riccardo muti - cso.org · the piano was the instrument of beethoven’s imagination, and the piano...

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

RICCARDO MUTISYMPHONY

CENTER PRESENTS

2019/20The 10th Anniversary Season of Riccardo Muti

as Music Director—

Celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday

ZELL MUSIC DIRECTOR

2 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS CSO.ORG 312-294-3000 3

WELCOME | 2019/20 SEASON We should all become brothers and sisters—this is the message of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. For two hundred and fifty years, we have tried to find the secret behind the untouchable music of this divine architect and to comprehend the enormity of his timeless philosophical, spiritual and human message. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and I invite you to explore the symphonies of Beethoven and the music of many other composers worth celebrating. With each performance, we strive to reach the ideal that is the triumph of beauty.

RICCARDO MUTI

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 4 A Celebration of Beethoven’s 250th Birthday: Muti Conducts the Complete Beethoven Symphonies A Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle

8 New & American Voices

TABLE OF CONTENTS

10 Series at a Glance

12 Experience the Season

14 Season Calendar

42 Negaunee Music Institute

43 Support the CSO

CENTER INSERT: Subscription Series Guide & Grid

“Riccardo Muti and the CSO took to the stage to reaffirm their current

eminence among the world’s greatest musical ensembles.”

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

4 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS

Riccardo Muti conducts the nine iconic symphonies of Beethoven throughout the 2019/20 season. Each symphony stands as a pillar of the repertoire; collectively they represent the apex of artistic achievement, synthesizing all musical development that preceded them and creating a wake that would influence all music to follow. Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra explore the unprecedented individuality, overwhelming power and true genius of Ludwig van Beethoven in this season-long celebration.

The piano was the instrument of Beethoven’s imagination, and the piano sonata his essential means for personal expression. Renowned for his virtuosity and gift for improvisation, Beethoven achieved fame, even notoriety, for his performances that embodied skill, originality and incredible pathos—a true poet of the piano. Performed in their entirety by esteemed artists Evgeny Kissin, Maurizio Pollini, Sir András Schiff, Rudolf Buchbinder, Igor Levit and Kirill Gerstein, the thirty-two sonatas are Beethoven’s most intimate lasting legacy, illustrating his lifelong and evolving relationship with his primary instrument.

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

“Music should

strike fire from the

heart of man.”

ludwig van beethoven

Muti Conducts the Complete Beethoven Symphonies

The Complete Piano Sonatas

2019 /20

Beethoven’s 250th

Birthday Celebration

evgeny kissin

kirill gerstein

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landscape painting: de agostini picture library/a. dagli orti/bridgeman images; letter: heiligenstadt testament (1802)/ state and university of hamburg; beethoven sketch: portrait by august kloeber (1817)/lebrecht music arts/bridgeman images


Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and artists on the Symphony Center Presents series perform signature works by Ludwig van Beethoven in honor of the approaching 250th anniversary of his birth. His symphonies, concertos, solo and chamber works stand as testament to his creative genius and matchless power of expression. Immerse yourself in a celebration of some of the most stirring, dazzling and revolutionary music of all time, culminating in a performance of “the symphony to end all symphonies” (The Guardian), Beethoven’s euphoric Ninth.

September 26–28Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3, Consecration of the House OvertureRiccardo Muti conductor CSO Main series THU A/F, FRI B, SAT D

October 13Piano Sonatas Nos. 2, 4, 16, 19 & 22Kirill Gerstein SCP Piano series E/A; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

October 27Violin Sonata No. 6Christian Tetzlaff violin Lars Vogt piano SCP Chamber Music series

November 1–5Violin ConcertoRiccardo Muti conductorLeonidas Kavakos violin CSO Main series FRI B, SAT A/F, TUE B

November 6Piano Sonatas Nos. 1, 3, 20 & 23 (Appassionata)Rudolf Buchbinder Beethoven Sonata Cycle

November 10Piano Sonatas Nos. 5–7 & 18Rudolf Buchbinder SCP Piano series E/B; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

January 22Violin Sonatas Nos. 4, 5 (Spring) & 9 (Kreutzer)Anne-Sophie Mutter violinLambert Orkis piano SCP Chamber Music series

January 30–February 4Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4Sir Andrew Davis conductor Paul Lewis piano CSO Main series THU C/D, FRI A, SAT A/F, TUE A

February 20–23Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5Riccardo Muti conductor CSO Main series THU B/H, FRI D, SAT A/E, SUN A

March 2Piano Trios: Opp. 1, No. 3; 70, No. 2 & 97 (Archduke) Emanuel Ax piano / Leonidas Kavakos violin / Yo-Yo Ma cello SCP Chamber Music series

March 29Piano Sonatas Nos. 24, 25, 26 (Les Adieux), 27 & 28Sir András Schiff SCP Piano series E/A; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

March 31Piano Sonatas Nos. 12, 13 (Quasi una fantasia), 14 (Moonlight) & 15 (Pastoral)Sir András Schiff Beethoven Sonata Cycle

April 5Six Bagatelles, Op. 126 & Diabelli VariationsMitsuko Uchida SCP Piano series E/B; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

April 30–May 3Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7Riccardo Muti conductor CSO Main series THU A/G, SAT B/G, SUN A; CSO at Wheaton

May 10Eroica Variations & Piano Sonatas Nos. 8 (Pathétique), 17 (Tempest) & 21 (Waldstein)Evgeny Kissin SCP Piano series E/B; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

May 20Piano Sonatas Nos. 9–11 & 29 (Hammerklavier)Igor Levit Beethoven Sonata Cycle

May 24The Last Sonatas, Nos. 30–32Maurizio Pollini SCP Piano series E/A; Beethoven Sonata Cycle

May 28–30Namensfeier Overture & Ah! perfidoSusanna Mälkki conductorCamilla Tilling soprano CSO Main series THU C/E, FRI C, SAT B/G

June 11–13Symphonies Nos. 6 & 8,Overture to The Ruins of Athens Riccardo Muti conductor CSO Main series THU B/I, FRI A, SAT C

June 18–21Symphony No. 9 Riccardo Muti conductor Chicago Symphony ChorusDuain Wolfe chorus director CSO Main series THU C/D, FRI C, SAT B/H, SUN A

Beethoven: A Musical Visionary

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

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“He himself is neither classic nor romantic;

he is Beethoven, and his figure towers like a

colossus astride the two centuries.”

donald j. grout, history of western music

mitsuko uchida

landscape painting: view of vienna from the belvedere (detail) (1759–60) by bernardo belloto kunsthistorisches museum, vienna/©mondadori electa/bridgeman images


2019/20 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

NEW & AMERICAN VOICESRiccardo Muti and esteemed guest conductors introduce music by some of the most original and powerful voices of the 20th and 21st centuries, including distinctive works by American composers. Presenting new and invigorating artistic talent is an integral part of the CSOA’s mission to promote classical music’s future. Be part of the excitement this season and experience fresh interpretations and repertoire. All music was once new.

