.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Ages 6 & up.
The CSO does a nice job of out-
reach to y oung ones with the Kraft F amily Matinee series, which exposes kids to the
storytelling of music thr ough classics. I n the past, per formances have included “special
guests” such as Woofgang and M eowzart, who appear at per formances of S tomp Your
Foot!, and U nderground Railway Theater puppeteers at per formances of The Firebird.
The series r uns on select S aturdays at 11am and 12:45pm. Concer ts are performed by
members of the Chicago S ymphony Orchestra and guest ar tists. Another kid fav orite is
the annual Halloween concert for ages 5 to 17. Kids ar e invited to wear costumes to the
concert. Highlights include seeing Grainger Hall transformed into a haunted house, and
participating in face painting and stor
ytelling—and or chestra members dr ess in cos-
tumes, too.
Another option for kids is the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, which performs
at Orchestra Hall (
&
312/939-2207;
www.cyso.org). Founded in 1946, the orchestra is
composed of a senior-lev el group of 105 top high-school musicians in the Chicagoland
area. R ecognized as one of the nation 's best y outh or chestras, the CYSO per forms in
November and May.
If your children are over age 12, they are welcome to attend a regular performance of
the CSO, among the best in the world—a legacy of the late maestro Sir Georg Solti, who
captured a r ecord-breaking 31 G rammy awards for his CSO r ecordings and sho wcased
the orchestra at other major musical capitals during frequent international tours. In addi-
tion to classical music, the “S ymphony Center Presents” series has included some of the
top jazz, world beat, Latin, and cabar et ar tists in the world in r ecent years. Although
they're in high demand, good seats often become av ailable on concer t day. Call S ym-
phony Center or stop by the box office to check availability.
Summertime visitors have an opportunity to hear a CSO per formance at the delight-
ful
Ravinia Festival
(p. 21) in suburban Highland Park, led by music director Christoph
Eschenbach.
The
Civic Orchestra of Chicago,
the training or chestra of the Chicago S ymphony
since 1919, is also highly r egarded and pr esents free programs at O rchestra Hall. The
Chicago Symphony Chorus
also performs there.
Orchestra Hall, in Symphony Center, 220
S. Michigan Ave.
&
312/294-3000.
www.cso.org. Tickets $25-$110; box seats $185. Sub way/El:
Red Line to Jackson.
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