2020/21 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RICCARDO MUTI SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS
ZELL MUSIC DIRECTOR
welcome to the 130th season “The partnership of Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has no real rival in the U.S. and precious few around the world.”
chicago tribune
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Muti’s Vision for the Season CSO Musicians in the Spotlight Anything but Ordinary Explore the 2020/21 Season Discover Your Perfect Series 38 Chicago Symphony Orchestra 46 Symphony Center Presents Subscribe Season Grid Support the CSO
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muti’s vision for the season Mozart said that the deepest musicconducts is the one hidden between the notes. The mystery is there riccardo muti the CSO in that space that encloses the universe. With each performance, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and I seek to communicate the infinite power of what cannot be said but what can be felt deeply by the spirit through music. Being a musician is a choice we have made for passion. We might even say it is a mission: it is the continuous search for an interpretative truth, for an unattainable perfection. It is a privilege to pursue this quest with this exceptional orchestra. Please join us during the 2020/21 season as we explore the depths found in the music of humanity’s great composers. riccardo muti
The 2020/21 season celebrates the singular partnership between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and its 10th music director, Maestro Riccardo Muti. “This orchestra has given me the possibility to experience complex, difƂcult repertoire in a way that other, less virtuosic, orchestras could not,” said Muti of the ensemble he often fondly refers to as a Ferrari— an apt comparison as both are synonymous with excellence, power and agility. The selected repertoire for this season displays these qualities and more, whether evoking the exquisite reƂnement of Mozart’s Gran Partita (mar. 18–20) or the searing intensity of Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony (mar. 9). In addition to showcasing the Orchestra’s talents with his programmatic choices for the ensemble, Muti also continues to feature CSO musicians as soloists in concerts throughout the season. As the new season begins, Muti continues the CSO’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth with his Missa solemnis (sept. 24–26). Muti describes this work as one of “vast dimensions” from a “metaphysical sphere.” To hear the Missa solemnis performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, along with an international cast of vocal soloists, will be a monumental artistic and cultural experience. The human voice in all its colors is a focal point of several special programs led by Muti. He brings an unparalleled expertise that extends from
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the world of opera to sacred choral works and song cycles. This season features remarkable examples of each category, from Cherubini’s Mass for the Coronation of Charles X (mar. 4–6) to a rousing season Ƃnale of Italian opera highlights (june 10–13). In many of these performances, Muti and the Orchestra are joined by the Chicago Symphony Chorus, as well as esteemed singers from the world of opera, including the return of mezzo-sopranos Anita Rachvelishvili in Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody (mar. 4–6) and Alice Coote in Elgar’s Sea Pictures (oct. 22–27). Introducing new music to CSO audiences has been an important part of Muti’s artistic legacy as music director. Having studied composition himself for 10 years, he has the utmost respect for composers: “I approach music of the Classical period—Baroque, modern, Romantic, contemporary—always in the same way, with the same seriousness,” he said. “The moment of truth comes when what the composer has sought is coming to life in the performance.” He has selected Thomas Adès, Gabriela Lena Frank, Magnus Lindberg, Kaija Saariaho and Julia Wolfe, among others, to represent the current generation of composers with performances of their works, including the world premieres of two CSO commissions. Throughout their time together, Muti and the Orchestra have created a sound that is simultaneously deƂned by its excellence and its distinctiveness. “The revered Italian conductor has reinforced the Orchestra’s vaunted international stature with stand-out concerts in Orchestra Hall and tours across Asia, Europe and North America,” afƂrms the Chicago Sun-Times. Experience this exceptional combination throughout the 2020/21 season with music selected to display all of the talents of the CSO.
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cso musicians in the spotlight Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra share an exceptional bond. As Muti observed in 2007, “The way they responded to my musical ideas and the sense of family that we immediately created together pushed me to accept this very prestigious commitment.” Over the past 10 seasons, their music-making together has evolved into a partnership without equal. To showcase their artistry, Muti has invited CSO members to perform concertos at Orchestra Hall and on tour. This tradition continues during the 2020/21 season with broadranging repertoire that illustrates their individual virtuosic talents.
Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson principal flute Sarah Bullen principal harp “I’ve devoted my life to this, and I’m happy to share it with you. That’s all it is. A performance just has to be a pure exchange of your voice, of who you are.” sarah bullen Written for an aristocratic French father-and-daughter duo, Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp is a charming dialogue between instruments that blend perfectly. “As a performer, you must draw these qualities from within yourself to bring the piece to life,” says Sarah Bullen. “That exercise of self-exploration is both a thrill and a joy.” Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson adds, “There is an intensity with which I like to play. I meditate on my material and try to get inside the music.” sept. 18 & 20
Stephen Williamson principal clarinet “I first heard the Copland concerto performed by Benny Goodman on the radio when I was in sixth grade. It had such a profound impact on me. I wanted to play this piece that very moment I heard its opening phrase.” stephen williamson Commissioned by Chicago native Benny Goodman, Aaron Copland’s Clarinet Concerto seamlessly blends classical and jazz influences. Copland composed the score while traveling through South America in 1947, and its second movement evokes a Brazilian popular tune while also capturing Goodman’s elegant, swinging style. The concerto was praised by fellow composers including Stravinsky, Bernstein and Ginastera, who said it represents “the condensed voices of a whole country.” As Stephen Williamson notes, “The concerto truly runs the gamut combining finesse and tenderness with raucous joy and true ‘jam session’ with everyone on stage.” nov. 5–8
William Welter principal oboe “From the moment I set foot on the stage of Orchestra Hall, I was so impressed with the incredible sound I heard—it was a perfect blend of power and elegance.” william welter
Mozart completed only one concerto for oboe, and it is remarkable in every way. This music is not only deeply expressive, but also perfectly idiomatic, revealing the kind of gift for natural, memorable melody that few composers ever possess. This performance of Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C Major, K. 314 will mark William Welter’s first solo appearance with the Orchestra. dec. 3–8
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David Herbert principal timpani “When the musicians communicate to you directly and sincerely, you will know it. That’s the pride and electricity of a CSO performance.” david herbert Principal Timpani David Herbert solos in a work by William Kraft, one of America’s greatest living composers and a champion of percussion repertoire. Although Herbert has performed Kraft’s Timpani Concerto No. 1 the world over, this will be the first time with the CSO. He describes it as “beautiful, intimate, confrontational, colorful and most importantly, engaging.” Herbert is excited to showcase this work in the composer’s home city of Chicago. “The audiences who attend the CSO are my favorite people in the world, and I am honored to play music for you, in this great city!” jan. 14–16
Gene Pokorny principal tuba
Robert Chen concertmaster “As a young man studying music and aspiring to a solo career, I dreamt about playing with the greatest orchestras in the world. I am living that dream.” robert chen Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 is one of five he composed in the mid-1770s while still living in his hometown of Salzburg, and undoubtedly designed to perform himself. It is also one Robert Chen holds close to his heart. “It’s the first Mozart concerto that I studied and the one I played for my CSO solo debut,” Chen recalls. “What strikes me about Mozart’s music is the simplicity in which he communicates human existence. In this concerto, he combines youthful exuberance with subtle complexity. The second movement has a simple, yet profoundly moving melody.” He adds, “Each time I return to Mozart, there is something new to discover. I am really excited to perform it with Maestro Muti.” mar. 9
“I realize more and more the special affinity the subscribers have for the efforts and results achieved by members of the Orchestra on stage. What a great connection to have!” gene pokorny For his latest concerto, famed Hollywood composer Lalo Schifrin refuses to put the tuba in a box: “In my inner ear, I heard a different quality after asking some virtuosi of the instrument to experiment with me in a melodic and linear way.” One of those virtuosi is CSO Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny, who premiered the work in 2018 and will perform it with the CSO. Pokorny hopes this music, which he describes as “panoramic in its orchestration,” will expand listeners’ appreciation of the composer famous for the Mission: Impossible theme. Composed in a neo-Baroque style, Schifrin’s Tuba Concerto “pushes the player to some extraordinary limits,” says Pokorny. jan. 14–16
top row left to right: stefán ragnar höskuldsson, sarah bullen, stephen williamson, william welter; bottom row left to right: gene pokorny, david herbert, robert chen
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gabriela lena frank
amadeus
julia wolfe
jessie montgomery
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anything but ordinary The 2020/21 season not only features beloved masterworks but also a number of new and exceptional events, allowing listeners to experience the limitless versatility of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Amadeus Live Subscribers can experience the thrill of film with live orchestra on the CSO Classical and CSO at the Movies series. Winner of eight Academy Awards® including Best Picture, Miloš Forman’s 1984 feature film Amadeus is a work of cinematic genius featuring nearly two dozen of Mozart’s most celebrated works. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and conductor Constantine Kitsopoulos bring this masterpiece to life, performing the score while the feature film is shown on a giant screen above the stage. oct. 8–13 An American Salute From the rustic optimism of Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, written during World War II, to the syncopated rhythms of Leonard Bernstein, An American Salute celebrates the rich diversity of American music. Bramwell Tovey, “one of the most versatile and charismatic musicians in the world” (Musical America), leads this program that also features Copland’s Clarinet Concerto, written for Benny Goodman, and a world premiere by Gabriela Lena Frank. Frank’s compositions celebrate her cosmopolitan ancestry—Lithuanian, Peruvian and Chinese—in a mix of styles that is, in her words, “deeply American.” nov. 5–8
Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind The Orchestra Hall stage will be transformed into a theatrical space with lighting, costumes and movement for Michael Tilson Thomas’ Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind, scored for soprano, two backup singers, bar band and chamber orchestra. This song cycle fuses together the poetry of Illinois native Carl Sandburg with multiple musical styles, including jazz, rock and soul, and influences of Gershwin, Bernstein and Stravinsky. The “versatile and theatrical soprano” (Los Angeles Times) Measha Brueggergosman is featured in this exhilarating concert experience. dec. 10–12 Rising Stars of the Violin Edo de Waart conducts three top-prize winners from recent, major international violin competitions in their CSO debuts. Superb young soloists Stella Chen, winner of the 2019 Queen Elisabeth Violin Competition; Timothy Chooi, first-prize winner at the 2018 Joseph Joachim Competition, and Sergei Dogadin, 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition winner, each will perform a virtuosic work for violin and orchestra. The program also includes stirring music by Berlioz, Strauss and Mendelssohn. dec. 17–19
Her Story: Celebrating the Centenary of Women’s Right to Vote The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in August 1920, granting women the right to vote. Her Story, a new commission by Pulitzer Prize winner Julia Wolfe, known for her energetic, vivid and powerful compositions on historical themes, celebrates the centenary of this watershed event. Marin Alsop and the all-female vocal ensemble Lorelei perform this new work, featuring costumes and lighting effects, in a dramatic presentation that honors the landmark achievement of women’s suffrage. Also featured on the program is the first CSO performance of Jessie Montgomery’s Starburst. The work’s swiftly changing colors evoke a galaxy changed by a rapid formation of new stars—a metaphor for a changing, more inclusive social landscape. feb. 26 & 27 cso.org 9
“Every single soloist in Muti’s orchestra is a jewel.” frankfurter allgemeine zeitung
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top right: esteban batallán; middle row: keith buncke; richard hirschl; bottom left: sando shia
top left: oto carrillo; middle row: emma gerstein, youming chen; bottom right: patricia dash | cso photography by todd rosenberg
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series at a glance Explore the following season lineup to plan your Symphony Center experience next season. Secure the biggest savings on the best seats by selecting from the Curated series below (details start on page 37) or mix and match any combination of five or more concerts to Create Your Own series.
