Chicago Sinfonietta Announces 'Tap In. Turn Up.' as first concert of The 28th Season, Naperville Oct. 3, Chicago Oct. 5, 2015, Roberto Sierra's 'Fandangos'

Chicago Sinfonietta
Tap In. Turn Up.

Featuring The Firebird Suite
and Scheherazade

Roberto Sierra
www.robertosierra.com

Chicago-based Clinard Dance Theatre and
tap-prodigy Cartier Williams join
Chicago Sinfonietta to open 2015-2016 season

Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, October 3

Symphony Center, Chicago, October 5

CHICAGO (September 15, 2015) – The Chicago Sinfonietta proudly announces Tap in. Turn Up. as the first concert of their 2015-2016 Season.  Percussive rhythms of dancing feet will punctuate the sounds of classical works in Chicago Sinfonietta’s season opener Tap in. Turn Up., featuring Chicago-based flamenco troupe Clinard Dance Theatre and acclaimed Washington, D.C based tap-prodigy Cartier Williams. This concert also marks the first event in a yearlong celebration of the Sinfonietta’s founder Paul Freeman who passed away in July.  Entitled Paul Freeman: Season of Celebration, this series of events will honor the memory of Maestro Freeman through gatherings and musical tributes including a special “moment of sound” at the top of Tap In, Turn Up. The Chicago Sinfonietta performs Tap In. Turn Up. twice: first, in the western suburbs at Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, Naperville, Saturday, October 3 at 8 pm, and then again in its downtown Chicago home venue of Symphony Center, Monday, October 5 at 7:30 pm. 

This global twist on classical masterworks begins with the Spanish sounds of Grammy® Award nominee Roberto Sierra’s Fandangos paired with contemporary flamenco movement followed by excerpts from Stravinsky’s The Firebird: Suite accompanied by the staccato rhythms of tap dancing. Then, all of the dancers unite in a joyful performance set to Alexander Borodin’s Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances to conclude the first half of the concert. In a spectacular grand finale, the entire orchestra joins together in a sultry Arabian Nights performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

“What better way to start our 2015-16 season than with a concert that celebrates the beauty of rhythm both aurally and visually?” stated Sinfonietta Music Director Mei-Ann Chen. “Tap in. Turn Up. offers a new way of hearing, and viewing, well-loved classical works, and highlights the creative continuity to be found across the arts. Audiences are sure to enjoy the combined artistry of the Sinfonietta’s musicians and Chicago’s own talented flamenco troupe, with tap star Cartier Williams.”

In keeping with the concert’s rhythmic theme, before the concert and at intermission, audiences will have the opportunity to learn simple tap steps and body percussion from members of the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Audience members are also encouraged to step in to a video booth set up during intermission and after he concert to share a story about Paul Freeman and the Sinfonietta as part of its “1,000 Stories Project”. Throughout the year, the videos will be collected and used to create a special tribute to premiere at Chicago Sinfonietta’s Ball in June of 2016. Maestro Freeman will continue to be celebrated with special events and musical dedication throughout the season—including two world premiere works created in his memory.

Title:	Chicago Sinfonietta presents “Tap In. Turn Up.”
Dates:	Saturday, October 3 at 8:00 p.m. Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville
	Monday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Tickets:	Single tickets range from $48-$60 for concerts at Wentz Concert Hall and $18-$99 for concerts at Symphony Center, with special $10 pricing available for students at both concerts.  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chicago Sinfonietta box office at 312-236-5429 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

Program:	SIERRA	Fandangos featuring Clinard Dance Theatre
	STRAVINSKY	Excerpts from The Firebird: Suite featuring Cartier Williams
	BORODIN	Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances featuring Cartier Williams and Clinard Dance Theatre
	RIMSKY-KORSAKOV	Scheherazade

Mei-Ann Chen, conductor

Clinard Dance Theatre, flamenco dance

Cartier Williams, tap dance

For over 28 years, the Chicago Sinfonietta has pushed artistic and social boundaries to provide an alternative way of hearing, seeing and thinking about a symphony orchestra. Led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen since 2011, each concert experience blends inventive new works with classical masterworks, each from a diverse array of voices, to entertain, transform and inspire.  Learn more at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

The Chicago Sinfonietta is grateful to its supporters including PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, BlueCross BlueShield, Nicor, Chicago and Naperville Magazines, WLS ABC7, Arte y Vida Chicago, Chicago Reader and WXRT plus Tap in. Turn Up. Prelude sponsors. Macy’s, Korn Ferry, Clarity Partners LLC, Inquest and Chin Up. Thanks also to the Fairmont Hotel and the Hotel Arista for downtown and Naperville guest artists accommodations, and to Southwest Airlines for artist travel.

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