“The best kind of classical performance is not a retreat into the past but an intensification of the present.”

alex ross, listen to this

October 3–5Avner Dorman Eternal RhythmThe U.S. premiere of a percussion concerto that celebrates rhythm as the essence of music and the pulse of life, performed by CSO Principal Percussion Cynthia Yeh. CSO Main series THU C/D, FRI C, SAT B/H

November 1–5Muti Conducts Bernard Rands DREAM for OrchestraMuti and the CSO give the first-ever performance of a new work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer. CSO Main series FRI B, SAT A/F, TUE B

November 21–24James Lee III Sukkot Through Orion’s Nebula & Barber Two Scenes from Antony & CleopatraMichigan-born composer James Lee III’s tone poem that depicts the celestial source of the Messiah and the jubilation at his arrival is paired with music from Samuel Barber’s lush 1966 opera. CSO Main series THU B/I, SAT C, SUN A; CSO at Wheaton

December 5–10Jennifer Higdon blue cathedral“Imaginative, richly orchestrated and accessible…blue cathedral is one of the most frequently performed new works in the United States” (The New York Times). CSO Main series THU C/E, FRI A, SAT A/E, TUE B

December 12–14Mason Bates ResurrexitBates, former CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence, calls his new work “a theatrical and fast-paced conjuring of the classic Resurrection narrative.” CSO Main series THU B/H, FRI B, SAT B/G

December 19–22John Adams The Chairman DancesEdo de Waart conducts Adams’ exuberant “foxtrot for orchestra,” a study for his opera Nixon in China. CSO Main series THU A/F, FRI A, SAT D, SUN A

February 20–23Muti Conducts Nicolas Bacri Ophelia’s TearsRiccardo Muti and the CSO present a new bass clarinet concerto by French composer Nicolas Bacri featuring the CSO’s own J. Lawrie Bloom.CSO Main series THU B/H, FRI D, SAT A/E, SUN A

April 2–4Adès Dances from Powder Her FaceHear rapturous orchestral excerpts from British composer Thomas Adès’ sensational 1995 opera about the notorious Duchess of Argyll. CSO Main series THU A/G, FRI B, SAT A/F

April 23–28Muti Conducts Price Symphony No. 3Riccardo Muti conducts the work of two 20th-century African American composers: Florence Price’s expressive Third Symphony and William Grant Still’s beguiling Mother and Child. CSO Main series THU C/E, FRI D, SAT A/E, TUE A

April 30–May 3Muti Conducts Missy Mazzoli Orpheus UndoneMuti debuts an orchestral suite from a new ballet by current CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Missy Mazzoli. CSO Main series THU A/G, SAT B/G, SUN A; CSO at Wheaton

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2019/20 SERIES AT A GLANCE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAThe most exciting and dynamic classical music performed by the world’s finest classical musicians.

CSO MAIN SERIESEVENINGS5 Tuesdays at 7:30 TUE A & B 10 or 5 Thursdays at 8:00 THU A/I5 Fridays at 8:00 FRI C & D 10 Saturdays at 8:00 SAT A/H

MATINEES8 Fridays at 1:30 FRI A & B6 Sundays at 3:00 SUN A

CSO AT THE MOVIES 3 FRIDAYS AT 7:30See blockbuster favorites with scores performed by the CSO.

CSO AT WHEATON 3 FRIDAYS AT 7:30CSO concerts in the heart of the western suburbs at Wheaton College’s Edman Memorial Chapel.

MusicNOW 4 MONDAYS AT 7:00Groundbreaking repertoire curated by Mead Composer-in-Residence Missy Mazzoli and performed by musicians of the CSO.

CSO FAMILY MATINEES 3 SATURDAYS AT 11:00 OR 12:45Fun and engaging CSO performances for children ages 5 and up.

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS CHAMBER MUSIC4–CONCERT SERIESIntimate performances with the world’s finest classical artists.

ORCHESTRAS3–CONCERT SERIESBringing exceptional ensembles from around the world to Orchestra Hall.

PIANO10 OR 5 SUNDAYS AT 3:00Dazzling displays of virtuosity from internationally acclaimed pianists in recital.

BEETHOVEN SONATA CYCLEHear the complete Beethoven piano sonatas performed by the virtuoso musicians from the SCP Piano series.

JAZZThe icons and innovators of jazz. Programming to be announced April 2019.

THE BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE 2019/20 SEASON IS TO SUBSCRIBE!As a subscriber, you’ll secure your seat to an incredible season and save up to 39% over the price of individual tickets.

Browse the following pages to see the full concert calendar, and use the enclosed Subscription Series Guide to view concerts by series and select your perfect package.

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The BEST prices on the BEST seats

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Exclusive pricing on additional concerts.

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Flexible ticket exchanges for just $10 (create your own)

Single handling fee per order$7 CURATED; $10 CREATE YOUR OWN

Access to exclusive offers, presales and events

Preferred parking rate of just $17 at Grant Park South Garage

15% savings at The Symphony Store

Exclusive savings at area restaurants

FREE lost ticket replacement

*day-of-concert exchanges: $10 (curated) or $15 (cyo). upgrade costs may apply.

Maestro Residency Presenter Official Airline of the CSO


EXPERIENCE THE 2019/20 SEASON

Subscribe to a Curated SeriesSave up to 39% and experience a specially selected blend of stirring live performances from your very own renewable seat. You’ll enjoy the best prices of the season on the best seats in the house.

Create Your Own Series (CYO)Choose five or more concerts that work best for your schedule and preferences. Create Your Own series buyers are seated after subscribers, but get access before the general public and save 10-20% over full-priced single tickets. use promo code cyo at login to create your own 2019/20 series.

Single TicketsRemaining seats for individual concerts go on sale August 9, 2019.

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BUY MORE SAVE MORE!Prices listed in this brochure are valid until single tickets go on sale August 9, then begin to increase based on demand. Lock in the best prices of the season by subscribing today!

FOR EXAMPLE…A premium Main Floor seat to Muti Conducts Beethoven 9 on Saturday evening:

As part of a curated 10-concert series: $92With a 10-concert Create Your Own series: $126As a single-ticket buyer $158 or more

Enhance Your Experience as a SubscriberPREMIUM SAVINGS & SERVICE

Receive special savings on additional concerts when ordered by August 8, 2019. See the enclosed Subscription Series Guide for exclusive add-on pricing.For personalized assistance any time you need it, contact our Patron Services team at 312-294-3000 or [email protected].

PRIORITY ACCESS

Meet CSO musicians and guest artists at special receptions and postconcert Q&As, and learn more about the music at FREE preconcert conversations held 75 minutes before CSO Main concerts.

SAVINGS ON PARKING

Enjoy an exclusive parking rate of $17 per park at the Grant Park South Garage for CSO and Symphony Center Presents concerts when purchased in advance. Add parking to your order today!a minimum of 3 parks is required for new purchasers. prepaid parking credits are stored on a reusable parking pass, mailed in september. each credit equals 7 hours of parking. parking credits expire at the end of each season. there is a $25 fee for replacement cards. for directions and garage information, visit millenniumgarages.com.

CONVENIENT PAYMENT PLAN

Easily pay for your subscription, add-on concerts and parking with the CSO’s convenient monthly payment plan.4-installment plan (order by march 1) 25% of the total subscription cost, add-on tickets and parking will be charged upon receipt of order, march 15,april 15 and may 15.

3-installment plan (order by april 5)

one-third of the total subscription cost, add-on tickets and parking will be charged upon receipt of order, april 15 and may 15.

credit cards only. a one-time $15 processing fee applies.

riccardo muti leif ove andsnes james gaffigan cynthia yeh


2019/20 SEASON CALENDAR

SEP

19 THU C/E 8:00 20 FRI A 1:30

CSO Main Muti, Andsnes & Grieg Piano Concerto

Riccardo Muti opens his 10th season as music director with two dramatic Russian works—Alexander Scriabin’s haunting first orchestral composition and Shostakovich’s pensive Sixth Symphony, written during a time of prewar tension. The brilliant Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “one of the most gifted musicians of his generation,” performs Edvard Grieg’s treasured Piano Concerto.

