2020/21
season calendar
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new for the 2020/21 season: Thursday evening concerts are moving to an earlier start time of 7:30 p.m.
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riccardo muti and the cso “ 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 Don’t miss the singular combination of Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in exhilarating performances of Beethoven’s profound Missa solemnis, Mozart’s refined Gran Partita, an evening of Italian opera highlights and more.
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yefim bronfman
september 18 & 20
mozart, mazzoli & beethoven september 24–26
beethoven missa solemnis october 1 & 2 bronfman & brahms
piano concerto no. 1
anita rachvelishvili
october 3
beethoven 5 october 22–27
britten, elgar & tchaikovsky january 14–16
respighi feste romane march 4–6
daniil trifonov
schubert, brahms & cherubini with the chicago symphony chorus march 9
shostakovich 10 march 18–20
mozart gran partita & prague symphony june 3–5
chicago symphony chorus
trifonov, prokofiev piano concerto no. 2 & tchaikovsky 6 june 10–13
riccardo muti e l’opera italiana
cso.org
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the brightest stars light up symphony center A thrilling array of the world’s finest musical artists
julia wolfe
cĂŠcile mclorin salvant
michael tilson thomas
berliner philharmoniker
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october 18
joshua bell november 15
berliner philharmoniker Kirill Petrenko conductor
december 10–12
tilson thomas conducts the cso featuring Measha Brueggergosman
december 21
vienna boys choir february 12
bobby mcferrin bobby mcferrin
lang lang
february 26 & 27
marin alsop conducts the cso featuring works by Jessie Montgomery & Julia Wolfe
march 7
lang lang plays bach goldberg variations march 11 & 12
jazz at lincoln center orchestra with wynton marsalis march 14
emanuel ax itzhak perlman
april 1–3
janine jansen plays britten violin concerto with the cso april 16
cécile mclorin salvant may 2
itzhak perlman: in the fiddler’s house
cso.org
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cso at the movies The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs the scores alongside your favorite Hollywood films
october 8–13
april 9 & 11
november 27–29
may 27–29
amadeus live star wars: the force awakens december 4–6
the princess bride
close encounters of the third kind © 1977, renewed 2005, columbia pictures industries, inc. all rights reserved.
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the wizard of oz close encounters of the third kind
cso for kids Enchanting performances of beloved classical works with musicians of the CSO, perfect for the young and young at heart
cso family matinees Engaging programs of classical music favorites designed for ages 5 and up
november 21
peter and the wolf february 20
the carnival of the animals may 1
on the waves of sound
once upon a symphonyŽ A playful concert experience for ages 3–5 combining vibrant music and storytelling
november 7, december 12, january 16
goldilocks and the three bears april 17, may 8, may 22
the king elephant and the mice
cso.org 
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missy mazzoli
riccardo muti and the cso
september 18 FRI 1:30 20 SUN 3:00 cso classical
muti conducts mozart, mazzoli & beethoven
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson flute Sarah Bullen harp
Mozart Concerto for Flute and Harp Mazzoli Orpheus Undone Beethoven Symphony No. 8
Riccardo Muti welcomes audiences to the 2020/21 season with the joy and wit of Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. He places CSO principals front and center for Mozart’s delightful flute and harp concerto and gives the world premiere of Orpheus Undone by Mead Composer-in-Residence Missy Mazzoli, whose works are celebrated for their raw emotional authenticity.
24 THU 7:30 25 FRI 8:00 26 SAT 8:00 cso classical
muti conducts beethoven missa solemnis
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Hanna-Elisabeth Müller soprano Gerhild Romberger contralto Dmitry Korchak tenor Tareq Nazmi bass Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director
Beethoven Missa solemnis
What better way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth than by experiencing his dramatic Missa solemnis? Riccardo Muti conducts the CSO in this thrilling expression of Beethoven’s spirituality.
THESE CONCERTS ARE SPONSORED BY RANDY L. AND MELVIN R.† BERLIN WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY MARION CAMERON.