Additional programs and series, including Symphony Center Presents Jazz and Chamber Music at the Art Institute, will be announced later in the year. Visit cso.org for details.
chicago symphony orchestra cso classical Dynamic performances with the CSO, Riccardo Muti and renowned guest artists Thursdays at 7:30 thu a–i new earlier time Fridays at 1:30 fri a & b Fridays at 8:00 fri c & d Saturdays at 8:00 sat a–h Sundays at 3:00 sun a Tuesdays at 7:30 tue a & b
cso at the movies Your favorite Hollywood films with the CSO performing the scores Fridays at 7:30
family matinees (ages 5–12) Saturdays at 11:00 a or 12:45 b stefán ragnar höskuldsson cso principal flute
once upon a symphony (ages 3–5) Saturdays at 10:00 or 11:45
cso at wheaton
sarah bullen cso principal harp
CSO concerts at Wheaton College’s beautiful Edman Memorial Chapel Fridays at 7:30
musicnow Groundbreaking new music with musicians of the CSO at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance Mondays at 7:00
symphony center presents piano Internationally acclaimed pianists in recital
chamber music Intimate performances by the world’s finest classical artists
orchestras Exceptional ensembles from around the world at Orchestra Hall
FPO FPO
2020/21 season calendar september 17
thu 6:30 free
concert for chicago
24 25 26
thu a/f 7:30 fri c 8:00 sat b/h 8:00
Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3 Rimsky-Korsakov Sheherazade Experience the drama of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture and the opulence of Sheherazade in a free CSO performance under the Chicago skyline in Millennium Park.
muti conducts beethoven missa solemnis Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Hanna-Elisabeth Müller soprano cso debut Gerhild Romberger contralto cso debut Matthew Polenzani tenor Tareq Nazmi bass cso debut Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Beethoven Missa solemnis
18 20
fri b 1:30 sun a 3:00
muti conducts schubert 9 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson flute Sarah Bullen harp Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp Schubert Symphony No. 9 (The Great) Muti launches the new season with the expressive melodies of Schubert’s last completed symphony, and places two CSO principals front and center for Mozart’s delightful flute and harp concerto, his only composition to feature the harp.
A highlight of our yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, Muti conducts the composer’s profound Missa solemnis. Premiered in 1824, just one month prior to his Ninth Symphony, it is one of Beethoven’s most powerful and heartfelt expressions of faith and devotion.
october 1 2
thu c/d 7:30 fri a 1:30
brahms with muti & bronfman Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Yefim Bronfman piano Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 Varèse Arcana Wagner Overture to Tannhäuser “Powerhouse pianist” (Los Angeles Times) Yefim Bronfman tackles Brahms’ epic First Piano Concerto. Edgard Varèse’s Arcana uses 40 different percussion instruments to explore a kaleidoscopic palette of color and rhythm in his thrilling symphonic poem.
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sat 6:30
2020 symphony ball: beethoven 5 with red carpet and champagne reception
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Yefim Bronfman piano Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 Beethoven Symphony No. 5 Celebrate at the annual Symphony Ball concert and the culmination of the Beethoven anniversary. Yefim Bronfman, a “leonine virtuoso” (Chicago Tribune), brings the power and poetry of the Third Piano Concerto to life. Riccardo Muti and the CSO perform Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony. Attend the concert, or attend the concert and the Ball for the complete experience. Gala packages include premium concert seating, plus postconcert dinner and dancing at the Four Seasons. Call 312-294-3185 or email symphonyball@cso.org for more information.
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sun scp piano e/b 3:00
richard goode piano Mozart Sonata in F Major, K. 533/494 Mozart Rondo in A Minor, K. 511 Brahms Seven Fantasies, Op. 116 Chopin Mazurka in C Major, Op. 56, No. 2 Chopin Three Mazurkas, Op. 59 Debussy Images, Book II Debussy Selected Etudes Debussy L’isle joyeuse Richard Goode is hailed for his “majestic, profound readings” (The New York Times). Hear one of today’s most revered pianists in a program of playful and touching works from Mozart to Debussy.
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october 08 09 10 13
thu b/h 7:30 fri cso at the movies 7:30 sat a/e 7:30 note time tue 7:30
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sun scp chamber 3:00
conductor cso debut
Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Miloš Forman’s sumptuous Academy Award®–winning Amadeus comes to life as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus perform the score, with nearly two dozen of Mozart’s glorious compositions, alongside the feature film on screen.
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mon 7:00
china ncpa orchestra
Alessio Bax piano
Lü Jia conductor Wu Wei sheng scp debut
One of the most celebrated violinists of his era, Joshua Bell is praised for “his trademark glowing sound and effortless virtuosity” (The New York Times). He returns to Symphony Center in recital with award-winning Italian pianist Alessio Bax.
22 23 27
thu c/e 7:30 fri a 1:30 tue b 7:30
muti conducts britten, elgar & tchaikovsky Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
musicnow Harris Theater for Music and Dance Chicago’s leading new music series. Program to be announced.
15 16 17
thu a/g 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat c 8:00
bruckner & liszt Chicago Symphony Orchestra Marek Janowski conductor Benjamin Grosvenor piano cso debut Weber The Ruler of the Spirits Overture Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 Bruckner Symphony No. 3 “A phenomenon brimming with talent” (The Guardian), Benjamin Grosvenor makes his CSO debut with Liszt’s bold and brilliant concerto. The renowned Marek Janowski conducts two rarely heard scores: Weber’s The Ruler of the Spirits Overture and Bruckner’s majestic Third Symphony.
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sun 3:00
joshua bell violin
amadeus live Chicago Symphony Orchestra Constantine Kitsopoulos
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Britten Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes Elgar Sea Pictures Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 Be swept away to the coasts of England in a program of sea-themed masterpieces. Riccardo Muti conducts works by Britten and Elgar that use the ocean to represent profound human emotions. British mezzo-soprano Alice Coote, whose voice “thrills you to the marrow” (The Daily Telegraph), performs Elgar’s popular song cycle Sea Pictures. Muti ends the evening with Tchaikovsky’s poignant Fifth Symphony.
Chen Itinéraire d’une illusion Chin Šu, for sheng and orchestra Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 One of China’s most prestigious ensembles, the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, performs a program of contemporary and classical works including Unsuk Chin’s glistening Šu, a concerto for the ancient Chinese mouth organ, written for sheng virtuoso Wu Wei. The program concludes with Tchaikovsky’s powerfully dramatic Fourth Symphony.
