Riccardo Muti leads Gershwin's cinematic An American in Paris and two piccolo concertos featuring the CSO's own Jennifer Gunn. Also on the program is the world premiere of a bass trombone concerto by James Stephenson, a composer of "straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds" (The Boston Herald), featuring Charles Vernon of the world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Jun 13-15. Riccardo Muti leads Gershwin's cinematic An American in Paris and two piccolo concertos featuring the CSO's own Jennifer Gunn. Also on the program is the world premiere of a bass trombone concerto by James Stephenson, a composer of "straightforward, unabashedly beautiful sounds" (The Boston Herald), featuring Charles Vernon of the world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Jun 6-11. In her CSO debut, Australian conductor Simone Young, renowned for her interpretations of both opera and symphonic music, leads a radiantly romantic program that includes excerpts from the final opera of Wagner's Ring Cycle and Schoenberg's rich orchestration of one of Brahms' greatest chamber music compositions.

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Joffrey Ballet bring to life neo-classical works by Stravinsky. This electrifying collaboration includes a world premiere ballet set to the Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, a work inspired by J.S. Bach's Brandenburg concertos, and the ballet Commedia by internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, set to Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO May 30-Jun 1. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Joffrey Ballet bring to life neo-classical works by Stravinsky. This electrifying collaboration includes a world premiere ballet set to the Dumbarton Oaks Concerto, a work inspired by J.S. Bach's Brandenburg concertos, and the ballet Commedia by internationally acclaimed choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, set to Stravinsky's Pulcinella Suite.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO May 23-26. Experience a lively evening of South American and Spanish music led by charismatic conductor Giancarlo Guerrero in his Orchestra Hall debut. Hear popular works by Ginastera, Chabrier, Piazzolla and the most-beloved of all guitar concertos, Rodrigo's moving Concierto de Aranjuez, performed by virtuoso Pablo Sainz Villegas, known as "the soul of the Spanish guitar."

Powerhouse conductor Marin Alsop makes a welcome return to lead the CSO in Sibelius’ spirited Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn, “the epitome of violinist perfection” (Nürnberger Nachrichten). Rachmaninov’s strikingly beautiful Second Symphony and Brahms’ lighthearted Academic Festival Overture, which is based on German college drinking songs, complete this colorful program.

Including Sibelius’ spirited Violin Concerto with Hilary Hahn, “the epitome of violinist perfection” (Nürnberger Nachrichten), plus Rachmaninov’s strikingly beautiful Second Symphony.

Tickets and more info: https://cso.org/ticketsandevents/production-details-2018-19/chicago-symphony-orchestra/hahn-sibelius-violin-concerto/

“Uchida’s remarkable approach to the piano is a given. But the way in which Muti and the Orchestra seemed to be breathing as one with her every second of the way had an astonishing effect, and made the audience fully complicit in the magic” (Chicago Sun-Times). Muti, Uchida and the CSO reunite for Mozart’s dark and urgent Piano Concerto No. 20, followed by a divertimento and suites from two of Stravinsky’s brilliant ballet scores, The Fairy's Kiss and The Firebird. Tickets and more info: https://cso.org/ticketsandevents/production-details-2018-19/chicago-symphony-orchestra/muti-uchida-mozart/

Riccardo Muti leads an evening of dramatic and evocative works, pairing Respighi’s captivating Pines of Rome with a rare performance of Bizet’s own portrait of the great city. Celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato returns for Berlioz’s poignant cantata based on the ill-fated Cleopatra.