MENDELSSOHN Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage OvertureGRIEG Piano ConcertoSCRIABIN RêverieSHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 6

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductor Leif Ove Andsnes piano

21 SAT 7:00

CSO Special Concert

Symphony Ball: Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet

The Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association proudly presents a prestigious gala evening of music and celebration to open the 2019/20 season. Riccardo Muti conducts a rousing program featuring music by Verdi and Suppé, as well as Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous Romeo and Juliet. “A pianist of magisterial elegance, power and insight” (The New York Times), Leif Ove Andsnes performs Grieg’s magnificent Piano Concerto.

A festive preconcert champagne reception is open to all ticketholders. Symphony Ball gala patrons will continue their evening with postconcert dinner and dancing at the Four Seasons.

VERDI Sinfonia from La battaglia di LegnanoGRIEG Piano ConcertoTCHAIKOVSKY Romeo and JulietSUPPÉ Overture to Boccaccio

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductorLeif Ove Andsnes piano

26 THU A/F 8:00 27 FRI B 1:30 28 SAT D 8:00

CSO Main Muti Conducts Beethoven 1 & 3

The season-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth opens with a program dedicated entirely to his music. Riccardo Muti, who conducts all nine Beethoven symphonies this season, begins with the ebullient, classically scaled First. Unprecedented in proportion and epic in scope, the groundbreaking Eroica Symphony demonstrates how powerfully Beethoven redefined the musical language of his time, launching classical music into the romantic era.

BEETHOVEN Consecration of the House Overture BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 (Eroica)

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductor

OCT

3 THU C/D 8:00 4 FRI C 8:00 5 SAT B/H 8:00

CSO Main Shostakovich 8

James Gaffigan, praised for his “exemplary, full-blooded conducting” (Chicago Classical Review), leads the CSO in Shostakovich’s rarely heard Eighth Symphony, a profound work that represents the composer’s yearning for peace. The CSO’s own Cynthia Yeh gives the U.S. premiere of Israeli-born composer Avner Dorman’s percussion concerto, which he calls “a celebration of life, energy and an ever-present and eternal rhythm.”

DORMAN Eternal Rhythm u.s. premiereSHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 8

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJames Gaffigan conductor Cynthia Yeh percussion

MusicNOW HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE / 205 E. RANDOLPH7 MON 7:00

The 22nd season of MusicNOW opens with the world premiere of a newly commissioned fanfare by Chicago-based composer Wang Lu, works by up-and-coming musical polymath LJ White and more.

major support for musicnow is generously provided by the zell family foundation, the sally mead hands foundation, cindy sargent, the julian family foundation and the elizabeth morse charitable trust.

CSO Main

kirill karabits sunwook kim kirill gerstein julian rachlin david afkham farruquito


10 THU A/G 8:00 11 FRI A 1:30 12 SAT A/E 8:00

CSO Main Mendelssohn & Lutosławski

The sensational young Korean pianist Sunwook Kim, acclaimed for his “ability to shift from fantasy to fireworks and back in a gasp” (The News, Portsmouth), makes his CSO debut with two vivacious works by Mendelssohn—the glittering Piano Concerto No. 1 and virtuosic Capriccio brillant. Ukrainian conductor Kirill Karabits, in his CSO subscription series debut, leads Lutosławski’s melodic, folklore-inspired Concerto for Orchestra.

PROKOFIEV Overture on Hebrew Themes MENDELSSOHN Piano Concerto No. 1MENDELSSOHN Capriccio brillantLUTOSŁAWSKI Concerto for Orchestra

Chicago Symphony OrchestraKirill Karabits conductorSunwook Kim piano cso debut

Kirill Gerstein PIANO 13 SUN 3:00

A survey of Beethoven’s complete piano sonatas on the Symphony Center Presents Piano series opens with the versatile Kirill Gerstein performing sonatas from the composer’s early and middle periods, including the bright No. 2, the deeply affecting No. 19 and the humorous No. 22. “Gerstein translates his ideas into music clearly, giving the Beethoven a speedy dramatic style and impulsive direction. Everything seems deliberately shaped…a most refined performance” (Salzburger Nachrichten).

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 2 in A Major, Op. 2, No. 2BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31, No. 1BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 22 in F Major, Op. 54BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 19 in G Minor, Op. 49, No. 1BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 4 in E-flat Major, Op. 7

SCP Piano E/A Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle

Montreal Symphony Orchestra 15 TUE 7:30

The illustrious Montreal Symphony Orchestra returns with music director Kent Nagano for a program of works by Bartók and Prokofiev. Electrifying pianist Denis Matsuev joins for Rachmaninov’s exquisite, well-loved Rhapsody. “Nagano’s conducting was a model of taut rhythmic definition, athleticism and atmosphere…the Montreal musicians were at the world-class top of their game” (Chicago Tribune).

PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1 (Classical)RACHMANINOV Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniBARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra

Kent Nagano conductorDenis Matsuev piano

SCP Orchestras

Vivaldi The Four Seasons

17 THU B/H 8:00 18 FRI B 1:30 19 SAT C 8:00 20 SUN A 3:00

A captivating program of music by Vivaldi, Mozart and Piazzolla features the CSO debut of Julian Rachlin, a violinist of “brilliant high-octane technique” (The New York Times). Rachlin conducts and performs on two vastly different incarnations of The Four Seasons—Vivaldi’s pictorial baroque masterpiece and Piazzolla’s tango-inspired take.

VIVALDI The Four SeasonsMOZART Divertimento in D Major, K. 136PIAZZOLLA, ARR. DESYATNIKOV The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJulian Rachlin conductor and violin cso debut

CSO Main

Brahms 3

24 THU C/D 8:00 25 FRI D 8:00 29 TUE A 7:30

Following a “blistering” (Chicago Tribune) CSO podium debut, David Afkham returns to lead a diverse program featuring Haydn’s emotionally charged Mourning Symphony, Strauss’ tone poem portraying a man’s journey through death and Brahms’ radiant Third Symphony, which Clara Schumann described as “one beat of the heart, every movement a jewel!”

HAYDN Symphony No. 44 (Mourning)R. STRAUSS Death and TransfigurationBRAHMS Symphony No. 3

Chicago Symphony OrchestraDavid Afkham conductor

CSO Main

Named “one of the great flamenco dancers of this new century” (The New York Times), Farruquito mesmerizes audiences with his lightning-fast movements and intense drama. Experience the entrancing rhythms and fiery passion of his authentic style of improvised flamenco.

Farruquito26 SAT 8:00

SCP Special Concert

OCT

christian tetzlaff riccardo muti leonidas kavakos rudolf buchbinder stephanie jeong kenneth olsen


Christian Tetzlaff VIOLIN / Lars Vogt PIANO

Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt, each eloquent soloists with a long history of performing together, make a thrilling recital appearance. This evocative program features rich and colorful violin sonatas by Beethoven, Shostakovich and Franck, as well as György Kurtág’s Tre Pezzi, which showcases both instruments in new and haunting ways. “With Christian Tetzlaff and Lars Vogt, everything sounds bigger and better. Brilliant musicianship” (The Boston Globe).

BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 6 in A Major, Op. 30, No. 1SHOSTAKOVICH Violin SonataKURTÁG Tre PezziFRANCK Violin Sonata

27 SUN 3:00

SCP Chamber Music

NOV

Muti, Kavakos & Beethoven Violin Concerto

1 FRI B 1:30 2 SAT A/F 8:00 5 TUE B 7:30

The season-long Beethoven celebration continues with the composer’s dazzling Violin Concerto performed by the renowned Leonidas Kavakos, “the most deeply satisfying violinist performing today” (Philadelphia Inquirer). Riccardo Muti conducts this towering work alongside Stravinsky’s imaginative homage to Tchaikovsky and the world premiere of a work by Pulitzer Prize–winning composer Bernard Rands.