30 WED 8:00 jazz
redman, mehldau, mcbride, blade: a moodswing reunion
MoodSwing, the 1994 album by Joshua Redman’s first permanent quartet, was an astonishing collection by four precociously talented musicians who would rapidly establish themselves as creative beacons. After years of individual triumphs, saxophonist Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Brian Blade join forces again.
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a moodswing reunion
october 1 THU 7:30 2 FRI 1:30 cso classical
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.
3 SAT 6:30 cso classical
2020 symphony ball: beethoven 5 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.
Details about the Symphony Ball event will be coming soon.
cso.org
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october 4 SUN 3:00 piano
richard goode
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, touching and intricate works from Mozart to Debussy.
8 THU 7:30 9 FRI 7:30* 10 SAT 7:30 13 TUE 7:30 movies
amadeus live
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Constantine Kitsopoulos conductor 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.
*Attend a free preconcert conversation at 6:15. AMADEUS LIVE IS AN AVEX CLASSICS INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION ©A.M.P.A.S.
12 MON 7:00 chamber musicnow
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Chicago's leading new music series. Program to be announced.
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.
musicnow
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15 THU 7:30* 16 FRI 1:30 17 SAT 8:00 cso classical bruckner & liszt *classic encounter
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Marek Janowski conductor Benjamin Grosvenor piano
Weber The Ruler of the Spirits Overture Liszt Piano Concerto No. 2 Bruckner Symphony No. 3
The young British virtuoso Benjamin Grosvenor makes his CSO debut with Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2, the perfect showcase for his technical and musical gifts. The program, conducted by Marek Janowski, also includes Bruckner’s heroic Symphony No. 3.
THE APPEARANCE OF MAESTRO MAREK JANOWSKI IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
* For a fun introduction to the evening's program including
dinner and beverages, try Classic Encounter. Tickets sold separately.
18 SUN 3:00 chamber
joshua bell violin
Alessio Bax piano
Program to include: Tartini Violin Sonata in G Minor (The Devil's Trill) Beethoven Violin Sonata No. 7 in C Minor, Op. 30, No. 2 Saint-Saëns Violin Sonata No. 1
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 THU 7:30 23 FRI 1:30 27 TUE 7:30 cso classical
muti conducts britten, elgar & tchaikovsky
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Alice Coote mezzo-soprano
Britten Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes Elgar Sea Pictures Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Riccardo Muti conducts an ocean-inspired program featuring Britten’s Four Sea Interludes and Elgar’s Sea Pictures, as well as Tchaikovsky’s morale-boosting Symphony No. 5.
THESE PERFORMANCES ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
amadeus
joshua bell
cso.org
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october 25 SUN 3:00 orchestra
china ncpa orchestra
Lü Jia conductor Wu Wei sheng
Chen Itinéraire d'une illusion Unsuk Chin Šu, for sheng and orchestra Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
One of China’s most prestigious ensembles, the National Centre of the Performing Arts Orchestra, presents 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 THU 7:30 30 FRI 1:30 31 SAT 8:00 cso classical 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
Composer Qigang Chen couldn’t have imagined in 2003 how relevant his piece L'Eloignement (Distancing) would become in 2020. Xian Zhang conducts the work and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Simon Trpčeski as soloist.
30 FRI 8:00 jazz
jack dejohnette, ravi coltrane, matt garrison trio / thaddeus tukes quintet
Chicago-born drummer and NEA Jazz Master Jack DeJohnette turns traditions inside out with “spellbinding and haunting results” (Pitchfork) as he performs with saxophonist Ravi Coltrane and bassist Matthew Garrison. Thaddeus Tukes, a vibraphonist celebrated for his “fluid technique and pervasive elegance” (Chicago Tribune), brings his quintet in their Symphony Center debut to open the evening.
THIS CONCERT IS PART OF 2020: YEAR OF CHICAGO MUSIC.
jack dejohnette, ravi coltrane, matt garrison trio
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november 1 SUN 3:00 piano
anna vinnitskaya
Schumann Arabesque in C Major, Op. 18 Schumann Sonata No. 1 in F-sharp Minor, Op. 11 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 Schumann’s wistful Arabesque and Ravel’s whirling La valse.
