Andrew Patner, the Chicago-based critic, journalist, broadcaster, author and activist who died Feb. 3 at age 55, regarded Orchestra Hall as a second home, so it was fitting that the venue served as the setting for a public memorial on March 18. If you missed the event, WFMT-FM, where Andrew worked as critic at large for nearly 20 years, will broadcast the event beginning at 10 p.m. Monday, May 11.
Among family, friends and colleagues presenting tributes were Andrew’s brothers Seth and Josh; Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago; from WFMT, Steve Robinson, executive vice president and general manager, and David Polk, program director; Alex Ross, New Yorker magazine music critic; Fred Eychaner, chairman of the Newsweb Corp. and president of the Alphawood Foundation, and Tom Bachtell, noted illustrator and Andrew’s longtime partner. Members of the CSO and Lyric Opera performed in Andrew’s honor, along with jazz pianists Willie and Bethany Pickens.
During the celebration, CSO violist Max Raimi saluted the arts critic and remembered him as “the greatest friend the musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ever had or ever are likely to have.”
Following is the program order of the tribute, which also will be available as a podcast on WFMT.org. Note: Portions of the celebration broadcast on May 11 will not appear in the podcast.
THE PROGRAM:
Introduction by Rabbi Andy Bachman
Video segment: “Andrew in China” (Part I)
Josh Patner, younger brother
Kenny Blum, longtime friend
Live Performance
Bethany Pickens, solo piano
“Critical Thinking” sound collage
Steve Robinson, WFMT general manager, and Hannah Edgar, University of Chicago student
David Polk, WFMT program director
Live Performance
MOZART from Duo for Violin and Viola in G Major, K. 423, Adagio
Rong-Yan Tang, violin; Max Raimi, viola
Video segment: “Andrew in China” (Part II)
Fred Eychaner, chairman of the Newsweb Corp. and president of the Alphawood Foundation
Lori Cannon, co-founder of Vital Bridges, and GLBT activist
Seth Patner, Andrew’s youngest brother
Laura Washington, columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and political analyst for WLS-Channel 7 Chicago
Live Performance
J.S. BACH from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major, BWV 564
CSO Brass: Christopher Martin, trumpet; Tage Larsen, trumpet; David Griffin, horn; Michael Mulcahy, trombone; Gene Pokorny, tuba
Andrew on “This is why we do what we do.”
Laura Emerick, Andrew’s longtime editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and now CSO digital content editor
Marc Geelhoed, CSO media manager
Live Performance
BRAHMS from Sextet for Strings in G Major, Op. 36, Poco adagio
CSO Musicians: Robert Chen Violin; Stephanie Jeong Violin; Lawrence Neuman Viola; Carol Cook Viola; Brant Taylor Cello; Katinka Kleijn Cello
Andrew on Criticism vs. Reviewing
Alex Ross, music critic of the New Yorker magazine
Leif Ove Andsnes on Andrew
Daniel Barenboim on Andrew
Riccardo Muti on Andrew
“Soave sia il vento” from Mozart’s Così fan tutte, performed by the Vienna Philharmonic, Riccardo Muti (conductor), Barbara Frittoli (soprano), Angelika Kirschlager (mezzo-soprano), Alessandro Corbelli (baritone).
Video segment: “Andrew in China” (Part III)
Live Performance
Willie Pickens, solo piano
Richard Shepro, partner at Mayer Brown, and Andrew’s mentor and friend
Anthony Freud, general director, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Live Performance
Aaron Copland, “At the River” (arrangement)
Will Liverman, baritone; Craig Terry, piano
Tom Bachtell
Rabbi Bachman, Kaddish
Video postlude:“Float On,” by The Floaters