Saturday, August 22, 2026, 7:30 pm | Hessel Park
PROGRAM
Liszt, Les Préludes
Grieg, “Anitra’s Dance” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” from Peer Gynt Suite
Williams, Star Wars Suite
Tchaikovsky, 1812 Overture
Join Sinfonia da Camera for a magical summer evening under the stars as ILLIAC returns to historic Hessel Park. Presented by the creators of PYGMALION, this vibrant open-air celebration blends orchestral tradition with cinematic spectacle, inviting audiences of all ages to experience symphonic music in a relaxed, festive setting.
The program opens with the sweeping drama of Franz Liszt’s Les Préludes, a bold and expressive meditation on life’s triumphs and trials. Selections from Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt transport listeners from the delicate allure of “Anitra’s Dance” to the electrifying intensity of “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” The adventure continues with the iconic Star Wars Suite by John Williams, bringing the thrill of the galaxy to life through some of the most beloved film music ever written.
The evening culminates in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, a monumental and exhilarating finale renowned for its triumphant grandeur and explosive power.
Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in for this beloved summer tradition, designed to delight, inspire, and leave audiences cheering long after the final note. New this year, Sinfonia donors in the Conductor’s Circle and above ($1,000+) are invited to enjoy the event's VIP section, featuring seating for you and a guest along with complimentary beverages, wine, and a selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Mozart in G Minor
Classical Splendor
Friday, September 18, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Foellinger Great Hall
Ian Hobson, music director & conductor
Franz Joseph Haydn — Symphony No. 85 in B-flat major, Hob. I:85 (“La Reine”)
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach — Flute Concerto in D minor
Jonathan Keeble, flute
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-flat major, K. 450
Ian Hobson, piano & conductor
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550
Sinfonia da Camera opens the season with a vibrant celebration of the Classical era, where elegance meets expressive depth. C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto in D minor, performed by Jonathan Keeble, captures the empfindsamer Stil with its striking contrasts and improvisatory spirit. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 15, led from the keyboard by Ian Hobson, balances brilliance and refinement with effortless charm. The program culminates in Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor—one of his most dramatic and emotionally charged works—whose urgency and intensity continue to captivate audiences today.
Spellbound
Spanish Sorcery
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Foellinger Great Hall
Ian Hobson, music director & conductor
Paul Dukas — The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Georges Bizet — “Habanera” from Carmen
Marissa Simmons, contralto
Joaquín Rodrigo — Concierto de Aranjuez
Alejandro Sanchez Portuguez, guitar
Manuel de Falla — El amor brujo
Marissa Simmons, contralto
Modest Mussorgsky — Night on Bald Mountain
Mystery, magic, and transformation take center stage in this spellbinding Halloween program. Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice opens with playful virtuosity and storytelling flair, followed by the sultry allure of Bizet’s “Habanera,” featuring contralto Marissa Simmons. Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez provides a lyrical centerpiece, showcasing guitarist Alejandro Sanchez Portuguez in music of haunting beauty and intimacy. The ritualistic intensity of de Falla’s El amor brujo deepens the atmosphere before Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain brings the evening to a thrilling, supernatural close.
Handel’s Messiah
Holiday Grandeur
Friday, December 4, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Foellinger Great Hall
Ian Hobson, music director & conductor
Andrea Solya, choral director
George Frideric Handel — Messiah
Ollie Watts Davis, soprano
Thereza Lituma, mezzo-soprano
John Swedberg, tenor
Ricardo Herrera, bass
University of Illinois Chamber Singers
University of Illinois Oratorio Society
A cornerstone of the holiday season, Messiah remains one of the most beloved works in the choral repertoire. In collaboration with the University of Illinois Choirs under Andrea Solya, Sinfonia da Camera presents this masterwork with an outstanding roster of soloists. From the resounding “Hallelujah” chorus to its most intimate arias, the work offers a powerful journey through celebration, reflection, and renewal—an enduring tradition that continues to inspire audiences year after year.
From Brahms with Love
Poetry & Passion
Saturday, February 13, 2027, 7:30 p.m.
Foellinger Great Hall
Ian Hobson, music director & conductor
Clara Schumann — Konzertsatz in F minor for Piano and Orchestra
Ian Hobson, piano & conductor
Johannes Brahms — Hungarian Dances Nos. 1, 3, and 10
Johannes Brahms — Double Concerto in A minor, Op. 102
Lucia Lin, violin; Owen Young, cello
Johannes Brahms — Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73
Celebrate Valentine’s weekend with a program devoted to the music of Brahms, whose works radiate warmth, lyricism, and emotional depth. Clara Schumann’s Konzertsatz in F minor offers a compelling opening, highlighting her distinctive voice and her close artistic bond with Brahms. The lively Hungarian Dances bring energy and charm, while the Double Concerto unfolds as an intimate dialogue between violin and cello. The evening concludes with Brahms’s Symphony No. 2, a luminous and expansive work whose pastoral beauty provides a radiant and affectionate close.
Firebird Finale
Stravinsky & Tchaikovsky 5
Saturday, April 17, 2027, 7:30 p.m.
Foellinger Great Hall
David DeBoor Canfield — Overture: Threnody for the Victims of Military Aggression
Igor Stravinsky — The Firebird
Franz Liszt — Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S.124
Ian Hobson, piano & conductor
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Symphony No. 5 in E minor, Op. 64
Sinfonia da Camera concludes the season with a program of transformation, power, and renewal. David DeBoor Canfield’s Threnody opens with a work of solemn reflection and contemporary resonance. Stravinsky’s Firebird follows, dazzling with vivid orchestration and mythic storytelling. Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, led from the keyboard by Ian Hobson, combines virtuosity with symphonic sweep. The season culminates in Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, a compelling journey from darkness to triumph, and a fittingly powerful close to the season.