BEETHOVEN Violin ConcertoRANDS DREAM for Orchestra world premiere, cso commissionSTRAVINSKY Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductorLeonidas Kavakos violin

CSO Main

Rudolf Buchbinder PIANO 6 WED 8:00

Renowned for his Beethoven interpretations, Rudolf Buchbinder is acclaimed for performances that have “immense and focused force…sparks fly” (NPR). In this special Symphony Center Presents Piano series evening recital, Buchbinder performs the weighty Third Sonata and one of Beethoven’s greatest and most challenging sonatas, the Appassionata.

the appearance of rudolf buchbinder is generously sponsored by js charitable trust.

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 3 in C Major, Op. 2, No. 3BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 20 in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata)

Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle

Muti Conducts Brahms Double Concerto

7 THU B/I 8:00 9 SAT B/G 8:00 12 TUE A 7:30

Brahms’ final orchestral composition calls for deep lyricism and virtuosic technique from its soloists to create the illusion of a single instrument. CSO Associate Concertmaster Stephanie Jeong and Assistant Principal Cello Kenneth Olsen take center stage for this exhilarating work. Riccardo Muti concludes the program with Schumann’s Third Symphony, inspired by the composer’s journey to the Rhineland.

WAGNER Overture to The Flying DutchmanBRAHMS Double ConcertoSCHUMANN Symphony No. 3 (Rhenish)

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductorStephanie Jeong violinKenneth Olsen cello

CSO Main

Once Upon a Symphony® BUNTROCK HALL / SYMPHONY CENTER 9 SAT 10:00 / 11:45

Begin your child’s journey into the world of music with performances featuring small ensembles of CSO musicians, vivid storytelling, costumes and multimedia. Perfect for children ages 3 to 5!

NOTE: This program also will be performed on December 7 and February 8 at the times and location listed here.

CSO Main

Rudolf Buchbinder PIANO 10 SUN 3:00

Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, an artist of “immense and focused force” and “piano purism” (NPR), concludes his share of the Beethoven piano sonata cycle with the three Op. 10 sonatas that showed the composer boldly experimenting. He closes the program with the jocular No.18, nicknamed “The Hunt” for its horn-call theme.

the appearance of rudolf buchbinder is generously sponsored by js charitable trust.

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 10, No. 1BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 6 in F Major, Op. 10, No. 2BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31, No. 3

SCP Piano E/B Beethoven Piano Sonata Cycle

yannick nÉzet-sÉguin juanjo mena sally matthews vienna boys choir missy mazzoli


Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal 19 TUE 7:30

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, “the greatest generator of energy on the international podium” (The Financial Times), and “a Brucknerian to be reckoned with” (MusicWeb International), brings his Montreal ensemble to Symphony Center for a performance of the composer’s stirring Fourth Symphony. A mezzo-soprano of “flawless virtuosity” and “glowing beauty of tone” (The Daily Telegraph), Joyce DiDonato performs two of Mozart’s most famous arias.

MOZART Ch’io mi scordi di te? ... Non temer, amato beneMOZART Parto, parto from La clemenza di TitoBRUCKNER Symphony No. 4 (Romantic)

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conductorJoyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano

SCP Orchestras

Holst The Planets

21 THU B/I 8:00 22 FRI 7:30 * 23 SAT C 8:00 24 SUN A 3:00

Juanjo Mena conducts the CSO in a program featuring Holst’s powerful and haunting The Planets. Sally Matthews, a soprano of “incandescent verve” (The Times, London), performs two scenes from Barber’s 1966 opera that opened the Metropolitan Opera’s new house at Lincoln Center. Detroit-based composer James Lee III’s celebratory Sukkot Through Orion’s Nebula illustrates an ancient Hebrew harvest festival refracted through the lens of the Book of Revelation.

LEE III Sukkot Through Orion’s NebulaBARBER Two Scenes from Antony and CleopatraHOLST The Planets

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJuanjo Mena conductorSally Matthews soprano cso debutWomen of the Chicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director

CSO Main

* CSO at Wheaton

Introduce the young people in your life to the orchestra with the CSO’s fun and engaging concert series for children. This concert, which marks the 100th anniversary of the CSO’s concerts for children, celebrates the life and legacy of one of the most influential composers of all time, Ludwig van Beethoven. He changed the sound of the orchestra and responded to tremendous personal challenges by expressing humanity, hope and joy in ways that still inspire listeners today. Perfect for ages 5 and up!

CSO Family Matinee: Bold Voices

23 SAT 11:00 A / 12:45 B

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

CSO Family Matinee

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ in Concert

29 FRI 7:30 30 SAT 7:30 * 1 SUN 3:00 *

Get ready to fight a dragon, swim with merpeople and find out just who put Harry’s name in the Goblet of Fire™.Rediscover the magic of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire™ while the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs Patrick Doyle’s unforgettable score. Bring the family for a fun Thanksgiving outing! harry potter characters, names and related indicia are © & tm warner bros. entertainment inc. harry potter publishing rights © jkr. (s19)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

CSO at the Movies * CSO Special Concert

NOV / DEC

30 SAT 2:00 Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna

Captivating millions around the globe, the Vienna Boys Choir is one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated choral groups. The ensemble returns to Symphony Center for an enchanting performance of popular folk songs, beloved classical music and cherished holiday favorites.

SCP Special Concert

DEC

MusicNOW HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE / 205 E. RANDOLPH2 MON 7:00

MusicNOW celebrates renowned composer Michael Gordon with a program of his works and music by up-and-coming composers he has influenced.


CSO Main

chanticleer john storgÅrds ray chen manfred honeck jan lisiecki


A Chanticleer Christmas FOURTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / 126 E. CHESTNUT

3 TUE 7:30 4 WED 7:30

Kick-start your holiday season with the Grammy-winning male chorus, known around the world as “an orchestra of voices.” With the stunning gothic architecture of Chicago’s Fourth Presbyterian Church as a backdrop, Chanticleer performs Christmas music spanning centuries and continents with awe-inspiring clarity and precision.

SCP Special Concert

Higdon & Tchaikovsky 4

5 THU C/E 8:00 6 FRI A 1:30 7 SAT A/E 8:00 10 TUE B 7:30

Taking inspiration from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Fourth explores fate, progressing from dark despair to defiant triumph. John Storgårds leads this powerfully expressive work, along with the first CSO performance of the deeply moving blue cathedral by Jennifer Higdon, winner of the 2018 Nemmers Prize in Music Composition. The dazzling Ray Chen, making his Orchestra Hall debut, brings his “liquid tone that carries with it emotional depth of great intimacy” (The Huffington Post) to the youthful bravura of Wieniawski’s First Violin Concerto.

the performance of blue cathedral is made possible with support from the northwestern university bienen school of music.

HIGDON blue cathedralWIENIAWSKI Violin Concerto No. 1TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJohn Storgårds conductorRay Chen violin

CSO Main

Home Alone in Concert

6 FRI 7:00 7 SAT 3:00 8 SUN 3:00

Experience this holiday classic on the big screen with John Williams’ whimsical score performed by Members of the CSO. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who’s accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his suburban Chicago home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for everyone!

