Violins from the Holocaust part of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s season finale in Palos Heights

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra closes its forty fifth anniversary season with violins from the Holocaust.

Might 13′s Dvořák & Seashore at Trinity Christian School’s Ozinga Chapel in Palos Heights additionally options the world premiere of Jonathan Cziner’s strings-only composition “Nifrach,” which is devoted to his grandparents Manfred and Linda Blum, the previous who misplaced many members of the family within the Holocaust.

“They had been married for over 60 years. He handed away final summer time,” stated Cziner, Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2022-23 composer-in-residence.

“It’s terribly significant. I’m looking for phrases that categorical the profoundness of getting these devices used for this efficiency and what it might have meant to him.

“My hope is that despite the fact that he can’t hear it, it offers consolation to not solely my household however to individuals basically. Many American Jews had been compelled to flee their properties and create a brand new life right here in america. Many different individuals have had that (form of) expertise in their very own manner.”

Cziner stated his grandfather was born in Germany and left most of his prolonged household, whom he by no means heard from once more, to come back to america when he was a younger boy.

“The title ‘Nifrach’ means ‘We Will Blossom’ so the thought of being uprooted and flourishing in a brand new place. My grandfather’s story is emblematic of that nevertheless it’s emblematic of the American Jewish expertise for lots of people,” stated Cziner of Dallas.

“It begins out terribly delicate and strikes from single gamers in every of the string sections and, because the title refers to, turns into extra lush over time. These delicate textures evolve into extra melodic concepts and harmonic concepts.

“It’s a bit that I hope emotionally evokes hope and musically evokes the thought of rising, constructing and flourishing.”

Hosted by JCC Chicago, Violins of Hope offers a number of violins owned and performed by Jewish musicians earlier than and throughout the Holocaust for Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s program, which additionally options Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 and Amy Seashore’s Symphony in E minor, Op. 32.

“I’m grateful to be a small a part of this live performance. It’s actually vital to remind individuals of what occurred,” stated Cziner, who gained Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual Classical Evolve composition competitors in 2021.

“These devices, the sounds they’ll make and the feelings they’ll conjure within the fingers of sensible musicians can remind us of the tragedy and in addition the hope of the longer term.”

Cziner’s future consists of his visitor conducting debut with Better Dallas Youth Orchestra Might 14 when he leads his piece “Ruach (and different delights),” which New York Youth Symphony world premiered March 13, 2022, his grandfather’s ninetieth birthday, at Carnegie Corridor’s Stern Auditorium.

Though Cziner is finishing his composer-in-residence run, he’s engaged on a concerto to world premiere Oct. 14 throughout Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2023-24 season-opening live performance, Music From the Americas, which options violinist Stella Chen whom he met at New York’s The Juilliard College.

“It’s a violin and orchestra piece and I’m writing the piece for Stella Chen,” he stated.

“She gained the 2019 Queen Elisabeth Competitors whereas we had been doing levels collectively so she’s an excellent pal and an exceptionally gifted violinist.”

Dvořák & Seashore

When: 7:30 p.m. Might 13

The place: Trinity Christian School’s Ozinga Chapel, 6601 W. School Drive, Palos Heights

Tickets: $10-$74

Data: 708-481-7774; ipomusic.org

Jessi Virtusio is a contract reporter for the Each day Southtown.