5 THU 7:30 6 FRI 1:30 7 SAT 8:00 8 SUN 3:00 cso classical
an american salute
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Bramwell Tovey conductor Stephen Williamson clarinet
Price Ethiopia’s Shadow in America Frank New Work [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
Conductor Bramwell Tovey leads a salute to American music that features Copland, Bernstein and a world premiere by Gabriela Lena Frank, named by the Washington Post as one of the 35 most significant female composers in history.
THE APPEARANCE OF MAESTRO BRAMWELL TOVEY IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
7 SAT 10:00 & 11:45 family
once upon a symphony: goldilocks and the three bears Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center
Experience the wide and wonderful world of the forest through Goldilocks’ eyes and playfully explore some of the boundaries and responsibilities that come with growing older. Once Upon a Symphony combines vibrant music, storytelling and enchanting visuals for a lighthearted concert experience perfect for ages 3–5. This program will be performed at the same location and times on Dec. 12 and Jan. 16.
PRODUCED AND PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE
13 FRI 8:00 14 SAT 8:00 cso classical
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
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.
THE APPEARANCE OF ALEXANDER GAVRYLYUK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
cso.org
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kirill petrenko
yulianna avdeeva
november 15 SUN 7:00 orchestra
berliner philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko conductor
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,” in a program featuring two of the composer’s most popular works.
16 MON 7:00 chamber musicnow
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Chicago's leading new music series. Program to be announced.
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.
19 THU 7:30* 20 FRI 7:30** 21 SAT 8:00 22 SUN 3:00 cso classical *classic encounter **cso at wheaton
symphonie fantastique Chicago Symphony Orchestra Emmanuel Krivine conductor Yulianna Avdeeva piano Berlioz Roman Carnival Overture Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 Berlioz Symphonie fantastique
Emmanuel Krivine conducts a program of passionate and colorful works featuring Berlioz’s obsessive, hallucinatory Symphonie fantastique and Chopin’s dazzling First Piano Concerto with rising star Yulianna Avdeeva.
THE APPEARANCE OF YULIANNA AVDEEVA IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
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erina yashima
star wars: the force awakens
20 FRI 8:00 jazz
the brubeck brothers quartet celebrates dave brubeck’s centennial with special guests catherine russell, joey defrancesco and chico freeman
Both veteran jazz performers, Chris and Dan Brubeck come together for a milestone celebration of their father, the legendary pianist Dave Brubeck, whose 1959 Take Five was the first jazz single to sell a million copies. The brothers lead their quartet and special guests in engaging interpretations of Brubeck’s greatest works.
21 SAT 11:00 & 12:45 family
peter and the wolf
Erina Yashima conductor Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Magic Circle Mime Company
Suppé Light Cavalry Overture Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf
Step into the big green meadow with Peter, young hero of Prokofiev’s beloved musical tale. This children’s favorite tells the story of a young boy who risks his own safety to protect his dear friends: a duck and a bird. This program, which features the amazing Magic Circle Mime Company, proves that you don’t need to be grown up to discover courage inside yourself! RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 5 AND UP
27 FRI 7:30* 28 SAT 7:30 29 SUN 3:00 movies
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.
*Attend a free preconcert conversation at 6:15.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH 20TH CENTURY FOX, LUCASFILM AND WARNER /CHAPPELL MUSIC. © 2019 & TM LUCASFILM LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © DISNEY
cso.org
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december 3 THU 7:30 4 FRI 1:30 5 SAT 8:00 8 TUE 7:30 cso classical
mozart, haydn & handel
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Jane Glover conductor Paul Jacobs organ William Welter oboe
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.
