“When the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra makes its Chicago debut next month, it will bring stars both literal and figurative to the Symphony Center,” writes Luke Wilusz in Wednesday’s (10/9) Chicago Sun-Times. “The Oct. 14 show, titled ‘The Galaxy’s Greatest Hits,’ will feature an arrangement of space-themed pieces to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1969 moon landing, conducted by Benjamin Northey and hosted by ‘Star Trek’ actor George Takei…. In between pieces, Takei will be in conversation with Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke…. Managing director Sophie Galaise said Chicago’s exciting music/cultural arts scene made the city a prime location to kick off the orchestra’s first U.S. tour in nearly 50 years…. Chicago jazz vocalist Kurt Elling and Australian jazz musician James Morrison also will join the orchestra to perform standards.… [Galaise] said the decision to do a space-themed show to commemorate the moon landing was inspired, in part, by Australia’s national pride for the role the country played in broadcasting Neil Armstrong’s iconic first steps: A satellite dish in Australia was used as a relay to transmit the video from the Apollo 11 mission worldwide. Takei recalls watching the broadcast.”
Posted October 11, 2019
