HTP Mainstage

Beethoven X Beyoncé

Steve Hackman

Performances

Nov 20

Performance Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes, including intermission.
Audience Advisory: This performance contains strong language.

This newest fusion production by Steve Hackman combines pop’s Queen B with classical music’s King, for a fantastical trip through an imaginary music festival curated by those two artists: Beethoven and Beyoncé. Intent on redefining art music for the 21st century, Steve Hackman is at once a composer, conductor, producer, DJ, arranger, songwriter, singer, and pianist — creating original, modern music rooted in elevated classicism.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, the orchestral repertoire’s most joyful and exuberant celebration of dance, is the canvas onto which fifteen of Beyoncé’s most popular songs across her prolific catalog are interwoven — including “Who Run the World (Girls),” “Crazy in Love,” “Sorry,” “Formation,” “Cuff It,” “Single Ladies,” and, of course, “Texas Hold 'Em.” The genre-blending production reaches its emotional peak when two of the most recognizable melodies from each composer are intertwined: “Halo” and the hauntingly beautiful second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh.

Three powerhouse female soloists, as well as a guest drummer, guitarist/keyboardist, and bassist, join forces with the Chicago Philharmonic, “one of the country’s finest symphonic orchestras” (Chicago Tribune) and a Harris Theater Resident Company. A bold and thrilling performance, the effect of this blend has audience members dancing in their seats.

“Among the most daring and innovative modern experiments in avant-classical” — Seen and Heard International

About Steve Hackman

A multi-hyphenate musician and creative visionary, Steve Hackman is a daring voice intent on redefining art music in the 21st century. At once a composer, conductor, producer, DJ, arranger, songwriter, singer, and pianist, Hackman combines his polymathic abilities to create original, modern music rooted in elevated classicism.

Heralded by Seen and Heard International as “among the most daring and innovative modern experiments in avant-classical” music, Hackman’s catalog of groundbreaking orchestral fusions includes works like Brahms X Radiohead, The Resurrection Mixtape (Mahler X Notorious BIG X Tupac Shakur), and Beethoven X Coldplay. Written to introduce the symphony orchestra to its future audience, he has conducted his symphonic fusions to sold-out houses at nearly every major orchestra in America, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas, Seattle, Detroit, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Oregon, and the Boston Pops.

Hackman serves as the conductor and curator of the BSO Fusion Series with the Baltimore Symphony, and, since 2010, Creative Director/Conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony’s Uncharted Series, one of the most successful Gen-Z and Millennial-focused concert experiences in the country.

In 2024 he joined the writing team for the 2024 Academy Awards, the Democratic National Convention, and Jimmy Carter’s 100th Birthday Celebration, and collaborated with Charlie Puth, The War and Treaty, and Rickey Minor to arrange the In Memoriam segment during the 2024 Emmys. 2024 also saw the American premiere of two of Hackman’s newest orchestral fusions: Beethoven X Beyoncé and Bohemian Rhapsody in Blue (Gershwin X Queen). Hackman is currently collaborating with Moses Sumney on both an album and film project, while also scoring two feature films and developing several Broadway titles.

He launched his original music project THE BRINK in 2023, a four-part, 300-minute work incorporating wide-ranging elements from lyric opera and art song cycles to hip-hop and electronica. He scored the immersive and experiential work for a hybrid ensemble with Hackman conducting, playing, and singing.
Hackman collaborates often with pop superstars like Steve Lacy, most recently reimagining and conducting Lacy’s repertoire for full orchestra in his tour-culminating show at Los Angeles’s Greek Theatre, streamed live on Amazon. In 2021, he joined Doja Cat’s performances at the VMAs, Billboard Music Awards, and iHeart Radio Music Awards.

Hackman joined Andrew Bird live on the PBS show Articulate and is a frequent collaborator with violinist Joshua Bell. Other collaborators include Hilary Hahn, Dave Koz, The Beach Boys, Michael Bolton, Aoife O’Donovan, Storm Large, Carly Rae Jepsen, and the choral ensembles Voces 8, Chanticleer, The Tallis Scholars, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. In addition, he has partnered with the group Time for Three for nearly a decade, first as music director, producing two of their albums, and penning over fifty arrangements and compositions. Hackman is a frequent contributor to From the Top, and in 2023 taught his first course on reimagining classical music at the Juilliard School.

He is active on Instagram under @stevehackmanmusic.

About Chicago Philharmonic

The Chicago Philharmonic Society is a collaboration of nearly 200 of the highest-level classical musicians performing in the Chicago metropolitan area. Governed under a groundbreaking structure of musician leadership, the Society presents concerts at venues throughout the Chicago area that cover the full spectrum of symphonic music. The Society’s orchestra, known simply as the Chicago Philharmonic, has been called one of the country’s finest symphonic orchestras, and its unique chamber music ensembles, which perform as Chicago Phil Chamber, draw from its vast pool of versatile musicians. The Society’s community engagement programs connect Chicago-area youth to classical music by providing access to symphonic concerts, mentorship from Chicago Philharmonic musicians, and performance opportunities. Founded 32 years ago, the Chicago Philharmonic is known for providing symphonic support to international and national touring companies in all music genres and served as the official orchestra of The Joffrey Ballet for eight years. The Chicago Philharmonic also continues its nearly 30-year association with Ravinia Festival, is a resident company of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, and performs at all the great concert halls of the Chicago and North Shore area, including Auditorium Theatre and Symphony Center. The Illinois Council of Orchestras has awarded the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra of the Year (2018), Programming of the Year (2019), Community Relations of the Year (2019), Executive Director of the Year (2020), and Conductor of the Year (2021). More information can be found at chicagophilharmonic.org.