4 FRI 7:30* 5 SAT 3:00 6 SUN 3:00 movies
the princess bride in concert
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Richard Kaufman conductor
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 feature film. Missing this cinematic concert experience would be inconceivable! © THE PRINCESS BRIDE LIMITED. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
7 MON 7:30 8 TUE 7:30 holiday
a chanticleer christmas Fourth Presbyterian Church 126 E. Chestnut St
“The world’s reigning male chorus” (The New Yorker) returns for intimate a cappella performances of cherished Christmas favorites.
a chanticleer christmas
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10 THU 7:30 11 FRI 8:00 12 SAT 8:00 cso classical
tilson thomas conducts
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Measha Brueggergosman soprano Kristen Toedtman vocalist Kara Dugan vocalist
Ruggles Angels Tilson Thomas Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 (Little Russian)
Based on a poem by Illinois native Carl Sandburg, Tilson Thomas’ Four Preludes on Playthings of the Wind draws from 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. THE APPEARANCE OF MAESTRO MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
13 SUN 2:00 chamber
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, Ravel and Mendelssohn.
lisa batiashvili
gautier capuçon
cso.org
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december 16 WED 7:30 chamber
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 THU 7:30* 18 FRI 1:30 19 SAT 8:00 cso classical *classic encounter
rising stars of the violin Chicago Symphony Orchestra Edo de Waart conductor Stella Chen violin Sergei Dogadin violin Timothy Chooi violin
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 leads three young winners of major international violin competitions in their CSO debuts performing popular works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Saint-Saëns. The concert concludes with Mendelssohn’s effervescent Italian Symphony, inspired by the art, people and landscapes of Italy.
18 FRI 7:30 19 SAT 3:00 20 SUN 3:00 22 TUE 3:00 23 WED 1:00 23 WED 4:30 holiday
merry, merry chicago!
Alastair Willis conductor 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.
21 MON 3:00 holiday
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.
merry, merry chicago!
vienna boys choir
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january 7 THU 7:30 8 FRI 8:00 9 SAT 8:00 12 TUE 7:30 cso classical
dvořák new world symphony
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).
THE APPEARANCE OF MARTIN HELMCHEN IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
14 THU 7:30* 15 FRI 1:30 16 SAT 8:00 cso classical *classic encounter
muti conducts respighi feste romane Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor David Herbert timpani 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 Feste romane from the composer’s spectacular Roman trilogy.
THESE PERFORMANCES ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
24 SUN 3:00 piano
leif ove andsnes
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.
riccardo muti
leif ove andsnes
cso.org
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“Every single soloist in Muti’s orchestra is a jewel.”
stephen williamson
stefán ragnar höskuldsson
sarah bullen
frankfurter allgemeine zeitung
22 CSO photography by Todd Rosenberg
cso.org 
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gene pokorny
william welter
robert chen
david herbert
january 26 TUE 7:30 chamber
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.
28 THU 7:30 29 FRI 1:30 30 SAT 8:00 31 SUN 3:00 cso classical
an alpine symphony
Chicago Symphony Orchestra David Afkham conductor Pierre-Laurent Aimard piano
Mozart Piano Concerto No. 27 R. Strauss An Alpine Symphony
Journey through the Bavarian Alps when David Afkham conducts Strauss’ epic An Alpine Symphony, a visceral sonic depiction of the mountains' varied landscapes and climatic changes. Pierre-Laurent Aimard performs Mozart’s wistful final piano concerto.
THE APPEARANCE OF PIERRE-LAURENT AIMARD IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
29 FRI 8:00 jazz
the bad plus with kurt rosenwinkel / greg ward’s rogue parade
One of the most groundbreaking groups working today, The Bad Plus joins the equally visionary guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel in a virtuosic exploration of genredefying musical territory. Saxophonist Greg Ward, one of Chicago’s leading jazz voices, and his group Rogue Parade open the program with their signature blend of beat-driven improvisation and rock energy.
branford marsalis
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david afkham
february 4 THU 7:30 5 FRI 7:30* 6 SAT 8:00 9 TUE 7:30 cso classical *cso at wheaton
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 leads 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 THU 7:30 12 FRI 1:30 13 SAT 8:00 cso classical 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.”
12 FRI 8:00 jazz
bobby mcferrin
Ten-time Grammy winner and 2020 NEA Jazz Master Bobby McFerrin redefined the role of the human voice in his a cappella hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and went on to revolutionize jazz, pop, classical and world music in solo performances and collaborations with everyone from Yo-Yo Ma to the Muppets. Spend a spirited evening with this legendary performer, beloved for his boundless, spontaneous energy.