©1990 twentieth century fox

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Richard Kaufman conductor

CSO Special Concert

A Night in Vienna: Honeck Conducts Mozart & Strauss

12 THU B/H 8:00 13 FRI B 1:30 14 SAT B/G 8:00

Austrian conductor Manfred Honeck leads a program of richly melodic dance music by the Strauss family and Mozart’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 21 featuring Jan Lisiecki, whose “pristine, lyrical and intelligent playing shows uncommon maturity” (The New York Times). Former Mead Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates calls his new work, written in honor of Manfred Honeck’s 60th birthday, “a theatrical and fast-paced conjuring of the classic Resurrection narrative.”

BATES ResurrexitMOZART Piano Concerto No. 21Works by JOHANN STRAUSS, JR. and JOSEF STRAUSS

Chicago Symphony OrchestraManfred Honeck conductorJan Lisiecki piano cso debut

CSO Main

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Merry, Merry Chicago!

14 SAT 3:00 15 SUN 3:00 20 FRI 7:30 21 SAT 3:00 22 SUN 7:30 23 MON 3:00

Ring in the holidays with Symphony Center’s annual spectacular featuring Members of the CSO, the ful Chicago Symphony Chorus and special guests performing festive favorites. It’s the perfect celebration for the entire family!

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chicago Symphony Chorus

CSO Special Concert

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass 18 WED 8:00

Experience the staggering power and razor-sharp precision of the legendary brass section of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a program 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.

SCP Special Concert

DEC

edo de waart leila josefowicz bugs bunny at the symphony anne-sophie mutter giancarlo guerrero paul lewis


Stravinsky & Dvořák 8

19 THU A/F 8:00 20 FRI A 1:30 21 SAT D 8:00 22 SUN A 3:00

Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony is a lyrical masterpiece that The Guardian calls “35 minutes of life-enhancing joy.” Edo de Waart conducts this profound work, along with John Adams’ exuberant “foxtrot for orchestra,” an outtake from his opera Nixon in China. The phenomenally gifted Leila Josefowicz returns to perform Stravinsky’s brilliant neoclassical Violin Concerto.

JOHN ADAMS The Chairman DancesSTRAVINSKY Violin ConcertoDVOŘÁK Carnival OvertureDVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8

Chicago Symphony OrchestraEdo de Waart conductorLeila Josefowicz violin

CSO Main

JAN

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony 30th Anniversary Edition 18 SAT 3:00 & 7:30

Bring the whole family to Symphony Center for the beloved cartoons and classical music of Bugs Bunny at the Symphony. Celebrating 30 years of Bugs Bunny on the concert stage, this new edition of Looney Tunes and live orchestra includes old favorites like What’s Opera, Doc? and The Rabbit of Seville plus new 3D animated shorts Coyote Falls and Rabid Rider. Created by George Daugherty and David Ka Lik Wong. tm & © warner bros. entertainment inc. (s19)

Warner Bros. Symphony Orchestra George Daugherty conductor

SCP Special Concert

Anne-Sophie Mutter VIOLIN

Anne-Sophie Mutter returns with her longtime collaborative pianist Lambert Orkis to perform three of Beethoven’s celebrated violin sonatas. Ranging from refreshing and sunny to sorrowful and full of anguish, each sonata reveals different facets of the composer’s psyche as he began to wrestle with increasing symptoms of deafness.

BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 4BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 5 (Spring)BEETHOVEN Violin Sonata No. 9 (Kreutzer)

Lambert Orkis piano

22 WED 7:30

SCP Chamber Music

The NFM Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra has been growing in international acclaim since the opening of its new concert hall, Poland’s National Forum of Music, and the appointment of music director Giancarlo Guerrero, “an authoritative conductor with confidence and flair” (Seen and Heard International). They perform Brahms’ sublime First Symphony and Bartók’s final completed work with Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski, celebrated for his “intellectual power and keen imagination” (The Daily Telegraph).

NFM Wrocław Philharmonic Orchestra

LUTOSŁAWSKI Symphonic VariationsBARTÓK Piano Concerto No. 3BRAHMS Symphony No. 1

Giancarlo Guerrero conductorPiotr Anderszewski piano

25 SAT 7:30

SCP Orchestras

Lewis Plays Beethoven

30 THU C/D 8:00 31 FRI A 1:30 1 SAT A/F 8:00 4 TUE A 7:30

Renowned English pianist Paul Lewis returns to perform two of Beethoven’s extraordinary piano concertos— the good-humored First and the intimate Fourth. Sir Andrew Davis, music director of Lyric Opera of Chicago and “a Tippett conductor of proven pedigree and insight” (Gramophone), leads two fascinating works by the 20th-century English composer.

TIPPETT Little Music for String OrchestraBEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1TIPPETT Praeludium for Brass, Bells and PercussionBEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4

Chicago Symphony OrchestraSir Andrew Davis conductorPaul Lewis piano

JAN / FEB

CSO Main

WARNER BROS. PRESENTS

j. lawrie bloom daniil trifonov


6 THU A/F 8:00 7 FRI C 8:00 8 SAT C 8:00

Beloved by opera audiences around the world, Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana is an impassioned story of tormented love wrapped in music of fervent vibrancy. Riccardo Muti, whose command of 19th-century Italian opera is “virtually without peer” (Bachtrack), leads concert performances of the complete one-act opera with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and an international cast.

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductor Anita Rachvelishvili mezzo-soprano santuzzaPiero Pretti tenor turidduLuca Salsi baritone alfioChicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus director

FEB

One of the most versatile musical personalities of his generation, Jordi Savall has been researching, teaching and performing early music for more than 50 years. With an ensemble of period instruments, he brings to Symphony Center a rich program of rediscovered baroque gems from the Iberian peninsula. “Jordi Savall testifies to a common cultural inheritance of infinite variety. He is a man for our time” (The Guardian).

Jordi Savall: Splendor of the Iberian Baroque9 SUN 4:00

SCP Special Concert

Yuja Wang has captivated audiences around the world with her dazzling performances. Witness her charismatic artistry as she returns to Symphony Center in recital. “Wang’s combination of technical ease and sheer power has always been remarkable…but there is an ever-greater depth to her musicianship, drawing you into the world of each composer with compelling immediacy” (The Financial Times).

Yuja Wang PIANO 16 SUN 3:00

SCP Piano E/B

Muti Conducts Beethoven 2 & 5

20 THU B/H 8:00 21 FRI D 8:00 22 SAT A/E 8:00 23 SUN A 3:00

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2BACRI Ophelia’s Tears world premiere, cso commissionBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductorJ. Lawrie Bloom bass clarinet

Opening with the most famous four notes in all of classical music, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is a staggering masterwork that became a symphonic blueprint for all subsequent composers. Riccardo Muti leads a program that also features the composer’s buoyant, humorous Second Symphony and a world premiere concerto performed by CSO Bass Clarinet J. Lawrie Bloom.

CSO Main

Sibelius & Nielsen: A Nordic Celebration

27 THU A/G 8:00 28 7:30 * 29 SAT D 8:00

From its expansive opening to its transcendent climax, Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony is one of the most vivid orchestral works of the 20th century. Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu, in his CSO debut, pairs this with the composer’s best-known work, Finlandia. Pekka Kuusisto performs Nielsen’s spirited Violin Concerto. “Nielsen was a folk fiddler and Kuusisto made it show in the gorgeous looseness of his rhythms and stripped- back grit of his sound” (The Guardian).

SIBELIUS FinlandiaNIELSEN Violin ConcertoNIELSEN Helios OvertureSIBELIUS Symphony No. 5

Chicago Symphony OrchestraHannu Lintu conductor cso debutPekka Kuusisto violinJordi Savall treble viol and director

Hespèrion XXI La Capella Reial Catalunya

CSO Main * CSO at Wheaton

FEB / MAR

Russian piano star Daniil Trifonov, acclaimed for his outstanding performances, returns to the Symphony Center Presents Piano series. “One was struck not only by Trifonov’s comprehensive technique and aptly gigantic sound but by the precision and sonic depth of his performance” (Chicago Tribune).

