Released on: February 11, 2008, 2:23 pm

Press Release Author: Jennifer Navarro

Industry: Entertainment

Press Release Summary: New Philharmonic Orchestra presents a lesson in classical
music this February with its \"3 Rs concert,\" featuring selections from Rachmaninoff,
Ravel and Revueltas, and a special appearance by renowned pianist Meng-Chieh Liu.


Press Release Body: Conductor Kirk Muspratt and New Philharmonic Orchestra invite
Chicago area music lovers to learn the three Rs of classical music at "Rachmaninoff,
Ravel and Revueltas," the fourth concert of the orchestra's 31st season, at 8 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 22, and Saturday, Feb. 23, at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College
of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Critically acclaimed guest pianist Meng-Chieh Liu will join the orchestra playing
two piano pieces on a $160,000 Fazioli piano donated specifically for this concert
by Thomas Zoells, owner of Chicago's PianoForte. Often called "the Ferrari of
pianos," Faziolis have won praise around the world for their superior construction
and luxurious sound.

To begin the concert, Muspratt will lead the orchestra in one of Silvestre
Revueltas' best known and most performed works, the riveting Afro-Cuban "Sensemaya,"
a piece adapted from the poem "Sensemaya: Chant to Kill a Snake," by Cuban poet
Nicolás Guillén. "Sensemaya" is often stylistically compared to Igor Stravinsky's
"The Rite of Spring," with its use of distinctive tone colors and complex rhythmic
structures.

"I am so pleased to be doing a piece by this fine Mexican composer," said Muspratt.
"Sensemaya is at once brutal and completely mysterious. It invokes the slithering
feel and the cold, glistening eyes of the snake, and the terror of the people who
are hunted by it."

Maurice Ravel's masterpiece, "La Valse," will be performed twice, first as a piano
solo by Liu and again as a full orchestral suite. Originally conceived as a
whimsical tribute to the waltz, "La Valse" was changed after World War I to reflect
the turmoil and strife in Viennese culture.

"Ravel possessed a unique ability to convey powerful, expressive messages through
his orchestrations," said Muspratt. "They continue to astonish modern-day
audiences."

Liu will conclude the evening with Sergey Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto no.3 in D
minor." Famous for its technical and musical demands on the performer, as well as
its profound beauty, the piece is often described as one of the most difficult
concertos in the entire piano repertoire. Written in 1909, it was popularized in the
1996 film "Shine," which portrays Australian pianist David Helfgott performing "the
hardest piece in the world" for a piano competition.

Challenges like Rachmaninoff's concerto are nothing new to Liu; at the promising
start of his career in 1995, the young pianist was diagnosed with a rare and
debilitating disease that affected his connective tissues. Doctors gave him very
little chance to survive, and no chance of playing the piano again. With incredible
determination and extensive physical therapy, Liu overcame the disease and embarked
again on his concert career in 1998, just three years after his initial diagnosis.
Since then, Liu has graced stages around the world.

"Meng Chieh-Liu plays like few today. He plays with the great style of masters that
are no longer with us - the Rubensteins, the Richters, the Rachmaninoffs," said
Muspratt. "He is someone who completely understands the 'old style.'"

Following "Rachmaninoff, Ravel and Revueltas," New Philharmonic will continue its
2007-2008 season with a concert in April featuring all Beethoven works and
performances of "Tosca" with sister company DuPage Opera Theatre in July.

At each concert, New Philharmonic carries on its tradition - and mission - of making
classical music accessible with elements that enrich and enliven the concert
experience. These include: Interactive Intermissions, which bring the musicians off
the stage and into the lobby to mingle with patrons; Just Ask Kirk, the maestro's
question-and-answer session; and post-concert Cookies with Kirk, sponsored by The
Meadows of Glen Ellyn, an opportunity to meet the conductor.

Tickets to "Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Revueltas" are $33 for adults, $31 for seniors
and $23 for students and patrons under 17. For tickets, call (630) 942-4000 or visit
www.atthemac.org.

--About New Philharmonic Orchestra--
New Philharmonic Orchestra is a fully-professional, 80-member orchestra that has
inspired classical music enthusiasts in Chicago and the suburbs for three decades.
Under the direction of Conductor and Music Director Kirk Muspratt, named a 2006
Chicagoan of the Year in the arts, the group gives innovative treatment to both
classic compositions and modern works, and strives to make the music accessible to
new audiences and youth through a variety of educational efforts. New Philharmonic
is the resident orchestra of the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen
Ellyn, Ill., and performs a complete season annually.

--About the McAninch Arts Center--
The McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage (MAC) is a state-of-the-art facility
bringing professional theater, music, dance, comedy, opera and visual art to the
residents of Northern Illinois. Housing three distinctive performance spaces and an
art gallery, the facility's unique design allows patrons to experience all the arts
under one roof.

Since its opening in 1986, more than one million people have attended performances,
gallery exhibits or events at the facility. The MAC scheduled more than 250
performances during 2006-2007 alone, bringing in more than 69,000 patrons from the
Chicago region and beyond.

In addition to presenting touring artists, the MAC houses five resident professional
companies, including New Philharmonic Orchestra, DuPage Opera Theatre, Arts Center
Jazz Ensemble, Buffalo Theatre Ensemble and New Classic Singers.
The MAC also maintains a robust community outreach program with initiatives such as
its SchoolStage program, which connects performers and students for an interactive,
educational arts experience.

Because of its efforts to increase community access to the arts, the MAC has earned
the Illinois Arts Council's Partners in Excellence designation, which recognizes 40
of the most significant cultural institutions throughout the state.

The MAC is conveniently situated 30 miles west of Chicago in central DuPage County,
near I-88 and I-355, and offers free parking and discounted rates for groups and
outings. For tickets and information, please call (630) 942-4000 or visit
www.AtTheMAC.org.
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The mission of the McAninch Arts Center is to foster enlightened educational and
performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting
relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the
community.





Web Site: http://www.atthemac.org

Contact Details: New Philharmonic Orchestra
McAninch Arts Center
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
630-942-4000