Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Jun 2-7. Edo de Waart pairs Beethoven's Second Symphony with two of Mozart's most charming and inventive scores-the Horn Concerto No. 3, performed by CSO horn player Daniel Gingrich, and Prague Symphony. One of Beethoven's most uplifting and beautiful works, the Second Symphony eloquently demonstrates the composer's strength amid increasing deafness.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO May 26-31. Cristian Macelaru is joined by internationally acclaimed American cellist Alisa Weilerstein for a specially commissioned concerto by Pascal Dusapin. Ibert's scintillating Bacchanale and Gustav Holst's stunning and spectacular The Planets complete what will be an exhilarating concert.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO May 12-14. Charles Dutoit conducts two enchanting scores by Manuel de Falla. One of Spain's most exciting young artists, Javier Perianes is the soloist for the atmospheric Nights in the Gardens of Spain, and the concert ends with charming music from Falla's humorous ballet The Three-Cornered Hat. Ravel's zesty Alborada del gracioso and Dukas' ever-popular The Sorcerer's Apprentice complete this vibrant program.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO May 5-10. Scottish conductor Donald Runnicles was praised for his "masterful leadership of the orchestra" (The News-Gazette) after concerts with the CSO in October 2014. He returns to Symphony Center to lead a program including Richard Strauss' spectacular and brilliant tone poem Death and Transfiguration. Benjamin Britten's Sinfonia da requiem paves the way for fellow Englishman Edward Elgar's popular Enigma Variations, 14 intriguing musical portraits of the composer's friends and family.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Apr 28-30. Former CSO Principal Conductor Bernard Haitink returns to Symphony Center with a program including Till Fellner as soloist in Mozart's sunny Piano Concerto No. 22. Haitink, an eminent Strauss conductor, also leads the Orchestra in a majestic performance of Strauss' epic An Alpine Symphony.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Apr 21-26. Riccardo Muti's cycle of Giuseppe Verdi's three Shakespeare operas culminates in performances of Falstaff. With his incomparable musicianship, command of style and unique understanding of Verdi's genius, Maestro Muti will make Falstaff both a memorable highlight of the season and a crowning achievement of his Verdi performances in Chicago. Singing the title role is Ambrogio Maestri, "the most sought after Falstaff singer of his time" (The New York Times).

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Apr 14-24. Riccardo Muti conducts two of Tchaikovsky's most romantic and vividly dramatic overtures inspired by two of Shakespeare's greatest dramas: Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest. Completing the concert is one of Mahler's most charming and best-loved works, the enchanting Fourth Symphony, featuring sparkling soprano Rosa Feola.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Apr 7-9. Riccardo Muti leads the CSO, Chicago Symphony Chorus and international superstars Ekaterina Gubanova, Paul Groves and Dmitry Belosselskiy in Berlioz's most romantic score, widely considered his greatest work. Romeo and Juliet is the French composer's tribute to his beloved Shakespeare and to Harriet Smithson, the Irish actress with whom he fell in love when she played the role of Juliet.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Mar 31-Apr 2. Finnish conductor Susanna Malkki conjures Rimsky-Korsakov's hauntingly melodious and stunningly orchestrated evocation of several tales told by the legendary heroine Sheherazade, represented by a dazzling solo violin. The violin takes center stage again as Gil Shaham plays Bartok's folksy Violin Concerto No. 2. Debussy's quirky Gigues, based on the well-known English sailor's chorus "The Keel Row," rounds out this colorful program.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Mar 24-26. Denis Matsuev tackles Rachmaninov's noble and demanding Piano Concerto No. 3 under legendary Russian conductor Yuri Temirkanov. Balancing this is Brahms' sunniest symphony, No. 2 in D Major. "Temirkanov told stories in music. Everything was direct, vivid and full of character" (The New York Times).