13 SAT 2:00 world
chinese new year celebration
Welcome the Year of the Ox with a dazzling musical celebration at Symphony Center, featuring spectacular ensembles and musicians from China performing traditional instruments.
THIS CONCERT IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY LING Z. AND MICHAEL C. MARKOVITZ.
the bad plus
chinese new year celebration
cso.org
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kodo
christian tetzlaff
february 14 SUN 3:00 orchestra
mariinsky orchestra
Valery Gergiev conductor Alexandre Kantorow piano
Prokofiev Three Selections from Romeo and Juliet Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 Mahler Symphony No. 5
The internationally lauded Mariinsky Orchestra, one of Russia’s oldest institutions, presents a riveting program of Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and 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).
18 THU 7:30* 19 FRI 8:00 20 SAT 8:00 23 TUE 7:30 cso classical *classic encounter
mendelssohn violin concerto & bruckner 7 Chicago Symphony Orchestra Manfred Honeck conductor Christian Tetzlaff violin Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Bruckner Symphony No. 7
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. THE APPEARANCE OF CHRISTIAN TETZLAFF IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
20 SAT 11:00 & 12:45 family
the carnival of the animals
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Scott Speck conductor
Saint-Saëns The Carnival of the Animals
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What instruments would you choose to create the sound of a massive elephant lumbering across the savanna, an elegant swan in flight or a school of fish swimming with the current? Discover how members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra can conjure a zoo full of characters in this exciting concert featuring Saint-Saëns’ popular The Carnival of the Animals. RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 5 AND UP
paul lewis
marin alsop
21 SUN 3:00 piano
paul lewis
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.
THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY RANDY L. AND MELVIN R.† BERLIN.
26 FRI 8:00 27 SAT 8:00 cso classical
her story: celebrating the centenary of women's right to vote
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Marin Alsop conductor Lorelei Ensemble
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 one-movement composition for string orchestra, Starburst, receives its first CSO performance.
28 SUN 4:00 world
kodo: legacy
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).
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march 4 THU 7:30 5 FRI 8:00 6 SAT 8:00 cso classical
muti conducts schubert, brahms & cherubini
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 two settings of texts by Goethe: Schubert’s dark-hued Song of the Spirits over the Waters and Brahms’ lush Alto Rhapsody, featuring the extraordinary Anita Rachvelishvili. The program concludes with Cherubini’s remarkable mass, written in 1825 to mark the restoration of the French monarchy.
7 SUN 3:00 piano
lang lang
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 7:30 cso classical
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 THU 7:30 jazz
jazz at lincoln center orchestra with wynton marsalis
Celebrating the Centennials of Dave Brubeck and Charlie Parker
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis kicks off its annual residency at Symphony Center with a thrilling and energetic centennial tribute to two of the most influential figures in jazz.
12 FRI 8:00 jazz
jazz at lincoln center orchestra with wynton marsalis
Voices of Freedom: Betty Carter, Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln and Nina Simone
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis performs new arrangements of works by some of the most powerful female singers and songwriters of the 20th century with special guest vocalists Melanie Charles, Shenel Johns and Ashley Pezzotti.
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13 SAT 8:00 orchestra
chamber orchestra of europe
Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductor Lisa Batiashvili violin
Brahms Violin Concerto Brahms Symphony No. 3
Dynamic conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin 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). Experience them in an all-Brahms program featuring “the gorgeous tone and fabulous technique” (The New York Times) of Lisa Batiashvili.
14 SUN 3:00 piano
emanuel ax
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 THU 7:30 19 FRI 1:30 20 SAT 8:00 cso classical
muti conducts mozart
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor
Cimarosa Overture to Il matrimonio segreto Mozart Symphony No. 38 (Prague) Mozart Serenade No. 10 (Gran Partita)
Riccardo Muti conducts two influential works of Mozart that highlight the wind section: the landmark Prague Symphony and the sublime Gran Partita. THESE PERFORMANCES ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
anita rachvelishvili
lang lang
yannick nézet-séguin
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march 21 SUN 3:00 chamber
mahler chamber orchestra 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 THU 7:30* 26 FRI 8:00 30 TUE 7:30 cso classical *classic encounter
adès conducts adès Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thomas Adès conductor 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.
