Renowned Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman will take center stage in his Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra debut to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto  in the third of six ISO Symphonic Hits! powered by Lilly concert weekends this season in performances Thursday through Saturday, January 7-9, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.  Performance times are at 11 a.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.  Eli Lilly and Company is the Title Sponsor of Symphonic Hits! powered by Lilly and ExactTarget is the Premiere Sponsor for the Classical Series.

This all-Russian program, which will be conducted by Andrew Litton, will feature one of the crown jewels of the violin repertoire, Tchaikovsky’s noble and colorful concerto, with Gluzman as soloist, plus selected passages from Sergei Prokofiev’s interpretation of the timeless Shakespearean love story, Romeo and Juliet. The Friday and Saturday evening concerts will open with Tchaikovsky’s majestic Coronation March, which will not be performed in the Thursday morning program.

The Orchestra’s new Symphonic Hits! concert evenings feature popular classical works at affordable ticket prices plus casual pre-concert and post-concert events to accent the concert experience.  At 6:30 p.m., Associate Conductor Sean Newhouse and ISO musicians will host Sound Off, an accessible and interactive pre-concert presentation in which the artists will discuss the program repertoire and why the works are such popular hits with music lovers, and the audience will be encouraged to ask questions about the music and the musicians themselves.

Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman, in technique and sensibility, harkens back to the Golden Age of violinists of the 19^th and 20^th centuries while possessing the passion and energy of the 21^st century.  Lauded by critics and audiences as a performer of great depth, virtuosity and technical brilliance, he has appeared in music capitals troughout the world as a soloist and in a duo setting with his wife, pianist Angela Yoffe.  In addition to his active concert schedule, in which he regularly collaborates with the world’s top orchestras and conductors, Gluzman also has numerous recordings to his credit, including his newesrt disc featuring the Tchaikovsky Concerto that he recorded with Andrew Litton and the Bergen (Norway) Philharmonic on the BIS label.  A protégé of Isaac Stern, he received the prestigious Henryk Szeryng Foundation Career Award.

Ticket prices for the Thursday 11 a.m. Coffee Classical program range from $10 to $44 each, with $8 student tickets, and the 7:30 p.m. evening ticket prices for all Symphonic Hits! concerts range from $20 to $50 each, with student tickets for $10 by showing a valid student ID.  Tickets may be ordered by calling the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office at (317) 639-4300, or online by visiting www.IndianapolisSymphony.org. To order by telephone outside of Indianapolis, call toll free (800) 366-8457.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will be joined by Associate Conductor Sean Newhouse, soprano Jacqueline Brecheen and Dance Kaleidoscope to ring in the New Year with an exciting program featuring many familiar and popular Viennese Strauss family waltzes, polkas, and arias in one concert only Thursday, December 31, at 9 p.m. at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.

Tickets may be purchased by calling (317) 639-4300 or toll free (800) 366-8457, going online at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org or in person at the Hilbert Circle Theatre Box Office.

This colorful program, performed in the long-time Viennese New Year’s tradition, Will feature many of the Strauss family waltzes, polkas and arias, including the Tales from the Vienna Woods, Emperor, Sphärenklänge, and On the Beautiful Blue Danube Waltzes, plus the Thunder and Lightning and Tritsch Tratsch Polkas.   The superb artistry of Dance Kaleidoscope, under the artistic direction of David Hochoy, will be showcased n the Sphärenklänge and Emperor Waltzes and the Tritsch Tratsch Polka.  Also featured will be arias such as “Vilia” from Franz Lehar’s The Merry Widow, plus “Adele’s Laughing Song” and the “Audition Song” from Die Fledermaus that will be performed by soprano Jacqueline Brecheen, plus the popular Radetzky March and the traditional “Auld Lang Syne” to ring in the New Year.

Following the performance, the audience is invited to attend a party in the Hilbert Circle Theatre lobby that will include a champagne toast, cash bar, light hors d’oeuvres and dancing to the music of the Paul Berns Band.

