Principal conductor Carlos Kalmar returns to conclude the final weeks of the Grant Park Orchestra season on the heels of the release of no less than two superb CDs on the Chicago-based Cedille label with the orchestra—“Portraits” with Chicago violinist extraordinaire Jennifer Koh performing violin concertos by Syzmanowski, Martin and Bartók, and “American Orchestral Works,” including world-premiere recordings by three generations of American composers, including Barbara Kolb, Aaron Jay Kernis, Michael Hersch, first CSO composer-in-residence John Corigliano and John Harbison. Born of Viennese parents in Uruguay, Kalmar grew up with South American music, which will be spotlighted on this program along with a new and lively take on the traditional, excessively melodramatic and often morbid Portuguese “fado” or “fate” music tradition provided by guest singer Cristina Branco. (Dennis Polkow)
August 2 at Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan between Randolph and Monroe, (312)742-7638. 6:30pm. Free.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
