Ensemble Dal Niente performs works by Igor Santos, Misato Mochizuki, Fausto Romitelli, and more in the beautiful Hillside Theater at Frank Lloyd Wright’s historic estate. A post-concert discussion will follow the performance.

Performers:

Emma Hospelhorn, Flute
Caitlin Edwards, Violin
Alejandro Acierto, Clarinet
Jesse Langen, Guitar

Frank Lloyd Wright’s home, studio, and garden sanctuary was a laboratory for architecture and design. In its three iterations, Taliesin embodies Wright’s ideas of organic architecture, expanded and refined from his earlier Prairie School works.

On May 30, this musical promenade will take guests through various spaces within Wright’s main residence where members of Dal Niente will offer site-specific instrumental improvisations – spontaneous musical dialogues that respond directly to each room’s acoustics, design, and atmosphere.

The evening will conclude with a wine and cheese artist reception, inviting reflection and conversation between audience members and the ensemble about the shared experience and creative process.

Performers:

Emma Hospelhorn, Flute
Caitlin Edwards, Violin
Alejandro Acierto, Clarinet
Jesse Langen, Guitar

Ensemble Dal Niente’s double reed dream team, Andrew Nogal (oboe) and Ben Roidl-Ward (bassoon), assemble some of their favorite collaborators for a program of boundary-breaking chamber music and also showcase their solo virtuosity. Seattle-based composer Joël-François Durand’s brand new score for the Chicago Wind Project puts microtonal harmony and resonance under a microscope. The bearded double reed luminaries complement Durand’s sensuous and detailed score with pieces by four other leading international voices in contemporary composition and experimental music.

Betsy Jolas (b. 1926) Remember for English horn and cello (1971)

Tonia Ko (b. 1988) Tilt for solo bassoon (2021)

Harrison Birtwistle (1934-2022) Duet 3 for English horn and bassoon (2010)

Toshio Hosokawa (b. 1955) Spell Song for solo oboe (2015)

Joël-François Durand (b. 1954) New piece for the Chicago Wind Project (2026) World Premiere

Members of Dal Niente perform works written by students at the Jacobs School of Music as part of the 48 hours symposium.

Members of Dal Niente perform chamber works at the Jacobs School of Music as part of the 48 hours symposium.

RSVP HERE

Have some drinks, a snack, and a deeeeeep listen to music by modern masters Igor Santos, George Lewis, and Carola Bauckholt as we celebrate the release of our latest recording project: portrait RE / Flux / Pacific Time.

Doors and drinks at 4:30

Listening begins at 5pm

Come celebrate with us!

Dal Niente’s residency at La Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) includes a concert of works by Ana Lara, George Lewis, Nicole Mitchell, Anthony Cheung, and more.

Dal Niente opens its 20th Chicago Season with the return of Hard Music, Hard Liquor. Have a cocktail (or a mocktail, ‘cause it’s 2025) and enjoy some HARD MUSIC.

Program:

Helmut Lachenmann, Dal Niente (Interieur III)

Hilda Paredes, Siphonophorae

Roscoe Mitchell, Cards

Ana Lara, Y los oros la luz

Anthony Cheung, Windswept Cypresses

George Lewis, Mnemnosis

Ensemble Dal Niente with composer Andile Khumalo.

Performers:

Constance Volk, flute

Juan Horie, cello

Mabel Kwan, piano

Dal Niente teams up with Beyond This Point and composer Simon Steen-Andersen to give the New York premieres of Black Box Music and Asthma.

Program:

Simon Steen-Andersen
Asthma, arr. 2025*
for solo bellows, ensemble, and video
* NY premiere

Simon Steen-Andersen
Run Time Error, 2009-2020-
for joystick-controlled video
Simon Steen-Andersen, solo performer

Simon Steen-Andersen
Black Box Music, 2012*
for amplified box, ensemble, and video
* NY premiere

On May 30, Ensemble Dal Niente closes its Chicago season with four great works never before heard in the United States: a world premiere for mixed ensemble by Igor Santos, written for the ensemble with commissioning support by the Koussevitsky Music Foundation of the Library of Congress, along with pieces by Liza Lim, Luis Fernando Rizo Salom, and Fausto Romitelli. Audience members can enjoy complimentary food and drink in the lobby immediately following the concert.

With the friendly support of

Ensemble Dal Niente performs as part of a residency at the University of Tulsa.

Ensemble Dal Niente performs as part of a residency at the University of North Texas.

Dal Niente returns to Western Michigan University for a concert and residency with student composers.

Dal Niente performs as part of a residency at Appalachian State University.