The Chicago Philharmonic Society will present the finale of its 32nd season, Aretha Rising, on May 29, 2022, Memorial Day Weekend at Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E Randolph, Chicago). Led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Scott Speck, this family-friendly concert features Aretha Franklin’s greatest pop, soul, and gospel songs.
Chicago is the city that crowned Aretha Franklin the Queen of Soul. After a concert at the Regal theater, Chicago icon Pervis Spann walked onstage with a crown, and dubbed Aretha the queen. Now, nearly sixty years later, Chicago Philharmonic honors Franklin’s lasting legacy with a concert featuring Franklin’s hit songs alongside music by artists that inspired her and were inspired by her including Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, and James Brown. Broadway star and acclaimed interpreter of Franklin’s music Capathia Jenkins and vocalist Darryl Williams will join the Chicago Philharmonic and a band of local musicians for a one night only celebration.
“This is such an exciting concert for us,” said Executive Director Terell Johnson. “After a long winter, it’s going to be a joy to welcome the start of summer in Chicago with a concert of fabulous music. Aretha Franklin is one of my personal heroes, and I can’t wait to hear how incredible her music will sound with our orchestra and Capathia.”
“This concert will be a musical journey for the listener,” said Maestro Speck. “We’ll be paying homage to Aretha’s background in gospel with Amazing Grace and What a Friend We Have in Jesus, and then we fast forward to later in her career with A Natural Woman and Respect, and we even dip into her Blues Brothers’ single. What’s especially impressive is that our vocalists really live up to the challenge of singing these iconic songs, and of course, their 'backup band' is one of the world's great orchestras, the Chicago Philharmonic, which continues to amaze me with its virtuosity and versatility.”
(Single tickets ranging from $10-$75 are now available at harristheaterchicago.org.)
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