For Immediate Release: November 12, 2015 Press Contacts: Rachelle Roe, 312-294-3090 Photos Available By Request Eileen Chambers, 312-294-3092 [email protected]
February 2016 Calendar of Events
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Friday, February 5, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Gennady Rozhdestvensky, conductor
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 15 in A Major, Op. 141
Tickets: $30-$217
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. ______
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday, February 11, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 13, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 16, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti, conductor Stephen Williamson, clarinet
LIGETI Ramifications MOZART Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K. 622 OGONEK Lightenings (World premiere, CSO commission) TCHAIKOVSKY Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48
Tickets: $36-$260
Ligeti's eerie and evocative Ramifications opens a program featuring CSO Principal Clarinet Stephen Williamson performing Mozart's beautiful Clarinet Concerto. A world premiere specially commissioned for the CSO's 125th season is followed by Tchaikovsky's treasured Serenade for Strings, which spotlights the Orchestra's brilliant string section. ______
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Saturday, February 13, 2016, 11:00 a.m. Family Matinee Saturday, Februrary 13, 2016, 12:45 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Edwin Outwater, conductor Chicago Shakespeare Theater, guest artists
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
MENDELSSOHN Incidental music to A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Tickets: $6-$57
Do dreams influence reality? Felix Mendelssohn takes us into the magical woods where a group of fairies hilariously fumble in their attempts to manipulate the lives of ordinary people. This program celebrates the legacy of William Shakespeare whose comedic masterpiece A Midsummer Night's Dream inspired Mendelssohn's brilliant music. ______
Symphony Center Presents Sunday, February 14, 2016, 3:00 p.m. Powershares QQQ Piano Sir András Schiff, piano
The Last Sonatas: Part 3
HAYDN Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI: 52 BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111 MOZART Sonata in D Major, K. 576 SCHUBERT Sonata No. 18 in B-flat Major, D.960
Tickets: $35-$102
Sir András Schiff's project, The Last Sonatas comes to a close with a performance of the final piano sonatas of Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert. The program includes Haydn's Sonata in E-flat Major, widely considered to be his greatest, and Schubert's nostalgic Sonata in B-flat Major, written during the last months of the composer's life.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday, February 18, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Riccardo Muti, conductor Robert Chen, violin
RESPIGHI Fountains of Rome RESPIGHI Concerto gregoriano CASELLA Symphony No. 3, Op. 63
Tickets: $34-$221
Riccardo Muti pays homage to his homeland with 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. Casella's Third Symphony was commissioned for the CSO's 50th anniversary by Frederick Stock, and was declared a "victory for the arts in Italy" (Giornale d'Italia) after its enormously successful Italian premiere.
There is a Classic Encounter preconcert discussion on Thursday, February 18, 2016. Learn more and purchase tickets here. ______
Symphony Center Presents Friday, February 19, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Jazz Christian McBride Trio: Christian McBride, bass Christian Sands, piano Ulysses Owens, Jr., drums Gary Burton, vibraphone Tia Fuller, saxophone Sean Jones, trumpet Willie Pickens Trio: Willie Pickens, piano Larry Gary, bass Greg Artry, drums
Christian McBride Trio with Special Guests Gary Burton, Tia Fuller and Sean Jones: A Mack Avenue Records Super Band
Tickets: $24-$76
Detroit jazz label Mack Avenue Records boasts a luminary roster of all-star talent. Brought together for an unforgettable evening are all-time greats the Christian McBride Trio, along with jazz legend Gary Burton, the show-stopping Tia Fuller and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra virtuoso Sean Jones. Local piano legend Willie Pickens opens the evening. "Those lucky enough to get in heard a jazz pianist at the pinnacle of his abilities, Pickens summoning power without bombast and sophistication without pretension—and all of it dispatched with a robust sense of swing" (Chicago Tribune).
Once Upon a Symphony Saturday, February 20, 2016, 10:00 a.m. Saturday, February 20, 2016, 11:45 a.m. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Krithika Rajagopalan, storyteller
The King Elephant and the Mice
Tickets: $17
The largest animal in the forest, the mighty King Elephant, leads his elephant family to the lake to drink. As the herd of elephants charge towards the water, the forest mice scurry away. But when the elephants wade into the lake, they get stuck in the mud and are soon captured by hunters! Who will come to their rescue? Originally from a collection of Indian fables passed down through centuries, this story teaches us that we will find friends—and courage—in unexpected places.
The King Elephant and the Mice productions are presented in collaboration with Natya Dance Theatre.
Symphony Center Presents Sunday, February 21, 2016, 3:00 p.m. Special Concert Chinese New Year
Tickets: $20-$75
Celebrate the Chinese New Year with an exhilarating concert that showcases the rich history of Chinese music, from the traditional to the contemporary. Save the date for a special performances, part of Chicago’s annual citywide Chinese New Year celebration. More details to be announced soon! ______
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Wednesday, February 24, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Afterwork Masterworks Chicago Symphony Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor
BEETHOVEN Overture to King Stephen, Op. 117 LUTOSŁAWSKI Symphony No. 3 SALONEN Foreign Bodies
Tickets: $46-$98
Polish composer Witold Lutosławski 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.