28 SUN 3:00 piano
seong-jin cho
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
mitsuko uchida
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Seong-Jin Cho was brought to the world’s attention in 2015 when he won 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.
april 1 THU 7:30 2 FRI 1:30 3 SAT 8:00 cso classical 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’ soulful Second Symphony.
2 FRI 8:00 world
zakir hussain and the masters of percussion
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 world
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).
8 THU 7:30 10 SAT 8:00 cso classical wagner & saint-saëns organ symphony
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Fabien Gabel conductor Amanda Majeski soprano
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 Wagner’s yearning and impassioned song cycle, Wesendonck Lieder. Saint-Saëns’ magnificent Organ Symphony brings the program to a rousing close. THE APPEARANCE OF AMANDA MAJESKI IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
9 FRI 7:30* 11 SUN 3:00 movies
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. *Attend a free preconcert conversation at 6:15.
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musicnow
simone young
april 12 MON 7:00 chamber musicnow
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Chicago's leading new music series. Program to be announced.
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.
15 THU 7:30 16 FRI 7:30* 17 SAT 8:00 20 TUE 7:30 cso classical *cso at wheaton
mahler 7 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.
16 FRI 8:00 jazz
cécile mclorin salvant
Described as a once-in-a-generation vocalist by Wynton Marsalis, Cécile McLorin Salvant is hailed for her “perfect intonation, elastic rhythm and an operatic range” (The New Yorker). Hear this acclaimed rising star in a beguiling concert of songs from jazz, Broadway and cabaret.
17 SAT 10:00 & 11:45 family
once upon a symphony: the king elephant and the mice Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center
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Originally from a collection of Indian fables passed down through centuries, The King Elephant and the Mice teaches us that we will find friends—and courage—in unexpected places. Once Upon a Symphony combines vibrant music, storytelling and enchanting visuals for a playful concert experience perfect for ages 3–5. This program will be performed at the same location and times on May 8 and 22. PRODUCED AND PRESENTED IN COLLABORATION WITH CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE
cécile mclorin salvant
evgeny kissin
18 SUN 3:00 piano
evgeny kissin
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).
22 THU 7:30 23 FRI 1:30 24 SAT 8:00 cso classical
shostakovich 12
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tugan Sokhiev conductor Vadim Gluzman violin
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.
23 FRI 8:00 jazz
maria schneider orchestra: data lords
NEA Jazz Master Maria Schneider creates music that critics describe as “heartstoppingly gorgeous and beyond categorization.” With her orchestra, she introduces her bold new piece, Data Lords, which explores life simultaneously being lived through the natural and digital worlds.
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april / may 25 SUN 3:00 chamber
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 7:30* 30 8:00 1 SAT 8:00 4 TUE 7:30 cso classical *classic encounter
vivaldi gloria
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Giovanni Antonini conductor Amanda Forsythe soprano Yulia Van Doren soprano Julie Boulianne mezzo-soprano 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.
THE APPEARANCES OF AMANDA FORSYTHE, YULIA VAN DOREN AND JULIE BOULIANNE ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
1 SAT 11:00 & 12:45 family
on the waves of sound
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tania Miller conductor
Composers have long been inspired by the beauty and power of water. In this program, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra demonstrates how composers choose to portray a trickling stream, a thundering storm or a crashing wave. RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 5 AND UP
pinchas zukerman
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chicago symphony chorus
may 2 SUN 7:00 world
itzhak perlman violin in the fiddler's house
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” (Los Angeles Times).
6 THU 7:30 7 FRI 8:00 8 SAT 8:00 cso classical
the rite of spring
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
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 Jean-Yves Thibaudet and the visceral power of Stravinsky’s iconic The Rite of Spring.
THE APPEARANCE OF MAESTRO PHILIPPE JORDAN IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE JULI PLANT GRAINGER FUND FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE.
