"The Heart of Winter" Beats at The Morton Arboretum

Chamber Concert Series Enchants All Music Enthusiasts

LISLE, IL (October 19, 2009) - Musical selections to soothe winter woes await at The Morton Arboretum's 2009-2010 Chamber Concert Series. "The Heart of Winter" pumps harmony through the veins of the season.

"The series offers a talented and diverse blend of music, instrumentation and performers," says Rita Hassert, Arboretum chamber concert coordinator.

Glide through the works of Bach and Beethoven with members of the Chicago Philharmonic on November 1. "This will represent the first Arboretum appearance of selected members of that highly regarded orchestra," declares Hassert, "their unique combination of violin, viola, cello and flute make a great lead off to our season."

"The Christmas Rose" is a musical blending of traditional melodies and carols with winter tales of hope. On December 6, legendary Celtic harpist Patrick Ball will bring to life tales such as A Child's Christmas in Wales, chapters from The Wind and the Willows and passages from Shakespeare. He is sure to enchant and delight all audiences!

Enjoy the influences of Spanish and Balkan music with the "Cavatina Duo," hailed as the best flute and guitar twosome in the world today, by The New Yorker. A mixture of sounds common to the performers' native countries, this January 10 program spans the Baroque to the present day.

The brass hits the trees of the Arboretum on February 7. Internationally known as one of the world's finest brass musicians, the "Millar Brass Quintet" brings crisp, clean sounds of the classical repertoire that will "take no prisoners!" according to Hassert. The bold sounds will captivate all who attend.

Just in time for spring, audience members will delight in the ethereal sounds of the "Quintuplex Woodwind Quintet." Hear an exceptional blend of classical standards, jazz greats, and popular favorites reverberate from a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and French horn. They will round out the Chamber Concert Series on March 7.

All concerts begin Sunday at 2:15 p.m. and are presented in the Auditorium of the Thornhill Education Center on the Arboretum's west side. Each performance is followed by a reception in the beautiful, wood-paneled Founder's Room.

The Morton Arboretum gratefully acknowledges our sponsors: Illinois Arts Council and the wine sponsor, Bonterra Vineyards.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. Central Time until sunset. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit Press Room at www.mortonarb.org, call to learn more.

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