29 30 31
thu a/f 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat d 8:00
tchaikovsky & bartók Chicago Symphony Orchestra Xian Zhang conductor Simon Trpčeski piano Chen L’Eloignement Tchaikovsky Francesca da Rimini Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 Bartók Suite from The Miraculous Mandarin Chinese-American conductor Xian Zhang takes listeners on an alluring musical journey through Eastern Europe and Asia. Simon Trpčeski, whose 2018 CSO appearance was hailed for its “poetry of phrasing and buoyancy of touch” (Chicago Tribune), returns for Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto, which features one of the most beautiful slow movements in the repertoire.
xian zhang
riccardo muti
alice coote
catherine brubaker cso viola
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november 1
7
sun scp piano e/a 3:00
anna vinnitskaya piano
scp debut
Schumann Arabesque in C Major, Op. 18 Schumann Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11 Chopin Fantasy-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66 Tchaikovsky Selection from The Seasons Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales Ravel La valse “A true lioness at the keyboard” (The Washington Post), Anna Vinnitskaya debuts at Symphony Center with a program of popular works including Chopin’s much-loved Fantasy-Impromptu and Ravel’s whirling La valse.
5 6 7 8
thu b/i 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat a/f 8:00 sun a 3:00
sat 10:00 | 11:45
Price Ethiopia’s Shadow in America Frank New Work
mon 7:00
once upon a symphony: goldilocks and the three bears
musicnow
Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center
Chicago’s leading new music series. Program to be announced.
Story-based concert featuring members of the CSO, perfect for ages 3–5. This program will be performed at the same location and times on Dec. 12 and Jan. 16.
13 14
fri d 8:00 sat b/g 8:00
rachmaninov piano concerto no. 2 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Edward Gardner conductor Alexander Gavrylyuk piano Wagner Prelude to Parsifal Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Walton Symphony No. 1
an american salute Chicago Symphony Orchestra Bramwell Tovey conductor Stephen Williamson clarinet
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A program of rich, Romantic intensity features Rachmaninov’s ravishing Second Piano Concerto. The Guardian calls William Walton’s shattering First Symphony “a volcanic eruption of dark, sensual passion,” leading to a finale that shouts with joy.
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
19 20 21 22
thu c/d 7:30 fri cso at wheaton 7:30 sat c 8:00 sun a 3:00
chopin & the mermaid Chicago Symphony Orchestra Emmanuel Krivine conductor Yulianna Avdeeva piano cso debut Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 Zemlinsky The Mermaid Emmanuel Krivine conducts Berlioz’s colorful evocation of Carnival celebrations, Chopin’s dazzling First Piano Concerto and Zemlinsky’s lavishly scored symphonic fantasy, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s undersea fairy tale.
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sat family a 11:00 | family b 12:45
world premiere, cso commission
Copland Suite from Appalachian Spring Copland Clarinet Concerto Bernstein Prelude, Fugue and Riffs Bernstein Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
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peter and the wolf sun scp orchestras 7:00
berliner philharmoniker Kirill Petrenko conductor
Following the U.S. election, conductor Bramwell Tovey leads a salute to American music that features Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring and a world premiere by Gabriela Lena Frank, named by the Washington Post as one of the 35 most significant female composers in history.
Ives Central Park in the Dark Norman Unstuck R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks R. Strauss Ein Heldenleben The legendary Berliner Philharmoniker returns to Chicago, 11 years since its last appearance, with new chief conductor Kirill Petrenko. Hear one of the world’s finest orchestras, which Richard Strauss called the “most intelligent, splendid and freshest orchestra I know.”
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Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Erina Yashima conductor Magic Circle Mime Company Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf Prokofiev’s beloved musical tale is brought to life by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and artists from the Magic Circle Mime Company. This delightful, kid-sized concert is perfect for children ages 5–12.
berliner philharmoniker
emmanuel krivine
anna vinnitskaya
erina yashima
stephen williamson cso principal clarinet
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november 27 28 29
fri cso at the movies 7:30 sat 7:30 sun 3:00
star wars: the force awakens in concert Chicago Symphony Orchestra David Newman conductor Thirty years after the Empire’s defeat, a new threat has risen: The First Order, enforced by the terrifying Kylo Ren. Scavenger Rey and ex-Stormtrooper Finn must assist General Leia Organa in her search for the missing Luke Skywalker, the galaxy’s only hope at thwarting a new reign of evil. Come experience the beginning of a new saga as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ Academy Award®–nominated score.
4 5 6
fri 7:30 sat 3:00 sun 3:00
the princess bride in concert
Experience the delightful tale of Princess Buttercup and her true love Westley as never before, with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing a newly orchestrated score alongside the full feature film. Missing this cinematic concert experience would be inconceivable!
Ruggles Angels Tilson Thomas Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 (Little Russian)
7 8
mon 7:30 tue 7:30
Fourth Presbyterian Church 126 E. Chestnut St.
3 4 5 8
“The world’s reigning male chorus” (The New Yorker) returns for an intimate a cappella performance of cherished Christmas favorites.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Jane Glover conductor cso debut Paul Jacobs organ William Welter oboe cso solo debut Haydn Symphony No. 71 Mozart Oboe Concerto in C Major, K. 314 Handel Organ Concerto Op. 4, No. 1 Mozart Symphony No. 29 Jane Glover leads an engaging program of Baroque and Classical masterpieces. “Dazzling virtuoso” (The New York Times) Paul Jacobs performs one of Handel’s sparkling organ concertos, and the CSO’s own William Welter makes his first solo appearance with Mozart’s expressive Oboe Concerto.
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tilson thomas conducts Chicago Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Measha Brueggergosman soprano Kristen Toedtman vocalist cso debut Kara Dugan vocalist cso debut
december
mozart, haydn & handel
thu a/g 7:30 fri d 8:00 sat b/g 8:00
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Richard Kaufman conductor
a chanticleer christmas
thu b/h 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat d 8:00 tue a 7:30
10 11 12
Based on a poem by Carl Sandburg, Tilson Thomas’ Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind draws on a wide range of influences, from Stravinsky to soul. This theatrical presentation features the brilliant and versatile soprano Measha Brueggergosman, along with backup singers, a chamber orchestra and bar band. Tchaikovsky’s Little Russian Symphony brings the program to a lyrical and colorful close.
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sun scp chamber 2:00 note time
jean-yves thibaudet piano lisa batiashvili violin gautier capuçon cello Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 1 Ravel Piano Trio Mendelssohn Piano Trio No. 2 Three incomparable artists, called “a supergroup to savor and a joy to behold” (The Arts Desk), come together for an imaginative recital of three famous trios by Shostakovich, Mendelssohn and Ravel.
chanticleer
william welter cso principal oboe
michael tilson thomas
measha brueggergosman
jean-yves thibaudet
merry, merry chicago!
martin helmchen
david herbert cso principal timpani
edo de waart
gene pokorny cso principal tuba
timothy chooi
sergei dogadin
stella chen
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december 16
wed 7:30
chicago symphony orchestra brass Internationally renowned for its tremendous power and purity of tone, the legendary CSO brass section presents an evening of traditional favorites and symphonic masterworks arranged for brass ensemble. This concert is presented in collaboration with the Midwest Clinic, an International Band and Orchestra Conference.
17 18 19
thu c/e 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat a/f 8:00
rising stars of the violin Chicago Symphony Orchestra Edo de Waart conductor Stella Chen violin cso debut Sergei Dogadin violin cso debut Timothy Chooi violin cso debut Berlioz Overture to Beatrice and Benedict Beethoven Romance No. 2 R. Strauss Symphonic Interlude No. 2 from Intermezzo Tchaikovsky Valse-Scherzo Saint-Saëns Introduction and Rondo capriccioso Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 (Italian) Edo de Waart returns to lead three recent winners of prestigious violin competitions in their CSO debuts. The concert concludes with Mendelssohn’s effervescent Italian Symphony, inspired by the art, people and landscapes of Italy.
january 18 19 20 22 23
fri 7:30 sat 3:00 sun 3:00 tue 3:00 wed 1:00 | 4:30
07 08 09 12
thu b/i 7:30 fri c 8:00 sat a/e 8:00 tue b 7:30
dvořák new world symphony merry, merry chicago! Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Symphony Center’s joyous musical celebration of the season is the perfect holiday tradition for the entire family.
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mon 3:00
vienna boys choir: christmas in vienna Experience the world’s foremost children’s choral group, adored around the world for six centuries, in a rousing program of popular folk songs, classical masterpieces and beloved holiday favorites.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Adam Fischer conductor Martin Helmchen piano Haydn Symphony No. 97 Liszt Piano Concerto No. 1 Dvořák Symphony No. 9 (From the New World) Be captivated by Dvořák’s well-loved New World Symphony, Haydn’s Symphony No. 97—which displays all of the composer’s trademark elegance and wit— and Liszt’s thrilling virtuosic First Piano Concerto with Martin Helmchen, “the kind of performer who lifts his audiences up to heaven” (The Times, London).