The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University (1 University Parkway, University Park, IL 60484) proudly announces convenient virtual auditions for the chance to join five Broadway stars on stage in “Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway,” being performed at The Center Sunday, March 14 at 4 p.m. Online submissions will start being accepted on Monday, Jan. 8 at 12:01 a.m. and the final deadline is Friday, Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m. Submission guidelines are posted at www.singingwiththebroadwaystars.com. Continue Reading

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will open the second decade of the Twenty-first Century with a month full of exciting and eclectic music and dance performances this January 2010. Highlights include the highly anticipated returns of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan; the annual Contempo Double-Bill engagement featuring Grammy Award-winning Harris Theater resident company eighth blackbird along with jazz musicians Kenny Werner and Chris Potter, and a performance by The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, celebrating Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Rounding out the month is the Harris Theater Family Series “DJ Beethoven” engagement featuring a brand-new program by the New Millennium Orchestra! Continue Reading

Continuing the momentum and building on the critical success of its fall 2009 season, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park will present a winter/spring 2010 season of impressive and diverse performances by the city’s most acclaimed music and dance institutions as well as world-renowned national and International Artists and ensembles through its Harris Theater Presents series.

The schedule for the Harris Theater winter/spring 2010 season includes a variety of acclaimed Chicago favorites, Chicago premieres and engagements with individuals and organizations that are seldom seen in Chicago. Joining such popular and acclaimed Chicago institutions as River North Chicago Dance Company, Music of the Baroque, eighth blackbird, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago Opera Theater and Chicago Jazz Ensemble is highly anticipated return of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan; the introduction of the Harris Theater’s Broadway Luminaries series, including engagements with composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheimand Chicago area native Christine Ebersole; the annual Contempo Double-Bill, featuring eighth blackbird and jazz musicians Kenny Werner and Chris Potter; classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and violinist Mark O’Connor; The Magnetic Fields; and the conclusion of the Harris’ new Eat to the Beat $5.00 lunchtime dance series. Continue Reading

Nobody does the holidays quite like Foiled Again.   This year (their 9^th annual) will be no exception.   You’ll see why many audience members consider this to be a part of their holiday tradition.  Continue Reading

Music Theatre International (MTI), the world’s premier theatrical licensor, will play a leading role on the digital stage with the launch of its free online community, MTI ShowSpaceä (www.mtishowspace.com), it was announced by Jason Cocovinis, MTI’s Director of Marketing.   Dedicated to people who love and live musical theatre, MTI ShowSpaceä offers thespians and fans a space to connect with anyone and everyone involved in the theatrical process, and serves as a continuously expanding free knowledge database so that members can make their next show their best show.  Unlike other social networking outlets, MTI has built an online community that is specific to the practice of putting on a show. Continue Reading

Grammy Award-winner Michael Bublé is coming to the Allstate Arena for one night only on Saturday, March 27!  Tickets go on sale Friday, Dec. 11 at 10 am at Ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-745-3000.

Touring in support of his #1 selling release, “Crazy Love,“ Michael Bublé has been called “one of the most likeable performers

on Earth.”  His previous tour sold-out in 90 US cities where he performed for over 650,000 fans. Michael’s “Crazy Love Tour” will be his biggest and most exciting tour to date. His stage show is propelled by a string of smash hits including “Home,” “Everything” and his current single “Haven’t Met You Yet,” along with Michael’s distinctive interpretations of classics like “Cry Me a River,” “Stardust,” and “You’re Nobody ‘til Somebody Loves You.”  Continue Reading

The Chicago Sinfonietta returns to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance for its second annual Global Holiday Celebration.  Joined by guest conductor André Raphel Smith along with a local Chicago chorus, a vocal quartet and distinguished instrumental soloists, the concert will be a celebration of traditions from around the world.  Continue Reading

One of ShowBiz Chicago’s favorite guests and performers, Linda Eder, will be performing at Park West, December 3rd at 7:30pm.  For tickets please click here.

Linda’s new concert, in a much more intimate setting, will feature songs from her just released album entitled ‘Soundtrack’ for the Verve Music Group label.  The recording contains some of motion pictures greatest songs, reinterpreted as only Ms. Eder’s unique and powerful voice can do.

ShowBiz Chicago will be interviewing Linda tomorrow about her latest release and catching up with her about upcoming projects.  To hear clips and order Linda Eder’s ‘Soundtrack’, click here.

Ms. Eder’s 2008 interview with ShowBiz Chicago can be found here.

The Park West is located at 322 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614.