– CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW 2026-2027 – The 6th Chicago Season
Apollo’s Fire at Ravinia
“PASSIONATE eloquence... Jeannette Sorrell has seamlessly woven her vibrant ensemble into the city’s musical fabric.”
– CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
DEAR FRIENDS,
Welcome to our 6th season in Greater Chicago! This year our series grows to 13 concerts all around Chicagoland. We are also honored to serve as your ambassadors in five capitals of Europe. Thank you for helping us create the magic of live performance – the potent brew of phenomenal musicians, joy onstage, enlightening history, and timeless myths that help us all to connect as fellow wanderers in this world. Join us, and let’s make that magic together!
An International Baroque Orchestra in Residence in Greater Chicago
DOWNTOWN
CHICAGO
NORTH SHORE
HYDE PARK
NAPERVILLE
GRAMMY® winners Apollo’s Fire and Jeannette Sorrell bring “joyous spontaneity” (The New Yorker) to performances from Carnegie Hall to Europe’s finest concert halls. As period-instrument specialists drawn from around the country, we are thrilled to be making a home in Chicagoland.
With over 24 million views on YouTube, we bring baroque music to audiences today with the emotional impact it had when it was new. Through innovative educational programs, we also love to inspire youth to discover their own love of classical music and historical world music of diverse cultures.
Passion. Period.
photo by Dale Dong
An International Baroque Orchestra in Residence in Greater Chicago WHY
“One of the most ADMIRED early music ensembles in the U.S.”
– GRAMOPHONE
“TRANSCENDENT... easily one of the most memorable musical evenings in recent years.”
– CHICAGO CLASSICAL REVIEW
“Sorrell and her dazzling period ensemble... are INCANDESCENT. ”
– THE SUNDAY TIMES, London
“MESMERIZING... brimming with energy and imagination.”
– BBC MAGAZINE
“An ELECTRIC performance… ringing with musical joy and mirth.”
– CHICAGO ON THE AISLE
SUBSCRIBE?
• SAVE and guarantee the best seats for the year!
• Create your own customized subscription package
• Bring-A-Friend for Free (1 voucher per subscription package)
• Advance priority reservations for special events
PRE-CONCERT CONVERSATIONS
45 minutes before the concert, with artists and visiting scholars. Please note there will be no pre-concert conversations for Handel's Messiah.
Join us after select concerts for treats and mingling with the musicians. Open to all. Details on concert pages.
Saturday
November 7, 7:30pm
Music Institute of Chicago
EVANSTON
Sunday
November 8, 5:00pm
CHICAGO Cultural Center
Join the artists for treats and sparkling drinks in the lobby after the concert!
Open to all.
“Jeanine De Bique is one of the most exciting sopranos to catch onstage these days. Animated, joyful, and technically flawless.”
– OPERAWIRE
Jeanine De Bique, soprano
Legendary Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique has taken Europe by storm in recent years. In this stunning new program designed by Jeannette Sorrell, De Bique joins the Apollo’s Fire orchestra to explore the historical connections between Europe and the Caribbean colonies in the 18th century. Across the waters, tales of love, despair, and resilience emerge from the palaces of Europe and the plantations of the Caribbean. The virtuoso music of Handel, Purcell, Rameau and Vivaldi meets the soulful voices of Caribbean poets in this celebration of our shared humanity.
Echoes ACROSS THE ATLANTIC
Catch this program before it heads out on an international tour to Carnegie Hall, London, Paris, Brussels, Lisbon, and more…!
Tuesday
December 15, 7:00pm
St. James Cathedral
Wednesday
December 16, 7:00pm
Alice Millar Chapel, Northwestern University
Handel's MESSIAH
Thursday
December 17, 7:00pm
Wentz Concert Hall
NAPERVILLE
Please note there will be no pre-concert conversations for these performances.
