Colvin Concerts: Candlelight Voyage

Returning for a second year, after sold-out performances in 2024 with Missing Piece, pianist and composer Shi-An Costello will hold a solo residency at Colvin House for four consecutive Thursdays in May 2025, presenting musical portraits of composers Frédéric Chopin and John Cage. Focusing the performances and speaking around the musical and personal lives of these two composers, the residency will provide a deep dive and complete performance of two pillars of piano repertoire: Frédéric Chopin’s beautiful and virtuosic 12 Études, Op. 10 (1833), and John Cage’s playful and vibrant Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (1948). Each evening will include 3 Chopin Études and 4 Cage Sonatas, interspersed with speaking and performances of other works by Chopin and Cage, to illustrate rich connections between the music and each composer’s life and times. The Cage performances are part of Costello’s “Alloy prepared piano project,” which is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Night 1: Thursday, May 1

Set 1: Frédéric Chopin’s Études, Op. 10, Nos. 1, 2, and 3 (“Waterfall”, “Tristesse”); related works by Chopin

Set 2: John Cage’s Sonatas I-IV, Interlude I; related works by Cage

Night 2: Thursday, May 8

Set 1: Frédéric Chopin’s Études, Op. 10, Nos. 4, 5, and 6 (“Revolutionary, “Black Key”); related works by Chopin

Set 2: John Cage’s Sonatas V-IX, Interlude II; related works by Cage

Night 3: Thursday, May 15

Set 1: Frédéric Chopin’s Études, Op. 10, Nos. 7, 8, and 9; related works by Chopin

Set 2: John Cage’s Sonatas X-XIV, Interlude III; related works by Cage

Night 4: Thursday, May 22

Set 1: Frédéric Chopin’s Études, Op. 10, Nos. 10, 11, and 12; related works by Chopin

Set 2: John Cage’s Sonatas XV-**, Interlude IV; related works by Cage

About the Performer:

Described as “steely and granitic… dreamy and sensitive …a tour de force…” (Boston Musical Intelligencer), pianist Shi-An Costello has trailblazed a path truly unique, with repertoire that spans the aesthetic sensibilities of four centuries, from J.S. Bach to Morton Feldman, from Frederic Chopin to Brian Ferneyhough. In recent years, Mr. Costello has appeared in recital with members of Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Toronto, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Winnipeg, Honolulu, and Thunder Bay Symphonies, the Lyric Opera Orchestra of Chicago, and the Musical Pathways Initiative of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In his youth, Costello was a piano and theory student under Vladimir Leyetchkiss, one of the last pupils of the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus, and a trombone student under Richard Schmitt, former principal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Former faculty of Boston Conservatory at Berklee and New Music School, Costello currently teaches a small private studio in Chicago.

Learn more here or on Instagram.

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Donations:

Please reserve a ticket through Eventbrite to help us anticipate the size of our audience for this concert. We hope you will consider making a donation at the door when you arrive at Colvin House. We suggest $20/person, but any amount you are able to give will help us to pay our talented, local musicians and to continue supporting the performing arts by producing these community concerts at the Colvin House.
While we prefer cash donations, Colvin House cannot make change onsite, so please keep that in mind. We also accept Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle, if an electronic payment is preferred. Thank you! We look forward to seeing you.
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Food & Drink:

We are officially selling food onsite at Colvin House! Guests can order from a limited menu each week.
Please note that we no longer allow outside food at Colvin Concerts.
We do not sell alcoholic beverages. A selection of non-alcoholic beverages is available for purchase, but you're welcome to bring your own beer, wine, etc.
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Parking Info:

Colvin House can only provide very limited parking onsite for this event, usually reserved for parkers with disabilities.

The first 15 cars can park FREE at George B. Swift Elementary school, just two blocks west of Colvin House (as space allows). Please come to Colvin House's back door (off Thorndale Ave) first to receive a parking permit from staff who will provide further instruction.
We also recommend The Malibu Condominiums (6007 N Sheridan) public garage, just across the street, north of Colvin House. This parking can be validated by Colvin House for $2.00 off.

Those valet rates are as follows:
· 1 Hour: $6
· 2 Hours: $10
· 3 Hours: $11
· 4 Hours: $13

We recommend arriving early if you need to park.
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+ Please only register / RSVP if you can attend. If plans change, please cancel your reservation or email us at [email protected]
+ We recommend registering tickets as a group (under one name) so our staff can plan to seat your party together.
+Keep an eye on this link and your inbox (once you register) for any announcements in the case of a postponement.

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