14 15 16
thu a/f 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat c 8:00
muti conducts respighi feste romane Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor David Herbert timpani cso solo debut Gene Pokorny tuba Vivaldi Concerto in A Major for Strings and Continuo, R. 158 Kraft Timpani Concerto No. 1 Schifrin Tuba Concerto Schifrin Theme from Mission: Impossible Respighi Feste romane Riccardo Muti leads an exceptional program that showcases timpani and tuba, putting CSO principals David Herbert and Gene Pokorny at the forefront in works by William Kraft and Lalo Schifrin. Muti then conducts Respighi’s vibrant final installment of the composer’s spectacular Roman trilogy.
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branford marsalis
leif ove andsnes
pierre-laurent aimard
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david afkham
karen basrak cso cello
january 24
sun scp piano e/a 3:00
leif ove andsnes piano Schumann Three Romances, Op. 28 Janáček On an Overgrown Path, Book I Bartók Three Burlesques Schumann Carnaval With his trademark “poetic elegance, unyielding clarity and nuanced touch” (Chicago Sun-Times), Leif Ove Andsnes performs the first book of Janáček’s intimate, evocative cycle On an Overgrown Path and Schumann’s festive and scenic Carnaval.
26
tue 7:30
orpheus chamber orchestra branford marsalis alto saxophone Rossini Overture to The Barber of Seville Rodrigo Suite from Soleriana Debussy Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Ibert Concertino da camera for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra Turina La oración del torero Bryan Carmen, Jazz Suite on Themes by Bizet One of jazz’s most revered musicians, Branford Marsalis collaborates with the innovative Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for a program that explores the intersection of jazz and classical, from Debussy’s jazz-inspired Rhapsody to a newly commissioned work by Courtney Bryan that uses Bizet’s famous themes from Carmen.
february 28 29 30 31
thu c/e 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat b/h 8:00 sun a 3:00
an alpine symphony Chicago Symphony Orchestra David Afkham conductor Pierre-Laurent Aimard piano Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 R. Strauss An Alpine Symphony Celebrated French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard performs Mozart’s deeply emotional final piano concerto, and David Afkham returns to lead Strauss’ epic final tone poem depicting a majestic hike through the Bavarian Alps.
4 5 6 9
thu b/i 7:30 fri cso at wheaton 7:30 sat c 8:00 tue a 7:30
elgar cello concerto with capuçon Chicago Symphony Orchestra Osmo Vänskä conductor Gautier Capuçon cello Saariaho Winter Sky from Orion Elgar Cello Concerto Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3 (Scottish) Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä conducts his compatriot Kaija Saariaho’s haunting, glittering Winter Sky and Mendelssohn’s vivid musical landscape painting of Scotland. Gautier Capuçon, an artist with “virtuosity to burn” (Chicago Tribune), takes on Elgar’s elegiac Cello Concerto.
11 12 13
thu a/g 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat a/f 8:00
blomstedt & levit Chicago Symphony Orchestra Herbert Blomstedt conductor Igor Levit piano Schumann Piano Concerto Stenhammar Interlude from The Song Nielsen Symphony No. 5 Schumann’s only piano concerto, a work that brims with joy and melody, is performed by Igor Levit, “one of our planet’s most stupendously gifted pianists” (The Arts Desk). Herbert Blomstedt leads Nielsen’s astonishing Fifth Symphony, which the composer described as “the division of dark and light, the battle between evil and good.”
cso.org 23
february 13
sat 2:00
chinese new year celebration
18 19 20 23
thu c/d 7:30 fri d 8:00 sat d 8:00 tue b 7:30
Welcome the Year of the Ox with a dazzling musical celebration at Symphony Center, featuring spectacular ensembles and musicians from China performing on traditional instruments.
mendelssohn violin concerto & bruckner 7
14
Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Bruckner Symphony No. 7
sun scp orchestras 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Manfred Honeck conductor Christian Tetzlaff violin
mariinsky orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor Alexandre Kantorow piano scp debut Prokofiev Three Selections from Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 Mahler Symphony No. 5 The internationally lauded Mariinsky Orchestra presents a riveting program featuring Mahler’s epic Fifth Symphony. “The orchestra, under musical director Valery Gergiev, moves as if with a single mind and always with purposeful passion” (The Times, London).
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is one of the most exquisite in the canon. Hear it performed by Christian Tetzlaff, “one of the finest violinists performing today” (The New Yorker). Manfred Honeck, a definitive Bruckner interpreter, leads the composer’s Seventh Symphony, with its mighty, regal passages for brass.
20
21
sun scp piano e/b 3:00
paul lewis piano Mendelssohn Selections from Songs Without Words Mozart Sonata in A Major, K. 331 Haydn Piano Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVI:24 Scriabin Five Preludes, Op. 74 Mussorgsky Pictures from an Exhibition Paul Lewis brings “his customary intelligence and intensity” (The Guardian) to a wide-ranging program including Mozart’s energetic Sonata in A Major and Mussorgsky’s most famous piano work, Pictures from an Exhibition.
sat family a 11:00 | family b 12:45
the carnival of the animals Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Scott Speck conductor Saint-Saëns The Carnival of the Animals Conjure an imaginative zoo full of animals, from a lumbering elephant to an elegant swan, as Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform Saint-Saëns’ popular musical suite The Carnival of the Animals. This delightful, kid-sized concert is perfect for children ages 5–12.
family matinees
24
chinese new year
paul lewis
stephanie jeong cso associate concertmaster valery gergiev
manfred honeck
christian tetzlaff
cso.org 25
february
march
26 27
4 5 6
fri c 8:00 sat b/h 8:00
her story: celebrating the centenary of women’s right to vote Chicago Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop conductor Lorelei Ensemble cso debut Montgomery Starburst Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances Wolfe Her Story cso co-commission Marin Alsop leads an immersive presentation of Her Story, a new work by Julia Wolfe that celebrates the centenary of the 19th Amendment. The all-female vocal ensemble Lorelei, praised for its “warm, lithe and beautifully blended” sound (The New York Times), will use costumes and theatrical lighting to bring the monumental struggle and achievement of women’s suffrage to life. Jessie Montgomery’s vibrant onemovement composition for string orchestra receives its first CSO performance.
28
sun 4:00
thu b/h 7:30 fri d 8:00 sat a/e 8:00
muti, rachvelishvili & chicago symphony chorus Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Anita Rachvelishvili mezzo-soprano Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Schubert Song of the Spirits over the Waters Brahms Alto Rhapsody Cherubini Mass for the Coronation of Charles X Muti conducts the unparalleled Chicago Symphony Chorus in a rich program that includes Schubert’s dark-hued Song of the Spirits over the Waters, Brahms’ lush Alto Rhapsody, featuring the extraordinary Anita Rachvelishvili, and Cherubini’s remarkable mass, written in 1825 to mark the restoration of the French monarchy.
7
sun 3:00
kodo: legacy
lang lang piano
Witness the incredible virtuosity, precision and athleticism of the world’s foremost taiko ensemble in a thunderous performance that explores the limitless possibilities of traditional Japanese drumming. “Kodo can raise the roof” (The New York Times).
Bach Goldberg Variations “The hottest artist on the classical music planet” (The New York Times), piano phenomenon Lang Lang comes back to Chicago for a solo performance of Bach’s towering masterpiece, the iconic Goldberg Variations.
9
tue a 7:30
muti conducts shostakovich 10 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Robert Chen violin Mozart Violin Concerto No. 4 Shostakovich Symphony No. 10 For one night only, Riccardo Muti conducts Shostakovich’s brooding, deeply personal Tenth Symphony, his first to be performed after Stalin’s death. CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen takes center stage in Mozart’s exuberant Fourth Violin Concerto.
11 12
thu 7:30 fri 8:00
jazz at lincoln center orchestra with wynton marsalis Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra’s annual residency at Symphony Center, its selfproclaimed second home, is “a cultural rite” and “a valued addition to Chicago’s already intense jazz life” (Chicago Tribune). Secure your seats now for the ensemble’s hotly anticipated visit in 2021. These performances are part of Symphony Center Presents Jazz, which will be fully announced in April 2020.
13
sat scp orchestras 8:00
chamber orchestra of europe Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor Lisa Batiashvili violin Brahms Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 3 Dynamic conductor Yannick NézetSéguin and “the finest chamber orchestra in the world” (BBC 2 Television) are an enchanting combination with “a sheer joy of playing that resonates with every single note” (Kölnische Rundschau).
26
marin alsop
lang lang
robert chen cso concertmaster
anita rachvelishvili
wynton marsalis
riccardo muti
miles maner cso bassoon & contrabassoon
emanuel ax
seong-jin cho
thomas adès
march 14
sun scp piano e/a 3:00
emanuel ax piano Program to include:
Brahms Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118 Norman Suspend Chopin Andante spianato and Grande polonaise brillante, Op. 22 Chopin Polonaise-Fantasy in A-flat Major, Op. 61 Admired worldwide for his “overwhelming authority as musician, technician and probing intellect” (Los Angeles Times), Emanuel Ax returns with a program that pairs Brahms’ beloved Six Piano Pieces with Andrew Norman’s Suspend, a rumination on the Brahmsian dualities of freedom and solitude.
