A taut and gripping thriller, Bartók’s one-act opera follows Duke Bluebeard and his newest wife Judith as she opens the seven doors of his castle and discovers increasingly disturbing sights. Opera stars Christian Van Horn and Ekaterina Gubanova bring to life these ill-fated characters. Juxtaposed with this macabre folktale is Beethoven’s joyful Second Symphony.

Sung in Hungarian with English supertitles.

Bluebeard’s Castle by arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, publisher and copyright owner.

Learn more: cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-classical/salonen-and-bluebeards-castle

Kanneh-Mason Plays Elgar - Broadcast by CSO Association

Revel in the sonic splendor of the CSO with two of its signature works: Strauss’ brash symphonic portrait of the infamous libertine Don Juan and Bartók’s exhilarating Concerto for Orchestra, a virtuosic tour de force for every instrument. The organ in Salonen’s “boldly cinematic” (Los Angeles Times) Sinfonia concertante adds another thrilling aural dimension.

Learn more: cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-classical/bartok-concerto-for-orchestra

Susanna Mälkki conductor

Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson flute

Brimming with wry wit and affectionate warmth, Shostakovich’s Second Piano Concerto was a gift for his teenage son. Here, it’s a showcase for the brilliant Lahav Shani, who conducts from the keyboard. Beethoven’s powerful Egmont Overture captures the brave struggle for freedom and justice, while Brahms’ stormy and heroic First Symphony is the culmination of years of labor by the composer.

Learn more: cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-classical/shani-shostakovich-and-brahms

Embark on a seafaring journey as Tchaikovsky summons Shakespeare’s magical island and storm-tossed seas in The Tempest. Korngold evokes the swashbuckling sailors of the 1940 Hollywood epic The Sea Hawk, and Britten portrays the coastal village of his opera Peter Grimes. The voyage concludes as Konstantin Krimmel presents Mahler’s song cycle about a traveling journeyman.

Learn more: cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-classical/the-tempest-and-the-sea-hawk

Musicians of the Orchestra - Broadcast by CSO Association

Rachmaninov’s majestic First Symphony churns with youthful romantic fervor and ethereal mystery — perfect for a December outing. Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, inspired by Norway’s national folk hero, includes the instantly familiar dream-like fantasy of “The Hall of the Mountain King.” Johannes Moser brings his “remarkably visceral and vivid playing” (Gramophone) to Lutosławski’s wild and enchanting Cello Concerto.

Learn more: cso.org/performances/24-25/cso-classical/grieg-and-rachmaninov

Boulez Conducts Mahler, Bartók, & Stravinsky - Broadcast by CSO Association

Tugan Sokhiev, conductor

Yulianna Avdeeva, piano