CSO Audio Program Notes

"Music is life, and, like life, inextinguishable" wrote Danish composer Carl Nielsen of his Fourth Symphony, written during the early years of World War I. His life-affirming composition is preceded by Strauss' poignant Four Last Songs, which has been called "the most beautifully delivered farewell in all of music."

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 6-11. "Music is life, and, like life, inextinguishable" wrote Danish composer Carl Nielsen of his Fourth Symphony, written during the early years of World War I. His life-affirming composition is preceded by Strauss' poignant Four Last Songs, which has been called "the most beautifully delivered farewell in all of music."

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 29-Dec 4. CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen leads his fellow orchestra members in a delightful all-Mozart program featuring some of the composer's most popular music. Chen and CSO Principal Flute Stefan Ragnar Hoskuldsson will each be featured in one of the composer's brilliant early concertos.

CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen leads his fellow orchestra members in a delightful all-Mozart program featuring some of the composer’s most popular music. Chen and CSO Principal Flute Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson will each be featured in one of the composer’s brilliant early concertos.

Tickets and more info: https://cso.org/ticketsandevents/production-details-2018-19/chicago-symphony-orchestra/chen-leads-all-mozart/

Danish conductor Thomas Søndergård leads two Russian masterpieces: Rachmaninov's powerful First Symphony, imbued with heroism and pathos, and Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto. Alexander Gavrylyuk, a pianist who "enchants with his incredible virtuosity and thought-provoking playing" (De Telegraaf), makes his CSO debut with this monumental work.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 15-18. Danish conductor Thomas Sondergard leads two Russian masterpieces: Rachmaninov's powerful First Symphony, imbued with heroism and pathos, and Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto. Alexander Gavrylyuk, a pianist who "enchants with his incredible virtuosity and thought-provoking playing" (De Telegraaf), makes his CSO debut with this monumental work.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 8-10. Riccardo Muti leads Verdi's deeply moving Requiem Mass, a touchstone work for Muti, the Orchestra and Chorus, who won two Grammy® Awards for their 2010 CSO Resound recording. "The passion and dramatic verve that Muti masterfully elicited in this performance are simply magnificent," NPR raved. "The Chorus and Orchestra summoned both massive power and a heavenly stillness. . .one for the ages."

Daniel Barenboim makes his highly anticipated return to the Orchestra Hall podium. He conducts Smetana's landmark set of six symphonic poems that weave a rich tapestry celebrating the composer's native Bohemia.

https://cso.org/barenboimconductssmetana

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 1-3. Daniel Barenboim makes his highly anticipated return to the Orchestra Hall podium. He conducts Smetana's landmark set of six symphonic poems that weave a rich tapestry celebrating the composer's native Bohemia.

“There could be no more impressive demonstration of modern orchestral virtuosity at its committed best than the pairing of Haitink and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra” (Chicago Tribune). Former principal conductor Bernard Haitink, renowned for his transformative interpretations of symphonic masterworks with the CSO, returns to lead Bruckner’s rich, kaleidoscopic Sixth Symphony. These performances are the conductor’s only U.S. concert engagement this season. Paul Lewis, “a defining interpreter of Beethoven” (Chicago Tribune), joins forces with the orchestra and Haitink to perform the composer’s triumphant Second Piano Concerto.

https://cso.org/haitinkbrucknerbeethoven