Daniil Trifonov PIANO 1 SUN 3:00

SCP Piano E/A

SEASON HIGHLIGHT CSO MAIN

Cavalleria rusticana

Muti Conducts Mascagni

aaaaaaaa4IN THE TIME OF LOPE DE VEGA & CALDERÓN DE LA BARCA

leonidas kavakos, emanuel ax and yo-yo ma herbert blomstedt once upon a symphony andrÉ de ridder valery gergiev


Emanuel Ax PIANO / Leonidas Kavakos VIOLIN / Yo-Yo Ma CELLO2 MON 7:30

Three of today’s most extraordinary musicians come together again for an intimate and unforgettable performance of works by Beethoven. The trio returns after a sold-out 2018 appearance at Symphony Center that the Chicago Tribune praised as “warmly engaged and richly communicative… no wonder the fans erupted in an affirmative roar at the end. Chamber music playing doesn’t get any better than this.”

SCP Chamber Music

BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 70, No. 2BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97 (Archduke)

Blomstedt Conducts Brahms 2

5 THU B/H 8:00 6 FRI B 1:30 7 SAT A/F 8:00

After leading a 2018 CSO performance of Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony full of “tensile strength and spirited dynamism” (Chicago Classical Review), distinguished conductor Herbert Blomstedt returns to conduct Brahms’ soaring Second Symphony. “Scintillating and incisive” (The Straits Times) French pianist Bertrand Chamayou makes his CSO debut with Mozart’s delightful Piano Concerto No. 23.

MOZART Piano Concerto No. 23BRAHMS Symphony No. 2

Chicago Symphony OrchestraHerbert Blomstedt conductorBertrand Chamayou piano cso debut

CSO Main

Once Upon a Symphony® BUNTROCK HALL / SYMPHONY CENTER 7 SAT 10:00 / 11:45

Begin your child’s journey into the world of music with performances featuring small ensembles of CSO musicians, vivid storytelling, costumes and multimedia. Perfect for children ages 3 to 5!

NOTE: This program will also be performed on April 25 and May 16 at the times and locations here.

CSO Main

Rhapsody in Blue & Boléro

12 THU C/E 8:00 14 SAT B/G 8:00 17 TUE A 7:30

In a vibrant program of classical music inspired by the jazz revolution of the 20th century, two of George Gershwin’s iconic works are paired with one he undoubtedly influenced, Ravel’s jazzy Piano Concerto in G Major. Ravel’s most famous work, the mesmerizing Boléro, brings the program to a rousing close.

GERSHWIN, ARR. BENNETT Porgy and Bess, A Symphonic PictureGERSHWIN Rhapsody in BlueRAVEL Piano Concerto in G MajorRAVEL Boléro

Chicago Symphony OrchestraAndré de Ridder conductorInon Barnatan piano

CSO Main

Casablanca in Concert

13 FRI 7:30 15 SUN 3:00 *

“Probably on more lists of the greatest films of all time than any other single title” (Roger Ebert), this romantic story of a man torn between love and virtue returns to Symphony Center. Don’t miss this timeless classic brought to life by the CSO performing Max Steiner’s evocative score together with the full feature film.

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRichard Kaufman conductor


Gergiev Conducts Shostakovich Leningrad

20 FRI D 8:00 22 SUN 3:00 *

A committed advocate of the music of his homeland, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev returns to the CSO in one of Shostakovich’s most celebrated symphonies. Completed in 1941, while Leningrad was under siege by the German army, it is a monumental work of shattering power and unwavering resistance. “Gergiev’s approach to Shostakovich’s symphony proved gripping, driving the big moments home thrillingly” (The New York Times).

SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad) Chicago Symphony OrchestraValery Gergiev conductor

CSO Main * Note: the SUN concert is on the SAT C series

MAR

3:00 *

musicnow nicholas kraemer amanda forsythe iestyn davies sir andrÁs schiff jakub hrŮŠa


MusicNOW HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE / 205 E. RANDOLPH 23 MON 7:00

Quince Vocal Quartet, “the Anonymous 4 of new music” (Opera News), performs the world premiere of a major new work by Courtney Bryan, composed specifically for Quince and musicians from the CSO, as well as works by Gilda Lyons, David Remnick and others.


CSO Main

Bach & Handel

26 THU C/D 8:00 27 FRI C 8:00 28 SAT B/H 8:00

An evening of baroque masterpieces, led by conductor Nicholas Kraemer from the harpsichord, features excerpts from operas and oratorios by Handel and Purcell, including the ever-popular Water Music. Opening the program is Bach’s best-known orchestral suite, which includes the much-loved “Air on the G String.”

BACH Orchestral Suite No. 3HANDEL Selected AriasPURCELL Chacony in G MinorPURCELL Dido’s Lament from Dido and AeneasHANDEL Suite No. 2 from Water Music

Chicago Symphony OrchestraNicholas Kraemer conductor and harpsichordAmanda Forsythe sopranoIestyn Davies countertenor cso debut

CSO Main

Introduce the young people in your life to the orchestra with the CSO’s fun and engaging concert series for children. This program, which focuses on the music of 21st century composers, demonstrates how every musical innovation is built on the shoulders of preceding generations of musicians. Perfect for ages 5 and up!

CSO Family Matinee: New Voices

28 SAT 11:00 A / 12:45 B

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Edwin Outwater conductor

CSO Family Matinee

Sir András Schiff PIANO29 SUN 3:00

Sir András Schiff has received overwhelming critical acclaim for his performances of Beethoven’s sonatas. He continues the complete Beethoven sonatas this season with a chronological presentation that includes the lyrical À Thérèse and the poignant Les Adieux (The Farewell), which Beethoven dedicated to his friend the Archduke Rudolph following his exile from Vienna by Napoléon Bonaparte.

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp Major, Op. 78BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 25 in G Major, Op. 79BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 26 in E-flat Major, Op. 81a (Les Adieux)BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 27 in E Minor, Op. 90BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 28 in A Major, Op. 101


Sir András Schiff PIANO31 TUE 8:00

For Sir András Schiff, surveying the piano sonatas of Beethoven is “the most stupendous journey. They give a complete picture of how Beethoven developed though his creative life.” In this special Symphony Center Presents Piano series evening recital, Schiff performs the four sonatas from 1801 that transition the composer into his more experimental middle period, including the famous Moonlight Sonata and the genial Pastoral Sonata.

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 12 in A-flat Major, Op. 26BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Quasi una fantasia)BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 15 in D Major, Op. 28 (Pastoral)


APR

Brahms 4

2 THU A/G 8:00 3 FRI B 1:30 4 SAT A/F 8:00

Jakub Hrůša leads the CSO in an eclectic program ranging from orchestral dances from Thomas Adès’ breakthrough opera to Brahms’ transcendent final symphony. Martin Helmchen, whose interpretations are “beautifully realized, revealing a kaleidoscopic array of shapes and colors” (Chicago Tribune), performs Dvořák’s dramatic and vividly melodic Piano Concerto.