18 19 20
thu a/g 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat b/g 8:00
21
sun scp chamber 3:00
mahler chamber orchestra scp debut mitsuko uchida piano and conductor Mozart Piano Concerto No. 18 in B-flat Major, K. 456 Janáček Mládí Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 Mitsuko Uchida and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra are “an ideal match—a pianist of impeccable Mozartean credentials and an orchestra of acute sensitivity and musical awareness” (The Guardian). Hear this perfect pairing perform Mozart concertos ranging in mood from sunny to dramatically striking.
25 26 30
28
sun scp piano e/b 3:00
seong-jin cho piano
scp debut
Schumann Humoreske Szymanowski Masques Chopin Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20 Chopin Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat Minor, Op. 31 Chopin Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 39 Chopin Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54 Seong-Jin Cho was brought to the world’s attention in 2015 when he won the First Prize at the International Chopin Competition. He brings his “poetic and fiery temperament” (Los Angeles Times) to Chopin’s brilliant, virtuosic scherzos in his Symphony Center debut.
thu c/e 7:30 fri sat d 8:00 note series tue b 7:30
muti conducts mozart adès conducts adès Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Cimarosa Overture to Il matrimonio segreto Mozart Symphony No. 38 (Prague) Mozart Serenade No. 10 (Gran Partita) Muti conducts two influential works of Mozart that highlight the wind section: the landmark Prague Symphony and the sublime Gran Partita.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thomas Adès conductor cso debut Kirill Gerstein piano Liszt Mephisto Waltz No. 1 Adès Piano Concerto Liszt Battle of the Huns Janáček Taras Bulba Acclaimed composer-conductor Thomas Adès leads a thrilling program of beauty and conflict that opens with Liszt’s intoxicating Mephisto Waltz and the conductor’s own piano concerto. The New York Times described Adès’ work as “a little Gershwin, a little Beethoven, distorted through the prism of wry sensibility, written for Kirill Gerstein with a blend of staggering virtuosity and tenderness that fits him like a bespoke suit.” Two mercurial works fill the second half with vivid scenes of armed conflict.
cso.org 29
zakir hussain
simone young
janine jansen
alexander hanna cso principal bass
the wizard of oz
30
april 1 2 3
thu b/h 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat b/h 8:00
2
fri 8:00
zakir hussain and the masters of percussion
britten & sibelius 2 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thomas Søndergård conductor Janine Jansen violin Walton Scapino, A Comedy Overture Britten Violin Concerto Sibelius Symphony No. 2 Sensational Dutch violinist Janine Jansen brings her “radiant tone and fiery technique” (The New York Times) to Britten’s Violin Concerto, a work she champions for its intimacy and intensity of emotion. The program concludes with Sibelius’ majestic and soulful Second Symphony.
The greatest living master of the tabla and “one of the architects of modern world music” (NPR) brings his handpicked ensemble of world-class percussionists for a cultural boundary-crossing performance of awe-inspiring musicianship.
6
tue 7:30
george hinchliffe’s ukulele orchestra of great britain The playfully irreverent Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain offers up whimsical and expertly played covers of well-known music, from Bach to Lady Gaga, and anything in between. The internationally celebrated group comes across the pond for what promises to be an evening of “superbly tuneful fun” (The New York Times).
08 10
thu a/f 7:30 sat a/f 8:00
09 11
fri cso at the movies 7:30 sun 3:00
the wizard of oz in concert Chicago Symphony Orchestra Richard Kaufman conductor Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Symphony Center and see one of the most enduring films in cinema history with the incomparable Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing the lush score, including “Over the Rainbow,” immortalized by Judy Garland.
12
mon 7:00
musicnow Harris Theater for Music and Dance Chicago’s leading new music series. Program to be announced.
15 16 17 20
thu c/d 7:30 fri cso at wheaton 7:30 sat b/g 8:00 tue a 7:30
mahler 7 wagner & saint-saëns organ symphony Chicago Symphony Orchestra Fabien Gabel conductor cso debut Amanda Majeski soprano cso debut Wagner Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde Wagner Wesendonck Lieder Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 (Organ) Lyric Opera of Chicago favorite Amanda Majeski, “a soprano of steel and silk” (Südkurier), makes her CSO debut in a Wagner’s yearning and impassioned song cycle, Wesendonck Lieder. Saint-Saëns’ magnificent Organ Symphony brings the program to a rousing close.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Simone Young conductor Mahler Symphony No. 7 Australian conductor Simone Young, celebrated for her “commanding presence, bristling with energy and purpose” (New York Classical Review), leads Mahler’s enigmatic Seventh Symphony on the 100th anniversary of its U.S. premiere by the CSO on April 15, 1921.
cso.org 31
april 17
sat 10:00 | 11:45
once upon a symphony: the king elephant and the mice
22 23 24
thu b/i 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat a/e 8:00
Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center
shostakovich 12
Story-based concert featuring members of the CSO, perfect for ages 3–5. This program will be performed at the same location and times on May 8 and 22.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tugan Sokhiev conductor Vadim Gluzman violin
18
sun scp piano e/a 3:00
evgeny kissin piano Chopin Nocturne in B Major, Op. 62, No. 1 Chopin Impromptu No. 1 in A-flat Major, Op. 29 Chopin Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, Op. 36 Chopin Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, Op. 51 Chopin Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20 Chopin Polonaise No. 6 in A-flat Major, Op. 53 Berg Sonata, Op. 1 Khrennikov Dance, Op. 5, No. 3 Khrennikov Five Pieces, Op. 2 Gershwin Three Preludes Legendary Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin returns for a recital that features Chopin’s enchanting Impromptus and Nocturne in B Major. “It was in the Chopin where Kissin’s special gifts shone the brightest” (Chicago Tribune).
Mussorgsky, orch. Rimsky-Korsakov Prelude to Khovanshchina Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 2 Shostakovich Symphony No. 12 (The Year 1917) A feast of exhilarating Russian music— Tugan Sokhiev, a conductor who “radiates charisma” (Chicago Tribune), and Vadim Gluzman, a virtuoso of “unassailable technique and gleaming performance” (Chicago Classical Review), team up for Shostakovich’s darkly introspective Second Violin Concerto. The program closes with Shostakovich’s revolutionary Symphony No. 12.
25
sun scp chamber 3:00
jerusalem quartet pinchas zukerman violin and viola amanda forsyth cello Bruckner Adagio from String Quintet in F Major Dvořák String Sextet in A Major, Op. 48 Brahms String Sextet No. 1 in B-flat Major, Op. 18 Witness the melodic brilliance of this all-star string sextet in a program of late Romantic works. “It is rare to find playing as beautiful . . . radiant warmth and feeling flowed everywhere” (Vancouver Classical Music).
29 thu c/e 7:30 30 fri c 8:00 may 1 sat c 8:00 may 4 tue b 7:30 vivaldi gloria Chicago Symphony Orchestra Giovanni Antonini conductor Amanda Forsythe soprano Yulia Van Doren soprano cso debut Julie Boulianne mezzo-soprano cso debut Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Vivaldi Concerto for Strings, RV 157 Vivaldi Leggi almeno, tiranna infedele from Ottone in villa Vivaldi Armatae face et anguibus from Juditha triumphans Handel Dopo notte, atra e funesta from Ariodante Handel Concerto grosso, Op. 6, No. 1 Vivaldi Kyrie, RV 587 Vivaldi Gloria, RV 589 Giovanni Antonini leads an evening of vocal and choral incandescence, culminating in a performance of Vivaldi’s soaring sacred masterwork, Gloria, last performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in 1972.
32
pinchas zukerman
evgeny kissin
cynthia yeh cso principal percussion
once upon a symphony
amanda forsythe
giovanni antonini
itzhak perlman
behzod abduraimov
tania miller
max raimi cso viola
lahav shani
maurizio pollini
34
may 1
sat family a 11:00 | family b 12:45
on the waves of sound Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tania Miller conductor The Chicago Symphony Orchestra presents a program that demonstrates how composers have been inspired by the beauty and power of water. This delightful, kid-sized concert is perfect for children ages 5–12.