Join the artists for treats and sparkling drinks in the lobby after the concert! Open to all.
with Apollo's Singers
On period instruments, Apollo’s Fire and Jeannette Sorrell take Handel’s masterpiece back to its roots as a dramatic and uplifting entertainment. The soloists become “visionary storytellers” in this acclaimed interpretation. Jeannette and Apollo’s Singers arrive in Chicago just after performing Messiah in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic.
Concert length: 2hr, 15min.
“The players take their namesake 'fire' to heart." –NEW YORK TIMES TAKE THE MUSIC HOME!
Maya Kherani soprano
Jonathan Rhodes tenor
Amanda Crider mezzo-soprano
Kevin Deas bass-baritone
Jeannette Sorrell conductor
Friday
February 5, 7:30pm
Nichols Concert Hall
Music Institute of Chicago
EVANSTON
Saturday
February 6, 7:30pm
Murphy Auditorium
Driehaus Museum
CHICAGO
Fiddle Virtuosity from the Pubs of London
In 17th-century England, great composers loved to take inspiration from popular tavern songs and dance tunes. Virtuoso violinist Alan Choo and six friends invite you on a delightful romp through John Playford’s collections of fiddle variations, alongside music of Dowland, Eccles, and Purcell. A cozy winter program with lute, recorder, baroque & Celtic harp, and delightful soprano Andréa Walker.
“Alan Choo was absolutely in charge… as both soloist and ensemble leader, living in the moment.”
–SEEN & HEARD INTERNATIONAL
Sunday March 14, 4:00pm
Alice Millar Chapel
Northwestern University
EVANSTON
Monday, March 15, 7:00pm
St. James Cathedral
CHICAGO
Bach's ST. MATTHEW PASSION
A Dramatic Presentation
– OPERA NEWS RELATED CD ALBUM
“Jeannette Sorrell led a revelatory performance... impassioned singing and playing bring Bach’s score to life with contemporary immediacy.”
with Apollo’s Singers & the Children’s Choir of St. James Cathedral
Apollo’s Fire and conductor Jeannette Sorrell are thrilled to present to Bach’s most legendary masterpiece on the 300th anniversary of its premiere in Leipzig (1727). In this dramatic presentation, the singers in the character roles (Jesus, Pilate, etc) interact with each other, singing from memory. The GRAMMY®-nominated chorus Apollo’s Singers is joined by children’s voices to create a sense of communal gathering in Sorrell’s interpretation. British tenor Ed Lyon, fresh from major successes at London’s Covent Garden, inhabits the role of the Evangelist as an animated storyteller.
Ed Lyon The Evangelist
Nathaniel Sullivan Jesus Carine Tinney soprano Aryssa Leigh Burrs mezzo-soprano
THE FOUR SEASONS
Friday
April 9, 7:30pm
Fullerton Hall
Art Institute of CHICAGO
Sunday
April 11, 4:00pm
KAM Isaiah Israel
HYDE PARK
Monday April 12, TBApm
WEST SIDE
Primavera! Vivaldi Celebration
TWO VERSIONS OFTHE PROGRAM!
VIVALDI ON FIRE!
Saturday
April 10, 7:30pm
Nichols Concert Hall
Music Insitute of Chicago
EVANSTON
Join the artists for treats and sparkling drinks in the lobby after the concert! Open to all.
Apollo’s Fire celebrates spring with Vivaldi’s beloved “Primavera” (springtime) concerto from the Four Seasons. Internationally acclaimed Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana returns to Apollo’s Fire for this joyful dive into Vivaldi-mania! Choose between 2 versions of the program, or go to both!
The Four Seasons (April 9 & 11-12)
Each storyline of Vivaldi’s masterpiece is brought to life with joy and surprises!
Vivaldi on FIRE (April 10)
Sparks fly with virtuoso concertos, including the famous “Il Grosso Mogul” violin concerto and Vivaldi’s stormy Concerto for Two Cellos.
“[Francisco Fullana is] a rising virtuoso of outstanding potential.”
