
Trial run for Music of the Baroque's upcoming historic The Chicago Water Music performance conducted by Dame Jane Glover on the Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of Music of the Baroque by Elliot Mandel)
For the first time in Chicago’s history, George Frideric Handel’s music, written in 1717 for the River Thames in London, will be performed on the Chicago River along with some favorite Handel choruses. Dame Jane Glover will conduct The Chicago Water Music with the MOB Orchestra, Chorus, and a group of young musicians from its “Strong Voices” Chorus from seven Chicago public high schools. The music will be free to all listeners along the Riverwalk, bridges, streets close to the lake—anywhere it’s audible and visible.
Currently embarking upon its 54th season, Music of the Baroque announced plans for this unique and historic event with the Chicago River as its stage. The Chicago Water Music will take place Wednesday, September 18, 7:00-8:30 pm, and is one of the featured community events leading up to this year’s Chicago Live! festival on Navy Pier.

Trial run for Music of the Baroque's upcoming historic The Chicago Water Music performance on the Chicago River. (Photo courtesy of Music of the Baroque by Elliot Mandel)
In a celebration of Chicago’s majestic waterways and architecture, Music of the Baroque will perform highlights from Handel’s Water Music and a selection of choral highlights from Shoreline Sightseeing’s “Bright Star” boat as it moves from Ogden Slip to Merchandise Mart. After stopping close to Merchandise Mart to let listeners hear the music and see the performers as the boat remains stationary, the ensemble will reprise the concert as the boat returns to Ogden Slip.
“I’ve been coming to Chicago for over 20 years and have wanted to perform Handel’s Water Music on the Chicago River since the first day I arrived. Now, it’s finally happening! Chicago is one of the world's great music cities, and what a joy it is for us to perform this uplifting, outdoor music right in the heart of the city, on its storied river, no less,” Dame Jane Glover enthused. “We are also overjoyed to partner with singers from our ‘Strong Voices’ choral education program in seven Chicago public schools all over the city, including the Chatham, Pullman, and Englewood neighborhoods. We hope everyone will follow our journey down the river (and back!) on September 18.”
Chicago residents and visitors may enjoy The Chicago Water Music for free from many different locations, including Merchandise Mart, the Riverwalk, the river itself, and the bridges crossing over the boat’s planned route. A second boat for audience members will follow the musicians’ boat; tickets will go on sale to the general public on August 18.
Click here for complete details about the event, including information about tickets for the audience boat and the finalized route plan when it becomes available. The Chicago Water Music is part of Music of the Baroque’s community engagement program, which has included free concerts at the Pritzker Pavilion and Austin’s Kehrein Center for the Arts and collaborations in Englewood, Skokie, and downtown Chicago with companies including South Chicago Dance Theater.
Future plans include a program of Mexican Baroque music in Pilsen.
About Music of the Baroque: Long recognized as one of the region’s top classical groups, Music of the Baroque is a vibrant professional chorus and orchestra devoted to the performance of eighteenth-century works. The ensemble has drawn particular praise for its performances of the major choral and orchestral works of J. S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Haydn. Music of the Baroque draws audiences from across the Chicago metropolitan area, performing regularly at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Symphony Center in downtown Chicago, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, intimate Chicago and suburban churches, the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin, and open-air venues such as the Ravinia Festival and the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
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