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).

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Mar 17-19. Innovative and influential conductor Michael Tilson Thomas joins forces with Symphony Center favorite Emanuel Ax in a program featuring Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4. Tilson Thomas also leads Sibelius' sensuous and lushly lyrical Symphony No. 2.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Mar 10-15. Sir Mark Elder conducts a program of rousing Central European music, starting with Dvorak's quirky Scherzo capriccioso and ending with two haunting scores by Czech composer Janacek: a symphonic suite from his opera The Cunning Little Vixen and the wild and heroic Taras Bulba. Jeremy Denk, "a pianist you want to hear no matter what he performs" (The New York Times), is the featured soloist in Bartok's thrilling Piano Concerto No. 2.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Mar 3-5. The fiery buzz of The Wasps makes a lively start to a concert devoted to two of England's most beloved composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar. Sir Mark Elder conducts three of their characteristic masterpieces, crowned by Elgar's First Symphony, recognized as one of the greatest symphonies of the 20th century.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Feb 25-Mar 1. Polish composer Witold Lutoslawski wrote his Third Symphony for Sir Georg Solti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which gave its world premiere in September 1983. Esa-Pekka Salonen, who has a particular affinity for the composer, leads the CSO in this compelling and powerful piece. Yo-Yo Ma lends his stellar talent and showmanship to Shostakovich's wryly playful Cello Concerto No. 1.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Feb 18-20. This program features Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 and two enchanting Respighi scores: Fountains of Rome, the vivid tone poem that established the Italian composer's reputation and his soaring Concerto Gregoriano, spotlighting CSO Concertmaster Robert Chen.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Feb 5-6. One of Russia's greatest conductors, Gennady Rozhdestvensky brings a program that pairs Dmitri Shostakovich's first and last symphonies. The lively First Symphony, written when Shostakovich was just 19 years old, reflects the young composer's optimism of the early years in the Soviet Union. His quirky and profound Fifteenth Symphony, written 45 years later, includes references to all of his earlier symphonies along with quotes from Rossini's William Tell and Wagner's Ring Cycle.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Feb 11-16. Ligeti's eerie and evocative Ramifications opens a program featuring CSO Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson performing Mozart’s beautiful Clarinet Concerto. Psrt’s melodious Orient & Occident makes its Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut, followed by Tchaikovsky's treasured Serenade for Strings, which spotlights the Orchestra's brilliant string section.