Apollo’s Fire is thrilled to bring our music to all people regardless of location and economic status. We believe that everyone deserves to share in the inspirational powers of classical music. IN
Our award-winning string training program brings our 8 teaching artists into the public schools of Matteson (south-side suburb) 5 days/week, inspiring a love classical music in about 80 youth.
Harmony + Diversity = Hope
We are proud to offer training, mentoring, and career development for talented young artists of color. These artists enrich our concerts and our understanding of the world we live in. Learn more at apollosfire.org/mosaic
CATCH APOLLO’S FIRE ON TOUR!
FAMILY CONCERTS (FREE!)
WARNING: Audience members might learn to sing a fugue theme or dance the Menuet! AF Family Concerts spark learners of all ages with impromptu quizzes, prizes, and opportunities to talk with the musicians and try playing the instruments. Details at apollosfire.org/chicago/family
JEANNETTE SORRELL & APOLLO'S SINGERS
Handel’s MESSIAH with the New York Philharmonic
December 9-13
LINCOLN CENTER
New York City
November
LISBON
HOW TO ORDER
MAIL: 3091 Mayfield Road, Suite 217, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118. Return your form by June 15 for exclusive renewing subscriber priority seating or by July 31 for general subscriber priority seating.
PHONE: Call the AF Box Office at 800.314.2535 x 1
ONLINE: Subscribe online at apollosfire.org.
SINGLE TICKETS
will be available online and via phone beginning August 17. Ticket prices start at $30, and are subject to availability. Details on discounts and policies available on the following page.
SAMPLE SEATING CHART
CHOOSE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION
CHOOSE YOUR PERFORMANCES
Please circle your preferred performances and write in the number of bring-a-friend tickets you would like to redeem. Subscribers receive one bring-a-friend ticket per subscription. These tickets can also be redeemed later by calling the box office.
in
PAYMENT INFORMATION
SUBSCRIPTION TOTAL
TICKET DELIVERY
q Mail my tickets
q Email my tickets
q Hold my tickets at the door
Please consider covering transaction fees (3% of order total recommended)
Keep Apollo’s Fire Chicago burning with a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION (Thank you!)
q Personal Check enclosed (payable to Apollo’s Fire)
q VISA q Mastercard
VENUES
Art Institute of Chicago
Fullerton Hall
111 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago,60603
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E Washington Street, Chicago, 60602
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum
50 East Erie Street, Chicago, 60611
KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation
5039 S. Greenwood Ave., Chicago, 60615
TICKETING POLICIES
Music Institute of Chicago
Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston, 60201
Northwestern University
Alice Millar Chapel
1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston, 60208
St. James Cathedral
65 E. Huron Street, Chicago, 60611
Wentz Concert Hall
171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville, 60540
SEATING DETAILS | Ticket orders are processed in the order they are received. Subscription orders placed by July 31 will receive priority seating. Listed prices include taxes and processing fees.
DISCOUNTS | Discounted tickets are available for Seniors (65+) and Young Adults (40 and under) in sections A and B. Tickets for full-time students are $12, available in sections B and C.
STUDENT RUSH TICKETS | FREE at the door for full-time students with a valid student ID.
PRESTO SEATS | $12 Presto Tickets go on sale 3 weeks before each subscription concert. Seats are guaranteed, but assigned by the box office. There is a limit of 50 Presto tickets per program.
GROUP DISCOUNTS | Please call the box office to learn more group rates. Groups of 10-14 receive a 10% discount; groups of 15-19 receive a 15% discount; groups of 20 or more receive a 20% discount.
EXCHANGES | Tickets (other than Presto Seats) can be exchanged for other performances in the 2026-2027 season. There is a $2 exchange fee per ticket –subscribers have free exchange privileges. All exchanges must be made at least 48 hours before the performance.
TICKET DONATIONS | Can't attend? You can donate your ticket(s) back to Apollo's Fire by calling the box office at least 48 hours before the concert date.
All programs, artists, dates, and venues are subject to change.
