If you're still buzzing about the 2008 Beijing Olympics, then you need to be at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's ( CSO's ) opening-night gala Saturday, Sept. 20.
You can forgive Lang if he indulges in a bit of his typical showboating. After all, if you performed in front of billions of people, you would still be on an Olympic high, too.
Also on the opening-night bill is Mussorgsky's Pictures from an Exhibition and Sibelius' Finlandia, each conducted by maestro Charles Dutoit. $55-$249.
If the prices of opening night are too steep for your budget, don't forget the CSO's Macy's Day of Music celebration. Starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27, attendees can experience eight free hours of music throughout the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. It's an event that definitely won't hurt your wallet. 312-294-3000
Renée Fleming is perhaps the most famous American opera soprano around nowadays. Befitting her status—and box-office appeal—The Metropolitan Opera in New York has built an evening around three of Fleming's signature roles for its opening-night gala Monday, Sept. 22. Fleming stars in an acts from Verdi's La Traviata, Massenet's Manon and Richard Strauss' Capriccio. She also sports new costume creations by designers Christian Lacroix, John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel for the occasion.
Why are we discussing something happening miles away in the Big Apple? The Metropolitan Opera has decided to include its opening night as part of its live high-definition simulcast series in movie theaters around the country. So for just $22, you can munch on popcorn while observing celebrities and other well-to-do folks on the red carpet ( seeing how the navigate the under-construction Lincoln Center Plaza should be fun in itself ) . Visit fathomevents.com for a list of participating movie theaters.
If just a movie clip of Fleming singing Manon isn't enough for you, go local and truly live with the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production. The dazzling French soprano Natalie Dessay ( who wowed them at the recent Stars of the Lyric Opera at Millennim Park concert ) stars as the title 18th-century party girl who gives up life in a convent for one of wealth and luxury as an older man's kept girl. ( Who wouldn't? ) Sir Andrew Davis conducts the opera, which also features hunky German tenor Jonas Kaufmann in out director David McVicar's acclaimed London and Barcelona production. Opening night is Sept. 27 and performances continue through Oct. 31. $32-$400; 312-332-2244, ext. 5600
Also worth a look ( if that's all you care about in opera ) is baritone ( or bari-hunk ) Nathan Gunn co-starring with tenor Eric Cutler and soprano Nicole Cabell in Bizet's The Pearl Fishers. This pre-Carmen opera has a great hit duet for the men, and if the Lyric's advertising delivers on its promise, expect them to be shirtless at least once by the evening's end. Oct. 6 through Nov. 4. $32-$197. 312-332-2244, ext. 5600
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra ( ESO ) is on a roll. The ESO's first recording of Copland music on the NAXOS label has been receiving great reviews, and the orchestra has been able to lure a few stars to bright up their season.
Tickets are nearly gone for the ESO season-opening gala concert and celebration at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20. That probably has to do with their guest star, Leonard Nimoy ( Spock of Star Trek fame, pictured left ) . No, Nimoy isn't playing an instrument, but he does provide narration for Holst's The Planets. ( I wonder if Nimoy feels typecast by the classical-music world. ) Also included in the mix are interplanetary photo projections courtesy of NASA ( no word if Nimoy asked for his photographs of Rubenesque women to be included as well ) . $55-$120.
Superstar violinist Midori also appears for a series of residencies with the Elgin Youth Symphony and full out performances with the ESO of Brahms' Violin Concerto Friday-Sunday, Oct. 3-5, in Schaumburg and Elgin. $49-$63. 847-888-4000.
While you're out in the western suburbs, don't miss cabaret singer Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester at the beautifully restored Paramount Theatre in Aurora. Raabe and the Palast Orchester are famous throughout Germany and Austria for their big-band sound in performing songs from the 1920s to the 2000s. One minute, Raabe is crooning the Fred Astaire standard 'Cheek to Cheek,' then next he's doing a big-band cover of Tom Jones' 'Sex Bomb' or Britney Spears' 'Oops, I Did it Again.' Raabe and company perform one night only on Oct. 4. $25.50-$65.50. 630-896-6666