ADÈS Dances from Powder Her FaceDVOŘÁK Piano ConcertoBRAHMS Symphony No. 4

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJakub Hrůša conductorMartin Helmchen piano

CSO Main

mitsuko uchida jaap van zweden emmanuel krivine

renÉe fleming evgeny kissin

joseph moog julia fischer


Mitsuko Uchida PIANO5 SUN 3:00

The Symphony Center Beethoven celebration continues as Mitsuko Uchida performs the composer’s adventurous Diabelli Variations and meditative Six Bagatelles. “Uchida’s performance of the Diabelli Variations became unbridled longing before a shimmering, tranquil conclusion. The audience knew it had been on a very special journey, and let it all soak in quietly before an instantaneous roar and standing ovation” (Chicago Classical Review).

BEETHOVEN Six Bagatelles, Op. 126BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations


van Zweden Conducts Mahler 6

9 THU B/I 8:00 10 FRI A 1:30 11 SAT D 8:00

Featuring some of the most passionate and heart-wrenching music he ever composed, Mahler’s Sixth Symphony is famous for the thunderous hammer blows of fate in its finale. Jaap van Zweden, music director of the New York Philharmonic, returns to conduct this tour de force with the CSO, whose “musical DNA is closely entwined with Mahler” (Chicago Tribune).

MAHLER Symphony No. 6 Chicago Symphony OrchestraJaap van Zweden conductor

CSO Main

Two of the world’s most illustrious classical musicians join forces for an extraordinary one-night-only event. Legendary soprano and Lyric Opera of Chicago Creative Consultant Renée Fleming has dazzled opera audiences in leading roles around the world. Pianist and Chicago favorite Evgeny Kissin is internationally renowned for his astonishing virtuosity. They make a rare appearance together in recital at Symphony Center.

Renée Fleming and Evgeny Kissin in Recital19 SUN 3:00

SCP Special Concert

Symphonie fantastique

16 THU A/F 8:00 17 FRI B 1:30 18 SAT B/H 8:00 21 TUE B 7:30

Emmanuel Krivine conducts Berlioz’s semi-autobiographical epic that portrays an artist’s obsessive, self-destructive passion for his beloved. Two colorful works by Richard Strauss include the mischievous Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks and the delightful, rarely heard Burlesque, featuring rising German sensation Joseph Moog.

R. STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry PranksR. STRAUSS BurlesqueBERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique

Chicago Symphony OrchestraEmmanuel Krivine conductorJoseph Moog piano cso debut

CSO Main

Muti, Fischer & Brahms Violin Concerto

23 THU C/E 8:00 24 FRI D 8:00 25 SAT A/E 8:00 28 TUE A 7:30

Riccardo Muti presents two groundbreaking pieces by the first African Americans to have symphonic works performed by major orchestras. William Grant Still’s Mother and Child is a touching work based on a painting by Sargent Johnson. Florence Price’s expressive Third Symphony gives a powerful voice to the African American experience. Julia Fischer brings her “burnished and splendid tone” (The Daily Telegraph) to Brahms’ lyrical Violin Concerto.

BRAHMS Violin ConcertoSTILL Mother and ChildPRICE Symphony No. 3

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRiccardo Muti conductorJulia Fischer violin

CSO Main

riccardo muti

A SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS AND LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO COLLABORATION

APR

george li riccardo muti thomas wilkins conducts a cso family matinee performance elena sancho-pereg evgeny kissin


APR / MAY

George Li PIANO26 SUN 3:00

Rising star George Li has rapidly established an international reputation for his brilliant virtuosity. He makes his Symphony Center debut with a program of glittering works by Haydn, Ravel and Schumann. “Li’s performance left no doubt that he combines staggering technical prowess, a sense of command and depth of expression” (The Washington Post).

Program to include:HAYDN Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:49RAVEL Three Pieces from MiroirsSCHUMANN Carnaval

SCP Piano E/A


30 THU A/G 8:00 1 FRI 7:30 * 2 SAT B/G 8:00 3 SUN A 3:00

Continuing the celebration this season, Riccardo Muti conducts two more of Beethoven’s immortal symphonies—the graceful Fourth, described as “a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants” by composer Robert Schumann, and the mighty, driving Seventh, which many, including Beethoven himself, considered one of his greatest works. A world premiere by CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Missy Mazzoli, “Brooklyn’s post-millennial Mozart” (Time Out New York), opens the program.

MAZZOLI Orpheus Undone world premiere, cso commission BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7


CSO Main * CSO at Wheaton

Introduce the young people in your life to the orchestra with the CSO’s fun and engaging concert series for children. This concert of music by American composers, including Aaron Copland, George Gershwin and Jessie Montgomery, explores the soundscape of our country and the American people. Perfect for ages 5 and up!

CSO Family Matinee: American Voices

2 SAT 11:00 A / 12:45 B

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thomas Wilkins conductor

CSO Family Matinee

Carmina burana

7 THU B/I 8:00 8 FRI D 8:00 9 SAT A/F 8:00

Opening with one of the most recognizable choruses in classical music, Carl Orff’s visceral oratorio Carmina burana is an exhilarating setting of medieval poems. Beginning a program of spirited storytelling is Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre, a chilling dance with Death on All Hallow’s Eve, followed by the sumptuous Second Suite from Roussel’s ballet about the legendary abduction and enchantment of Ariadne.

SAINT-SAËNS Danse macabreROUSSEL Suite No. 2 from Bacchus et ArianeORFF Carmina burana

Chicago Symphony OrchestraAlain Altinoglu conductorElena Sancho-Pereg soprano cso debutBenjamin Bliss tenorElliot Madore baritone cso debutChicago Symphony Chorus Duain Wolfe chorus directorChicago Children’s ChoirJosephine Lee artistic director

CSO Main

Evgeny Kissin PIANO 10 SUN 3:00

Russian superstar Evgeny Kissin, “the world’s most acclaimed classical pianist” (The Economist), continues Beethoven’s 250th birthday celebration with some of the composer’s most well-known piano works, including the heroic Waldstein Sonata and the exhilarating Eroica Variations, which Beethoven later reworked into the finale of the Eroica Symphony.

the appearance of evgeny kissin is generously sponsored by js charitable trust.

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 13 (Pathétique)BEETHOVEN Eroica Variations, Op. 35BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2 (Tempest)BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein)


robert chen jurassic park igor levit beatrice rana maurizio pollini


All-Tchaikovsky

14 THU A/F 8:00 16 SAT B/H 8:00

Hear sparkling selections from The Nutcracker and the dazzling Violin Concerto, performed by CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen, in an all-Tchaikovsky program that exemplifies the Russian master’s multi-faceted music, from the warm and colorful Capriccio italien, inspired by a trip to Rome, to the characteristically Russian Marche slave.

TCHAIKOVSKY Capriccio italienTCHAIKOVSKY Violin ConcertoTCHAIKOVSKY Marche slaveTCHAIKOVSKY Selections from The Nutcracker

Chicago Symphony OrchestraJonathan Stockhammer conductor cso debutRobert Chen violin

CSO Main

Jurassic Park in Concert

15 FRI 7:30 17 SUN 3:00 *

Relive the magic of Jurassic Park on the big screen together with a thrilling performance of John Williams’ iconic score by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The action-packed adventure pits man against prehistoric predators in the ultimate battle for survival. Featuring visually stunning imagery and groundbreaking special effects, this epic film is sheer movie magic 65 million years in the making. Welcome… to Jurassic Park! ™ & © universal studios.

Chicago Symphony OrchestraRichard Kaufman conductor


MusicNOW HARRIS THEATER FOR MUSIC AND DANCE / 205 E. RANDOLPH 18 MON 7:00

MusicNOW celebrates the 55th anniversary of Chicago’s own Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), founded in May 1965. The AACM pays homage to the diverse styles of expression within the body of Black Music in the US, Africa and throughout the world, an experience that extends from ancient traditions to futuristic sounds. On May 18, the CSO will honor the organization’s long history and its profound impact on modern music.


