Lawrence “Larry” plans every season for the Highland Strings. This is the work of love, who is the founder, general director and disposable cellist of the group have just ended for the 47th time.
Blok joked that when he began the group, he not only did not assume that the orchestra would be near the 47th season, “I did not assume that I would be near.”
Not only is the block still nearby, but it is as enthusiastic as always. He proudly noted that the Highland Park lines, in which four concerts per season are held, regularly attracts from 600 to 700 spectators.
He ascribes this to several factors. “I think we fill the niche,” he said. “First, our concerts are free. When people come to our concerts, they are blown up. We play the fifth symphony of Beethoven, and, frankly, you could not say the difference from the Chicago symphony. This is the music that people want to hear. I urge our audience to bring my children, my grandchildren. This is intended to be an event for the community, and it turned out. ”
“Larry (block) built a program that I am so proud of,” said Allan Dennis, who in the third year of the strings in Highland Park. “He has excellent players, and he allows me to hire players with the wind, so I know that we have excellent wind players. This is very high quality for the communal orchestra. I have such great respect for him. He knows his audience; He knows his players. “
The orchestra usually has from 60 to 65 musicians.
Although he plans the programs, the block said that the conductor Dennis has a veto.
Blok said that he likes to have a topic for each season. The theme of the 47th season is “300 years of excellent music”.
“Since I am doing programming, I do the works that I love,” Blok admitted.
The season begins at 15:00 on October 19 with Bach, Beethoven and Barber. Elections are “SPLEL No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067” Bach; Barber “Concert for the violin”, op. 14 “with the participation of an invited artist -scripach Yang Liu; and Beethoven “Symphony No. 1 in C Major, OP. 21 “.
“I try to build every concert around what the soloist is doing,” the block explained.
“Orchestras are not playing Bach enough,” Dennis said, noting that he encouraged the block to include Bach’s work as a play of the orchestra in a concert. “He liked the idea.”
Dennis said that the soloist of the flute for the play by Bach will become a member of the orchestra Claudia Kraier from Evvanton.
The concert will be held at the usual place of Highland Park String, Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Ave.
The second concert of the season at 15:00 on December 7 in high school – “All Brahms”. The concert will open with “Hungarian dances”, followed by a “concert for violin and cello (double concert) in a minor, op. 102 ”with the participation of the violinist Ilya Kalera and his is the budget of his son Daniel Kaler. The concert will end “Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, OP. 68 “.
“The December concert is very special, because Ilya Kaler is involved in it,” Blok said. “He was a professor of violin in Depaul (University), but then moved to the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is a world -class violinist, and his son has just joined the symphony of Cincinnati. ”
Dennis noted that he said Blok: “My favorite work around the world is“ Symphony 1. ”Brahms,” so Blok added this choice to the program.
Highland Park strings perform one concert mainly every year in Bennett Gordon Hall in Ravinia. This season, which will be held at 15:00 on February 1, at the All Mozart concert, “Obtura for the marriage of Figaro, K. 492” will be presented; “Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550”; And “Concert for 2 piano at E-Flat Major, K. 365” with the participation of her husband and wife of pianists Susan Merdinger and Stephen Green.
Tickets for the concert for benefits are $ 40 for a total entrance. Call 847-831-3622 for booking.
The season ends at 15:00 on May 17 “The rising star – Bach to Garrop” in high school.
The program includes Brandenburg concert No. 6 in B-Flat Major, BWV 1051 “Bach; “Concert for the violin and alt” Max Bruha with the participation of Desiree Ruhstrat on the violin and Kallia Murray on Viola; “Krakatoa for the Viola” Steisi Garrop with the participation of Murray; And the yard “Serenade for strings in d minor, op. 44. “
“Krakatoa is a mountain that broke out five times,” Dennis said. “Steisi (Garrop) wrote it a couple of years ago, and this is fantastic. There are many drums in it. ”
The block indicated that they have no problem involving these famous soloists. “They love to play with us,” he said. “This is restrained. I have a list. I can't get to all soloists. We had more than 40 members of the Chicago symphonic game. ”
To obtain additional information about the strings of Highland Park, visit Highlandparkstrings.orgField
Mirna Petlitsky is an independent reporter for Pioneer Press.
