In conjunction with the concert, Jesse Revenig, a doctoral candidate at Northwestern University, will discuss Samual Barber and Benjamin Britten in relation to sexuality — particularly the fact that these composers lived as openly gay in a time when this was not acceptable. This talk is on Friday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Curtain Call Club in the Athenaeum Theater. This event is free.

"Masters of the 20th and 21st Centuries" showcases interesting compositions including Pärt's "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten". For this concert, CAO will be joined by the City Voices Chorus directed by William Chin, assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Chin is also the artistic director of the Oriana Singers, an international prize-winning vocal ensemble.

City Voices debuted in 2009 and is an amateur chorus that performs with the precision and passion of professionals. This Oak Park-based group of approximately 50 singers performs works from Monteverdi and Handel to Mahler and Whitacre and boasts a solid tradition of top-quality music making. City Voices will perform with CAO on Arvo Pärt's "Berliner Messe".

"I'm excited about the collaboration between City Voices and the Chicago Arts Orchestra," said Chin. "I think the combination of a rising new choral ensemble with an innovative up-and-coming orchestra is a perfect fit for performing this work by an acknowledged modern master."

Chicago Arts Orchestra seeks to touch an underserved and neglected audience through the championing of all types of serious music. CAO performs great music by all types of composers—from the old canon and the new canon, from a range of historical periods spanning the creation of the orchestral genre through the present day, and most importantly, by composers who have been marginalized by birth, ethnicity, religion or circumstance. The musicians and creative artists at the heart of CAO use innovative presentation and programming to bring this music to both traditional and new audiences, work to re-energize its appeal to young people, and hope to create a new canon that rediscovers important, neglected works. The orchestra is made up of professional musicians who maintain active performing schedules. The CAO provides educational opportunities for the community through the performance of historic and new orchestral music.

Chicago Arts Orchestra ( CAO ) kicks off its 2011-12 season with the concert "Masters of the 20th and 21st Centuries" featuring music written for string orchestra by composers Samuel Baber, Benjamin Britten, Eric Ewazen, and Arvo Pärt on Saturday, November 19 at 8 p.m. at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets range from $25 to $17 and $15 for students and seniors.. The concert will include a pre-concert "Prelude" discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are purchased through the Athenaeum Theatre via its website, www.athenaeumtheatre.com, by phone 773-935-6860 or in person at the Athenaeum box office.

In addition, the talk by Jesse Revenig about Samual Barber and Benjamin Britten in relation to sexuality is on Friday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Curtain Call Club in the Athenaeum Theater. This event is free.