2
6 7 8
thu a/f 7:30 fri d 8:00 sat b/h 8:00
Featuring:
Hankus Netsky music director, saxophone and piano
Andy Statman clarinet and mandolin Members of the Brave Old World and Klezmer Conservatory Band Beloved violinist Itzhak Perlman revisits his iconic project In the Fiddler’s House, a charming journey through traditional klezmer music, in celebration of its 25th anniversary. “With klezmer, Perlman appears to be perfectly at home... the look of sheer delight that continually illuminates his face underscores the sense of discovery that touches almost every note he plays” (Los Angeles Times).
thu b/h 7:30 fri a 1:30 sat a/e 8:00 sun a 3:00
the rite of spring prokofiev & rachmaninov Chicago Symphony Orchestra Philippe Jordan conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano Debussy Prelude to The Afternoon of a Faun Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 5 (Egyptian) Stravinsky The Rite of Spring
sun 7:00
itzhak perlman violin in the fiddler’s house
13 14 15 16
Swiss conductor Philippe Jordan leads a survey of decadent fin-de-siècle Paris that includes Debussy’s setting of a sensuous Mallarmé poem, Saint-Saëns’ scintillating final piano concerto with the “superbly elegant brilliance” (Sydney Morning Herald) of French pianist JeanYves Thibaudet and the visceral power of Stravinsky’s iconic The Rite of Spring.
9
sun scp piano e/b 3:00
maurizio pollini piano
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Lahav Shani conductor cso debut Behzod Abduraimov piano cso debut Rachmaninov, orch. Stokowski Prelude in C-sharp Minor Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 Israeli conductor Lahav Shani makes his CSO debut in a program of Russian passion with two of Rachmaninov’s most celebrated works and Prokofiev’s powerful wartime statement on triumph over adversity. Behzod Abduraimov, a pianist of “prodigious technique and rhapsodic flair” (The New York Times), also makes his CSO debut.
17
mon 7:00
musicnow Celebrated for music-making of matchless sophistication, unshakable concentration and unyielding integrity, Maurizio Pollini occupies a special place among the ranks of today’s great pianists. Hear this “towering musical presence” (Gramophone) in his annual recital appearance at Symphony Center.
Harris Theater for Music and Dance Chicago’s leading new music series. Program to be announced.
cso.org 35
may 20 21 22 25
thu a/g 7:30 fri b 1:30 sat b/g 8:00 tue a 7:30
strauss don juan & der rosenkavalier Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mikko Franck conductor Vilde Frang violin cso debut Lindberg New Work world premiere, cso commission
Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 R. Strauss Don Juan R. Strauss Suite from Der Rosenkavalier Bruch’s legendary First Violin Concerto is performed by Vilde Frang, a young violinist of profound musicianship, exceptional lyricism and “the knack of breathing life into every note” (BBC Music Magazine). Mikko Franck returns to lead a new work by renowned Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg and two works by Strauss: the raucous tone poem Don Juan and the alluring, waltz-laden orchestral suite from Der Rosenkavalier.
june 23
sun scp piano e/b 3:00
marc-andré hamelin piano C.P.E. Bach Rondo in C Minor Schubert Sonata in A Major, D. 959 Schumann Waldszenen Ravel Gaspard de la nuit Marc-André Hamelin brings his “commanding technique” (The New York Times) to a program that includes Schumann’s pastoral Waldszenen and Ravel’s fantastical suite Gaspard de la nuit.
27 28 29
thu 7:30 fri cso at the movies 7:30 sat 7:30
close encounters of the third kind in concert Chicago Symphony Orchestra Richard Kaufman conductor Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director Widely considered one of the most influential science fiction films of all time, Steven Spielberg’s first-contact story features John Williams’ groundbreaking score, performed here by the incomparable Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus alongside a screening of the 1977 masterpiece.
3 4 5
thu b/i 7:30 fri c 8:00 sat a/f 8:00
muti, trifonov & tchaikovsky 6 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Daniil Trifonov piano Liadov The Enchanted Lake Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) The bracing modernity and technical demands of Prokofiev’s Second Piano Concerto are the perfect showcase for the blistering virtuosity of Daniil Trifonov, “without question the most astounding pianist of our age” (The Times, London). Muti bookends this performance with Liadov’s shimmering fairy-tale scene and Tchaikovsky’s heartrending final symphony.
6
sun scp piano e/a 3:00
david fray piano Praised by The New York Times for a Schubert performance that was “beautifully played and rapturously received,” David Fray returns to Symphony Center for an all-Schubert recital.
10 12 13
thu c/d 7:30 sat d 8:00 sun a 3:00
riccardo muti e l’opera italiana Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Krassimira Stoyanova soprano Francesco Meli tenor Riccardo Muti brings the 2020/21 season to a glittering close with a night of festive Italian opera favorites featuring two of the most sought-after soloists of the opera world, Krassimira Stoyanova and Francesco Meli, who previously appeared with the Orchestra in Verdi’s Aida.
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2020/21
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chicago symphony orchestra classical
thursday evenings at 7:30
new earlier time
thursday a
thursday c
Thursday’s A series is packed with highlights: Riccardo Muti continues the Beethoven 250 celebration with the stunning Missa solemnis, Michael Tilson Thomas conducts Tchaikovsky, the CSO performs The Rite of Spring, Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, Mozart’s Gran Partita, Strauss’ Don Juan and Suite from Der Rosenkavalier and more.
From Mendelssohn’s soaring Violin Concerto to Mahler’s whirling, tumultuous Seventh Symphony, Thursday’s C series is bursting with music that stirs the soul, concluding with two vocal celebrations: Vivaldi’s choral masterpiece Gloria and festive Italian opera selections conducted by Muti.
09/24 10/15 10/29 12/10 01/14 02/11 03/18 004/8 005/6 05/20
a f g — f g f g f g g f f g
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Muti Conducts Beethoven Missa solemnis Bruckner & Liszt Tchaikovsky & Bartók Tilson Thomas Conducts Muti Conducts Respighi Feste romane Blomstedt & Levit Muti Conducts Mozart Wagner & Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony The Rite of Spring Strauss Don Juan & Der Rosenkavalier
010/1 10/22 11/19 12/17 01/28 02/18 03/25 04/15 04/29 06/10
c d e — d e d e e d e d e d
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Brahms with Muti & Bronfman Muti Conducts Britten, Elgar & Tchaikovsky Chopin & The Mermaid Rising Stars of the Violin An Alpine Symphony Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bruckner 7 Adès Conducts Adès Mahler 7 Vivaldi Gloria Riccardo Muti e l’Opera Italiana
thursday b Miloš Forman’s masterpiece Amadeus comes alive as the CSO performs the score alongside the feature film, Bramwell Tovey conducts an all-American program featuring the music of Aaron Copland, and Muti is joined by Russian powerhouse Daniil Trifonov for Prokofiev’s titanic Second Piano Concerto on the Thursday B series.
010/8 011/5 012/3 001/7 002/4 003/4 004/1 04/22 05/13 006/3
38
b h i — h i h i i h h i h i
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Amadeus Live An American Salute Mozart, Haydn & Handel Dvořák New World Symphony Elgar Cello Concerto with Capuçon Muti, Rachvelishvili & Chicago Symphony Chorus Britten & Sibelius 2 Shostakovich 12 Prokofiev & Rachmaninov Muti, Trifonov & Tchaikovsky 6
daniel gingrich cso associate principal horn
classical
friday matinees at 1:30
friday a
friday b
Friday’s A series of matinee performances includes three thrilling Muti-led programs: Brahms’ epic Piano Concerto No. 1 with Yefim Bronfman, Tchaikovsky’s powerful Fifth Symphony and the first CSO performances of William Kraft’s Timpani Concerto No. 1 and Lalo Schifrin’s Tuba Concerto with the CSO’s own David Herbert and Gene Pokorny taking center stage.
A feast of stunning solo performances is in store for the Friday B matinee series. Witness the CSO debuts of Benjamin Grosvenor, Vilde Frang (in Bruch’s beloved Violin Concerto) and three recent prestigious violin competition winners in showcase performances, as well as the long-anticipated returns of Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Janine Jansen.
8-concert series
8-concert series
010/2 10/23 011/6 012/4 01/15 02/12 04/23 05/14
09/18 10/16 10/30 12/18 01/29 03/19 004/2 05/21
Brahms with Muti & Bronfman Muti Conducts Britten, Elgar & Tchaikovsky An American Salute Mozart, Haydn & Handel Muti Conducts Respighi Feste romane Blomstedt & Levit Shostakovich 12 Prokofiev & Rachmaninov
Muti Conducts Schubert 9 Bruckner & Liszt Tchaikovsky & Bartók Rising Stars of the Violin An Alpine Symphony Muti Conducts Mozart Britten & Sibelius 2 Strauss Don Juan & Der Rosenkavalier
cso friday matinee shuttle The CSO Shuttle is a wonderful way to eliminate the stress of getting to Orchestra Hall. Enjoy round-trip luxury bus service from the North Shore directly to Symphony Center. Learn more at cso.org/fridayshuttle or call 312-294-3000. Space is limited—reserve today!
classical
friday evenings at 8:00
friday c
friday d
On Friday’s C series, Marin Alsop conducts a new work by Julia Wolfe that celebrates the centenary of women’s right to vote. Additionally, experience two stunning programs featuring the Chicago Symphony Chorus: Beethoven’s Missa solemnis led by Muti and Vivaldi’s well-loved Gloria.
For lovers of sweeping romantic repertoire, Friday’s D series gives you two greats: Rachmaninov’s unassailable Second Piano Concerto and Mendelssohn’s tempestuous Violin Concerto. Capping off the series is Stravinsky’s visceral The Rite of Spring.