9 SUN 3:00 piano
maurizio pollini
Schoenberg Three Piano Pieces, Op. 11 Schoenberg Six Little Piano Pieces, Op. 19 Beethoven Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)
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.
jean-yves thibaudet
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lahav shani
dave holland
kenny barron
may 13 THU 7:30 14 FRI 1:30 15 SAT 8:00 16 SUN 3:00 cso classical
prokofiev & rachmaninov
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Lahav Shani conductor Behzod Abduraimov piano
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. THE APPEARANCE OF BEHZOD ABDURAIMOV IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GRAINGER FUND FOR EXCELLENCE.
17 MON 7:00 chamber musicnow
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Chicago's leading new music series. Program to be announced.
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.
20 THU 7:30* 21 FRI 1:30 22 SAT 8:00 25 TUE 7:30 cso classical *classic encounter
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strauss don juan & der rosenkavalier Chicago Symphony Orchestra Mikko Franck conductor Vilde Frang violin 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.
close encounters of the third kind
kevin eubanks
21 FRI 8:00 jazz
an evening with dave holland featuring kenny barron, kevin eubanks and obed calvaire
One of the genre’s most versatile bassists, NEA Jazz Master Dave Holland assembles a group of jazz heavyweights and frequent collaborators—pianist and fellow NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron, guitarist Kevin Eubanks and drummer Obed Calvaire—for an exhilarating evening of all-star talent.
23 SUN 3:00 piano
marc-andré hamelin
C.P.E. Bach Rondo in C Minor Schubert Sonata in A Major, D. 959 Fauré Three Nocturnes, Op. 33 Ravel Gaspard de la nuit
Marc-André Hamelin brings his “commanding technique” (The New York Times) to a program that includes works by Schubert, Fauré and Ravel’s fantastical suite Gaspard de la nuit.
27 THU 7:30 28 FRI 7:30* 29 SAT 7:30 movies
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. *Attend a free preconcert conversation at 6:15.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND © 1977, RENEWED 2005, COLUMBIA PICTURES INDUSTRIES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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june 3 THU 7:30 4 FRI 8:00 5 SAT 8:00 cso classical
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 3:00 piano
david fray
All-Schubert Program
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 THU 7:30 12 SAT 8:00 13 SUN 3:00 cso classical
riccardo muti e l’opera italiana
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti conductor Krassimira Stoyanova soprano Francesco Meli tenor
Rossini Overture to William Tell Catalani Ebben?...Ne andrò lontana from La Wally Leoncavallo Ridi, Pagliaccio from Pagliacci Cilea Io son L'umile ancella from Adriana Lecouvreur Giordano Amor ti vieta from Fedora Verdi Teco io sto! from Un Ballo in Maschera Bellini Overture to Norma Verdi Forse la soglia attinse from Un Ballo in Maschera Verdi Pace, pace, mio Dio! from La Forza del Destino Verdi Già nella notte densa from Otello
Featuring selections from Verdi's passionate love triangle Un ballo in maschera, Leoncavallo's instantly recognizable Pagliacci and many others, Riccardo Muti brings the 2020/21 season to a glittering close with a night of festive Italian opera favorites, sung by two of the most sought-after soloists of the opera world, Krassimira Stoyanova and Francesco Meli.
11 FRI 8:00 jazz
danilo pérez's global messengers and children of the light with john patitucci and brian blade
Lauded as one of the most creative forces in jazz today, Panamanian pianist Danilo Pérez brings his international chamber group Global Messengers and Children of the Light trio, featuring his Wayne Shorter Quartet partners John Patitucci and Brian Blade, for an evening of stunning, rhythmically charged performances.
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krassimira stoyanova
david fray
riccardo muti and the cso
francesco meli
daniil trifonov
children of the light
cso.org 
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MusicNOW at Harris Theater $29 | CSO at Wheaton $60–$100 Once Upon a Symphony in Buntrock Hall, Symphony Center $20 (adult), $10 (youth)
create your own discounts do not apply over multiple orders, cannot be combined with other offers and are not retroactive. cyo orders are subject to a $15 handling fee. classic encounter lectures may be added to a concert for $25, but do not count toward a cyo package; visit cso.org/classicencounter to learn more. detailed seating charts available at cso.org/seats. all artists, prices and programs subject to change.
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