Each Afterwork Masterworks concert begins at 6:30 and has no intermission. All ticketholders enjoy complimentary wine and an engaging Q&A session with the guest artists in the Grainger Ballroom after the concert.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday, February 25, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2016, 7:30 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor Yo-Yo Ma, cello
BEETHOVEN Overture to King Stephen, Op. 117 LUTOSŁAWSKI Symphony No. 3 SALONEN Foreign Bodies SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107
Tickets: $36-$260
Polish composer Witold Lutosławski 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.
Symphony Center Presents Friday, February 26, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Jazz Stefon Harris, vibes and marimba Elena Pinderhughes, flute Mike Moreno, guitar James Francies, piano Joshua Crumbly, bass Jonathan Pinson, drums Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone Adam O’Farrill, trumpet Joshua White, piano François Moutin, bass Rudy Royston, drums
Stefon Harris & Sonic Creed / Rudresh Mahanthappa BirdCalls
Tickets: $24-$76
Grammy®-nominated vibraphonist and composer Stefon Harris dazzles audiences and critics alike with his passionate artistry and energetic stage presence. He brings his new band Sonic Creed and their "high-gloss, dizzyingly virtuosic blend of postbop, funk and R&B-informed groove" (Time Out New York). Also featured on this remarkable program, world-class saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa pays homage to Charlie Parker with a set of bluesy, soaring works influenced by jazz music's renowned titan of improvisation.
Symphony Center Presents Sunday, February 28, 2016, 3:00 p.m. Powershares QQQ Chamber Music Mitsuko Uchida, piano Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Stephen Williamson, clarinet Keith Buncke, bassoon Daniel Gingrich, horn TBD, cello With guest Nathan Hughes, oboe
SCHUMANN Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op. 94 SCHUMANN Three Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 73 SCHUMANN Adagio and Allegro for Horn and Piano, Op. 70 MOZART Sonata for Bassoon and Cello in B-flat Major, K. 292 MOZART Quintet in E-flat Major, K. 452
Tickets: $40-$116
Don't miss Mitsuko Uchida in her only 2015/16 appearance at Symphony Center. The sublime pianist collaborates with musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in delightful chamber music by Mozart and Schumann. "With Mitsuko Uchida, even matters of sheer technique emerge as poetry" (The New York Times).
Civic Orchestra of Chicago Monday, February 29, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Civic Orchestra of Chicago Cliff Colnot, conductor
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 9 in E-flat Major, Op. 70
THOMAS EOS (Goddess of Dawn), a Ballet for Orchestra
Free and open to the public; tickets are required.
Ignoring the public's expectations of a triumphant ode to Soviet victory, Shostakovich instead composed a surprisingly playful and witty piece that made no political statement at all. Experience Shostakovich's jaunty Ninth Symphony under the baton of Cliff Colnot in his final concert on the podium as Principal Conductor of the Civic Orchestra. Also on the program is EOS (Goddess of Dawn), written by former CSO Composer-in-Residence Augusta Read-Thomas in honor of Pierre Boulez.
Bank of America is the Global Sponsor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The Symphony Center Presents PowerShares QQQ Piano and Chamber Series are sponsored by PowerShares QQQ.
The Symphony Center Presents Jazz Series is sponsored by Exelon.
TICKETS for all 2015/16 Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Center Presents and Civic Orchestra of Chicago concerts can be purchased by calling CSO ticketing services at 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114, online at cso.org, or by visiting the Symphony Center box office at 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604. Discounted student tickets can be purchased, subject to availability, online in advance or at the box office on the day of the concert. For group rates, please call 312-294-3040. Artists, programs and ticket prices are subject to change.
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Press Contact: [email protected]
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The Chicago Symphony Orchestra: www.cso.org and www.csosoundsandstories.org
Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. Since 2010, the preeminent conductor Riccardo Muti has served as its 10th music director. Pierre Boulez is the CSO’s Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus, Yo-Yo Ma is its Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant, and Samuel Adams and Elizabeth Ogonek are its Mead Composers-in-Residence.
From baroque through contemporary music, the CSO commands a vast repertoire. Its renowned musicians annually perform more than 150 concerts, most at Symphony Center in Chicago and, each summer, at the suburban Ravinia Festival. They regularly tour nationally and internationally. Since 1892, the CSO has made 58 international tours, performing in 29 countries on five continents.
People around the globe listen to weekly radio broadcasts of CSO concerts and recordings on the WFMT radio network and online at cso.org/radio . Recordings by the CSO have earned 62 Grammy Awards, including two in 2011 for Muti’s recording with the CSO and Chorus of Verdi's Messa da Requiem (Muti’s first of four releases with the CSO to date). Find details on these and many other CSO recordings at www.cso.org/resound.
The CSO is part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, which also includes the Chicago Symphony Chorus (Duain Wolfe, Director and Conductor) and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, a training ensemble for emerging professionals. Through its prestigious Symphony Center Presents series, the CSOA presents guest artists and ensembles from a variety of genres—classical, jazz, world, and contemporary.
The Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO offers community and education programs that annually engage more than 200,000 people of diverse ages and backgrounds. Through the Institute and other activities, including a free annual concert with Muti and the CSO, the CSO is committed to using the power of music to create connections and build community.
The CSO is supported by thousands of patrons, volunteers and institutional and individual donors. Bank of America is the Global Sponsor of the CSO. The CSO’s music director position is endowed in perpetuity by a generous gift from the Zell Family Foundation. The Negaunee Foundation provides generous support in perpetuity for the work of the Negaunee Music Institute.