5-concert series
5-concert series
09/25 Muti Conducts Beethoven Missa solemnis 001/8 Dvořák New World Symphony 02/26 Her Story: Celebrating the
11/13 12/11 02/19 003/5 005/7
Centenary of Women’s Right to Vote 04/30 Vivaldi Gloria 006/4 Muti, Trifonov & Tchaikovsky 6
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Tilson Thomas Conducts Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bruckner 7 Muti, Rachvelishvili & Chicago Symphony Chorus The Rite of Spring
cso.org 39
chicago symphony orchestra classical
saturday evenings at 8:00
saturday a
saturday c
Saturday’s A series combines treasured favorites, such as Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring and Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony, with the exciting and the new. Witness the world premiere of a new work by Gabriela Lena Frank, one of the Washington Post’s 35 most significant female composers in history, and a trio of rising stars performing showpieces for violin.
Saturday’s C series is full of the new, with CSO debuts from celebrated pianists Benjamin Grosvenor and Yulianna Avdeeva performing concertos by Liszt and Chopin, and Muti conducting a pair of works by composer Lalo Schifrin, best known for his body of scores for film and TV. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to subscribe.
10/10 011/7 12/19 001/9 02/13 003/6 04/10 04/24 05/15 006/5
a e f — e f f e f e f e e f
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Amadeus Live 7:30 start time An American Salute Rising Stars of the Violin Dvořák New World Symphony Blomstedt & Levit Muti, Rachvelishvili & Chicago Symphony Chorus Wagner & Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony Shostakovich 12 Prokofiev & Rachmaninov Muti, Trifonov & Tchaikovsky 6
5-concert series
10/17 11/21 01/16 002/6 005/1
Bruckner & Liszt Chopin & The Mermaid Muti Conducts Respighi Feste romane Elgar Cello Concerto with Capuçon Vivaldi Gloria
saturday d Star conductors in their element make up this wonderful Saturday D series. Witness Manfred Honeck leading Bruckner 7, Riccardo Muti conducting Italian opera and Jane Glover leading a program of Baroque and Classical music that highlights the organ and oboe.
saturday b
5-concert series
An enthralling variety of music can be heard on Saturday’s B series, from Beethoven’s transcendent Missa solemnis to Sibelius’ sweeping Second Symphony, to a theatrical staging of Michael Tilson Thomas’ Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind.
10/31 012/5 02/20 03/26 06/12
09/26 11/14 12/12 01/30 02/27
b g h — h g g h h
03/20 004/3 04/17 005/8 05/22
g h g h g
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Tchaikovsky & Bartók Mozart, Haydn & Handel Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bruckner 7 Adès Conducts Adès friday at 8:00 Riccardo Muti e l’Opera Italiana
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Muti Conducts Beethoven Missa solemnis Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 Tilson Thomas Conducts An Alpine Symphony Her Story: Celebrating the Centenary of Women’s Right to Vote Muti Conducts Mozart Britten & Sibelius 2 Mahler 7 The Rite of Spring Strauss Don Juan & Der Rosenkavalier
charles vernon cso trombone & bass trombone
classical
sunday matinees at 3:00
sunday a Sunday’s matinee series is bookended with two great Muti programs. It opens with Muti conducting Schubert’s majestic Ninth Symphony, with its allusion to Beethoven’s Ninth, and closes with a sparkling program of Italian opera favorites featuring Krassimira Stoyanova and Francesco Meli.
6-concert series
09/20 011/8 11/22 01/31 05/16 06/13
Muti Conducts Schubert 9 An American Salute Chopin & The Mermaid An Alpine Symphony Prokofiev & Rachmaninov Riccardo Muti e l’Opera Italiana
classical
john sharp cso principal cello
tuesday evenings at 7:30
tuesday a
tuesday b
Variety is the spice of Tuesday’s A series. Hear a program of popular works by Mozart, Haydn and Handel led by Jane Glover, a program that pairs Elgar’s mournful Cello Concerto with Mendelssohn’s moody Scottish Symphony, and Riccardo Muti conducting Shostakovich’s blistering Tenth Symphony.
Tuesday’s B series opens with Muti leading Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony, a landmark work of boldness and poignancy, and only goes up from there. Hear Dvořák’s ever-popular New World Symphony, Mendelssohn’s exquisite Violin Concerto, Vivaldi’s exuberant Gloria and showstopping composer Thomas Adès leading his own breathtaking Piano Concerto with Kirill Gerstein.
5-concert series
5-concert series
012/8 002/9 003/9 04/20 05/25
10/27 01/12 02/23 03/30 005/4
Mozart, Haydn & Handel Elgar Cello Concerto with Capuçon Muti Conducts Shostakovich 10 Mahler 7 Strauss Don Juan & Der Rosenkavalier
Muti Conducts Britten, Elgar & Tchaikovsky Dvořák New World Symphony Mendelssohn Violin Concerto & Bruckner 7 Adès Conducts Adès Vivaldi Gloria
cso.org 41
cso at the movies fridays at 7:30 Enjoy hits ranging from Hollywood’s Golden Age to today’s blockbusters with the incomparable CSO playing the scores alongside the full feature films. Save your seats for four thrilling nights of musical movie magic.
4-concert series
010/9 11/27 004/9 05/28
Amadeus Live Star Wars: The Force Awakens The Wizard of Oz Close Encounters of the Third Kind
cso family matinees saturdays at 11:00 a or 12:45 b Share your love of music with the next generation at Symphony Center and make musical memories that will last a lifetime. This series features fun, engaging, kid-friendly programs of beloved classical music performed by musicians of the CSO. perfect for ages 5–12
3-concert series
11/21 Peter and the Wolf 02/20 The Carnival of the Animals 005/1 On the Waves of Sound
once upon a symphony® saturdays at 10:00 or 11:45 Once Upon a Symphony programs combine vibrant music played by CSO musicians, storytelling and enchanting visuals for a playful concert experience designed especially for our youngest audience members. Produced and presented in collaboration with Chicago Children’s Theatre. perfect for ages 3–5
Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center
11/7, 12/12, 1/16 Goldilocks and the Three Bears 4/17, 5/8, 5/22 The King Elephant and the Mice new this season Subscribe to both programs and save! Choose your preferred date and time for each performance.
Adults Subscription $36 Single tickets $20 Youth 12 and under Subscription $16 Single tickets $10
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cso at wheaton fridays at 7:30 Acclaimed conductors and guest artists join the world-renowned CSO to perform symphonic masterworks in the western suburbs. Emmanuel Krivine leads rising star Yulianna Avdeeva in Chopin’s ravishing First Piano Concerto, Gautier Capuçon tackles Elgar’s plaintive Cello Concerto and Simone Young conducts Mahler’s stormy Seventh Symphony.
3-concert series Edman Memorial Chapel, 401 E. Franklin St., Wheaton College
11/20 Chopin & The Mermaid 002/5 Elgar Cello Concerto with Capuçon 04/16 Mahler 7 Subscriptions Main floor front left Main floor front right Main floor back left Main floor back right Balcony
$231 $225 $159 $153 $144
Single tickets
$60–100
musicnow mondays at 7:00 Hailed as Chicago’s leading new music series, MusicNOW delivers an innovative multimedia experience featuring musicians of the CSO. Experience four exhilarating chamber concerts at the Harris Theater, followed by casual afterparties with free pizza and beverages. Programs to be announced.
4-concert series Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr.
10/12, 11/16, 4/12, 5/17 Regular Subscription Student Subscription Single ticket
$84 $36 $29
major support for musicnow is generously provided by the zell family foundation, the sally mead hands foundation, cindy sargent, the julian family foundation and an anonymous donor.
cso.org 43
44
clockwise from upper left: ni mei, michael mulcahy, david cooper, li-kuo chang
“One could only marvel at the CSO’s virtuosity” financial times, london
top left: peter conover; middle row: silvia kim kilcullen, susan synnestvedt, bottom row: john hagstrom, john bruce yeh | cso photography by todd rosenberg
symphony center presents piano
chamber music
sundays at 3:00 Be transformed by the power and passion of solo piano recitals. This unparalleled lineup of internationally acclaimed pianists from around the world ranges from rising stars to returning Chicago favorites.
010/4 011/1 01/24 02/21 03/14 03/28 04/18 005/9 05/23 006/6
e a b — b a a b a b a b b a
Full 10-concert series 5-concert selection 5-concert selection Richard Goode Anna Vinnitskaya Leif Ove Andsnes Paul Lewis Emanuel Ax Seong-Jin Cho Evgeny Kissin Maurizio Pollini Marc-André Hamelin David Fray
sundays at 3:00
orchestras The world’s top orchestras led by today’s preeminent conductors come to Chicago. 3-concert series
Experience the most illustrious names in classical music in intimate chamber music performances featuring works ranging from well-loved classics to modern masterpieces.