CSO Main

Igor Levit PIANO20 WED 8:00

Igor Levit, recipient of the 2018 Gilmore Artist Award, performs four of Beethoven’s magnificent sonatas as part of the season-long Beethoven celebration. He takes on probably the composer’s greatest and most difficult sonata, the colossal Hammerklavier. “From the very first note, Levit radically changed the atmospheric pressure in the hall…he hit the first note and the sheer depth and resonant sovereignty of his tone engulfed a monumental space” (Los Angeles Times).

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 9 in E Major, Op. 14, No. 1BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 10 in G Major, Op. 14, No. 2BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, Op. 22BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 29 in B-flat Major, Op. 106 (Hammerklavier)


Mozart Jupiter Symphony

21 THU B/H 8:00 22 FRI A 1:30 23 SAT D 8:00 26 TUE B 7:30

A masterwork of unrestrained joy, Mozart’s last symphony is one of the greatest in the repertoire. Bernard Labadie conducts the Jupiter Symphony along with a dramatic overture by Haydn and two early keyboard concertos by Bach featuring rising star pianist Beatrice Rana in her CSO debut.

HAYDN Overture to L’isola disabitataBACH Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052BACH Keyboard Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056MOZART Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)

Chicago Symphony OrchestraBernard Labadie conductorBeatrice Rana piano cso debut

CSO Main

Maurizio Pollini PIANO24 SUN 3:00

Legendary pianist Maurizio Pollini brings the complete Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle at Symphony Center to a poignant close with the composer’s sublime final three sonatas. “Pollini’s immaculate performance of Beethoven’s final sonatas brought out the simmering undercurrents, the glinting colors, the swirling detail. A majestic, peerless performance” (The Guardian).

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111


MAY

susanna mÄlkki camilla tilling joyce didonato nikolaj szeps-znaider piotr anderszewski denis kozhukhin


Mälkki Conducts Beethoven & Mahler 4

Joyce DiDonato MEZZO-SOPRANO / Il Pomo d’Oro

28 THU C/E 8:00 29 FRI C 8:00 30 SAT B/G 8:00

31 SUN 3:00

Susanna Mälkki returns to the Orchestra Hall podium for Mahler’s magnificent Fourth Symphony, which portrays a journey toward innocence concluding with “The Heavenly Life,” sung by “luminous soprano” (The New York Times) Camilla Tilling. Two rarely heard Beethoven works—the dramatic concert aria Ah! perfido and the grand Namensfeier Overture—complete the program.

BEETHOVEN Namensfeier OvertureBEETHOVEN Ah! perfidoMAHLER Symphony No. 4

Chicago Symphony OrchestraSusanna Mälkki conductorCamilla Tilling soprano

CSO Main

SCP Chamber Music

Entrancing mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato makes her Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music series debut alongside Il Pomo d’Oro, recognized around the world for the group’s authentic and dynamic baroque and classical interpretations. Together they perform arias by Monteverdi, Gluck, Handel and Purcell. “DiDonato’s instinctive feeling for the drama within each aria carried the day, enhanced at every turn by the wonderfully vivacious support she received from the fine young Pomo d’Oro” (Chicago Tribune).

JUN

Ein Heldenleben

4 THU A/G 8:00 5 FRI B 1:30 6 SAT A/E 8:00 9 TUE B 7:30

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider makes a welcome return to lead the CSO in one of its signature pieces, the exuberant Ein Heldenleben, which tells the heroic story of a man grappling with fate through music of sumptuous beauty and warmth. Piotr Anderszewski returns to Orchestra Hall with his “articulate, bold and beautiful” (Gramophone) rendition of Mozart’s spirited Piano Concerto No. 17.

MENDELSSOHN The Hebrides OvertureMOZART Piano Concerto No. 17R. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben

Chicago Symphony OrchestraNikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductorPiotr Anderszewski piano

CSO Main

Denis Kozhukhin PIANO7 SUN 3:00

Denis Kozhukhin makes his series debut with a high-spirited program, closing out the Symphony Center Presents Piano season with a recital performance of one of Gershwin’s most celebrated works. “Kozhukhin’s sensitivity to the shifting moods and diverse rhythms set the scene well for Rhapsody in Blue. Vibrant musical colors mingled with foot-tapping rhythms to create a concert finale of heady exhilaration” (Bachtrack).

MENDELSSOHN Selections from Songs Without WordsGRIEG Selections from Lyric PiecesGERSHWIN Song-BookGERSHWIN PreludesGERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue

SCP Piano E/B


Muti Conducts Beethoven 9 FULL CONCERT DESCRIPTION ON FOLLOWING PAGES ➔

11 THU B/I 8:00 12 FRI A 1:30 13 SAT C 8:00

18 THU C/D 8:00 19 FRI C 8:00 20 SAT B/H 8:00 21 SUN A 3:00

Riccardo Muti’s complete Beethoven symphonic cycle continues with the charming Sixth and light-hearted Eighth. The Eighth, which Beethoven called his “little” symphony, is also one of his most inventive and enigmatic. Composed at the same time as his blazing Fifth Symphony, the bucolic Pastoral Symphony shows another side of Beethoven, replete with sounds of the countryside and a passing storm.

BEETHOVEN Overture to The Ruins of AthensBEETHOVEN Symphony No. 8BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral)


CSO Main

CSO Main

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS

40 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS

In a triumphant finale to a season honoring the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, Riccardo Muti assembles the combined forces of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and internationally renowned soloists for “the symphony to end all symphonies” (The Guardian), the euphoric Ninth. A masterpiece whose staggering influence can be seen across classical music, it concludes with the famous Ode to Joy, which powerfully calls for understanding, peace and universal goodwill. Of the 2014 CSO performance that has been streamed more than 14 million times worldwide, the Chicago Tribune wrote: “Given the fraught state of the world at the present time, the magnificent spiritual balm provided by Beethoven’s music, in this performance, merits the widest possible dissemination. The lines from German poet Friedrich Schiller’s Ode to Joy say it all: ‘Receive this embrace, you millions! This kiss is for the whole world!’”

“Receive this embrace, you millions! This kiss is for

the whole world!”

friedrich schiller, ode to joy

Muti Conducts Beethoven

2019/20 SEASON FINALE / June 18–21

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Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Riccardo Muti CONDUCTOR Elena Stikhina SOPRANO / CSO DEBUT

Jennifer Johnson Cano MEZZO-SOPRANO / CSO DEBUT Daniel Johansson TENOR / CSO DEBUT

Franz-Josef Selig BASS

Chicago Symphony Chorus

Duain Wolfe CHORUS DIRECTOR

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The CSO’s Negaunee Music Institute provides broad access to the Orchestra through industry-leading programs that educate audiences, train young musicians and serve communities across Chicago and around the world.

CSO SCHOOL & FAMILY CONCERTSOPEN REHEARSALSCIVIC ORCHESTRA OF CHICAGOSCHOOL & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPSCHICAGO YOUTH IN MUSIC FESTIVALPERCUSSION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMSIR GEORG SOLTI CONDUCTING APPRENTICESHIPINITIATIVE FOR A MORE PEACEFUL CHICAGO

Visit cso.org/institute to learn more.


The Negaunee FoundationJulius N. FrankelFoundation

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Maestro Residency Presenter Official Airline of the CSO

The Elizabeth F. CheneyFoundation

Paul M. AngellFamily Foundation

OUR SPONSORS

Walter E. Heller Foundation

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