4-concert series
11/15 Berliner Philharmoniker Kirill Petrenko conductor 02/14 Mariinsky Orchestra Valery Gergiev conductor 03/13 Chamber Orchestra of Europe Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor
10/18 Joshua Bell 12/13 Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon 2:00 start time 03/21 Mahler Chamber Orchestra with Mitsuko Uchida 04/25 Jerusalem Quartet with Pinchas Zukerman and Amanda Forsyth
mitsuko uchida
paul lewis
leif ove andsnes
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david fray
richard goode
yannick nézet-séguin
lisa batiashvili gautier capuçon
joshua bell
kirill petrenko
cso.org 47
how to subscribe
online call
cso.org/subscribe 312-294-3000 For personalized assistance with finding the programs, series and seats that best fit your needs, contact our Patron Services team.
in person
symphony center box office 220 S. Michigan Ave. Mon.–Sat. 12 p.m.–6 p.m. or until the end of intermission
enhance your subscription see more concerts or bring a friend Save up to 37% on concerts added to your curated series before August 12, 2020, when single tickets go on sale to the general public. Beginning on that date, subscribers enjoy 10% savings (or 15% if subscribed to 10 or more concerts) on any concert tickets purchased throughout the season. Prices increase based on demand, so order early for maximum savings!
subscriber parking Details on discounted parking for subscribers to be announced.
convenient payment plan—FREE Easily pay for your subscription and additional concert tickets with as many as four installments charged monthly to your credit card. Call Patron Services at 312-294-3000 by April 3.
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curated series prices SERIES
subscribe to a curated series and save up to 39%!
MAIN FLOOR
No. of Concerts
BOX
LOWER BALCONY
UPPER BALCONY
GALLERY
TERRACE
1M
2M
3M
4M
5M
1B
1L
2L
3L
4L
5L
1U
2U
1G
2G
1T
2T
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Classical THU A-C
10
920
720
610
480
380
2,090
1,310
1,050
960
820
590
490
340
340
250
720
490
Classical THU D-I
5
520
390
330
265
215
1,090
705
585
510
435
315
255
170
180
130
365
265
Classical FRI A & B
8
768
624
520
448
448
1,592
1,024
824
768
648
472
424
264
280
240
592
432
Classical FRI C & D
5
510
410
335
275
230
1,055
700
570
525
455
335
285
170
190
135
380
285
Classical SAT A & B
10
920
720
610
480
380
2,090
1,310
1,050
960
820
590
490
340
340
250
720
490
Classical SAT C & D
5
585
445
385
345
290
1,095
770
620
550
475
340
315
190
215
160
415
340
Classical SUN A
6
702
534
462
414
348
1,314
924
744
660
570
408
378
228
258
192
498
408
Classical TUE A & B
5
460
360
305
240
190
1,045
655
525
480
410
295
245
170
170
125
360
245
CSO at the Movies
4
368
316
316
272
272
496
412
352
352
304
304
192
180
180
180
n/a
n/a
Family A & B
(Adult)
3
120
120
120
60
60
180
120
120
90
90
90
60
60
30
30
60
60
Family A & B
(Youth 12 & under)
3
60
60
60
30
30
90
60
60
45
45
45
30
30
15
15
30
30
SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS Piano E
10
419
358
305
279
279
736
491
407
375
356
340
239
230
223
217
476
476
Piano A
5
262
228
192
179
179
458
308
252
234
225
214
146
138
135
132
306
306
Piano B
5
217
182
156
140
140
382
253
214
194
182
174
128
125
119
116
238
238
Chamber Music
4
208
176
164
148
144
316
236
196
188
176
172
n/a
n/a
120
112
168
108
Orchestras
3
298
249
190
159
142
406
336
298
267
246
226
n/a
n/a
114
97
186
141
full single ticket prices
save 10-20% when you create your own series!
Savings are applied to full prices at the time of purchase, which can increase based on demand. Order early to lock in the best prices.
MAIN FLOOR
BOX
LOWER BALCONY
UPPER BALCONY
GALLERY
TERRACE
CSO Classical
$55–172
$210–315
$66–241
$36–89
$32–83
$59–123
Movies
$55–150
$95–198
$65–165
$45–77
$45–72
n/a
Family Matinees
(Adult)
$25–45
$65
$35–45
$25
$15
$25
Family Matinees
(Youth 12 & under)
$15–25
$35
$20–25
$15
$5
$15
$29–120
$75–199
$36–150
$25–60
$23–55
$29–155
$51–74
$112
$61–84
n/a
$39–42
$38–59
Orchestras
$49–193
$165–250
$88–218
$57–115
$35–73
$57–115
World, Pop and Jazz
$40–125
$80–175
$40–125
$30–67
$25–45
$30–75
Holidays
$50–110
$80–150
$50–120
$40–65
$25–55
n/a
Piano Chamber Music
subscription and single ticket prices for once upon a symphony, musicnow and cso at wheaton can be found on pages 42-43. visit cso.org/addons for subscriber add-on pricing. *All printed prices are valid until August 12, 2020, and are subject to change based on demand beginning on that date. 2U-Upper Balcony and 2G-Gallery are partial view. Seating is subject to availability at the time of sale. Terrace subscriber seats may be changed to a different location if a concert involves a screen or chorus. Exchange restrictions may apply to select programs. Visit cso.org/exchange or contact Patron Services for more information. All artists, programs, dates and times are subject to change.
cso.org 49
orchestra hall seating charts FLYNN GALLERY 1G Gallery 2G Gallery (Partial View)
CLASSICAL, MOVIES & MERRY, MERRY CHICAGO CONCERTS
KREHBIEL UPPER BALCONY 1U Upper Balcony 2U Upper Balcony (Partial View) FADIM LOWER BALCONY 1L Lower Balcony 2L Lower Balcony 3L Lower Balcony 4L Lower Balcony 5L Lower Balcony BOX SEATS
STAGE
MELK MAIN FLOOR 1M Main Floor 2M Main Floor 3M Main Floor 4M Main Floor 5M Main Floor GRAY TERRACE 1T Left and Right 2T Center Left and Center Right
FLYNN GALLERY 1G Gallery 2G Gallery (Partial View)
FAMILY, WORLD, POP & JAZZ CONCERTS
KREHBIEL UPPER BALCONY 1U Upper Balcony 2U Upper Balcony (Partial View) FADIM LOWER BALCONY 1L Lower Balcony 2L Lower Balcony 3L Lower Balcony 4L Lower Balcony 5L Lower Balcony BOX SEATS
STAGE
For additional seating charts, visit cso.org/seats.
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MELK MAIN FLOOR 1M Main Floor 2M Main Floor 3M Main Floor 4M Main Floor 5M Main Floor GRAY TERRACE 1T Left and Right 2T Center Left and Center Right
support your orchestra Each year loyal audience members and generous friends support the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. These gifts celebrate the extraordinary Orchestra and ensure its legacy for many years to come. Bring the music you love to others by making a donation to the CSOA. Your gift will help the CSO remain a world-class orchestra and continue the programs that engage more than 425,000 people each year in life-changing musical experiences. Donors receive additional special privileges and benefits as a way of saying “thank you.” Benefits include:
Invitations to attend CSO Open Rehearsals
An invitation to attend a backstage tour
Membership in The Richard and Helen Thomas Club at Symphony Center, a private dining facility
Access to VIP ticketing services
Invitations to Salon Series events . . . and more!
make a gift today: cso.org/makeagift | 312-294-3100 Thank you for your support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.
our sponsors The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is grateful for the generous support of these leading corporate, foundation and government sponsors:
Maestro Residency Presenter
Zell Family Foundation
Walter E. Heller Foundation
Official Airline of the CSO
Julius N. Frankel Foundation
The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation
The Negaunee Foundation
Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
cso.org 51
add concerts to your subscription and save up to 37%! saturday, october 3, 6:30 2020 symphony ball: beethoven 5 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor YeƂm Bronfman piano Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 Beethoven Symphony No. 5 Celebrate at the annual Symphony Ball concert and the culmination of the Beethoven anniversary. YeƂm Bronfman, a “leonine virtuoso” (Chicago Tribune), brings the power and poetry of the Third Piano Concerto to life. Riccardo Muti and the CSO perform Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony. Attend the concert, or attend the concert and the Ball for the complete experience. Gala packages include premium concert seating, plus postconcert dinner and dancing at the Four Seasons. Call 312-294-3185 or email symphonyball@cso.org for more information..
december 18–23 merry, merry chicago! Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director The CSO’s annual holiday spectacular is festive fun for the entire family!
sunday, march 7, 3:00 lang lang piano Bach Goldberg Variations “The hottest artist on the classical music planet” (The New York Times), piano phenomenon Lang Lang comes to Chicago for a solo performance of Bach’s towering masterpiece, the iconic Goldberg Variations.
sunday, may 2, 7:00 itzhak perlman violin in the fiddler’s house Beloved violinist Itzhak Perlman revisits his iconic project In the Fiddler’s House, a charming journey through traditional klezmer music, in celebration of its 25th anniversary.
cso.org