Susanna Mälkki Leads the Cso in Colorful Program Including Rimsky-Korsakov’S Scheherazade

Home , Gil Shaham, Violin Concerto (Adams)

For Immediate Release: Press Contacts: March 21, 2016 Eileen Chambers, 312-294-3092

Photos Available By Request [email protected]

SUSANNA MÄLKKI LEADS THE CSO IN COLORFUL PROGRAM INCLUDING RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’S SCHEHERAZADE

Violinist Gil Shaham joins Mälkki and CSO as Soloist in Bartόk’s Violin Concerto No. 2

March 30, 31, April 1 and 2, 2016

CHICAGO—Renowned Finnish conductor Susanna Mälkki leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a colorful program that includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade and Debussy’s Gigues on Wednesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 31 at 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 1 at 1:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 2 at 8:00 p.m. Violinist Gil Shaham joins Mälkki and the Orchestra for Bartόk’s Second Violin Concerto.

All programs include Bartόk’s Second Violin Concerto—regarded as one of the 20th century’s greatest concertos for the violin—followed by Rimsky-Korsakov’s exotic symphonic poem Scheherazade. Inspired by the fantastic tales found in The Arabian Nights, Scheherazade consists of vivid snippets and episodes illuminated by the masterful orchestration of Rimsky- Korsakov. The programs on March 31, April 1 and 2 open with Debussy’s Gigues, from the composer’s Images for Orchestra No. 1, a work which received its U.S. premiere with the CSO under the baton of then Music Director Frederick Stock in 1914.

Recently appointed as the Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra beginning in the 2016/17 season, Susanna Mälkki continues to garner acclaim for her conducting appearances in North America and Europe. Her recent performances include debuts with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic, as well as return appearances with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Royal Stockholm Philharmonic. Also widely recognized as an opera conductor, Mälkki began her career in music as a cellist. In 2001, she received one of Finland’s highest honors, the Pro Finlandia Medal of the Order of the Lion of Finland.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Gil Shaham has become a staple on many of the greatest concert stages and in festivals around the world. His impeccable technique and unparalleled artistry have attracted collaborations with some of today’s leading conductors, and premieres of works by composers including William Bolcom, David Bruce, Julian Milone, and Bright Sheng, among others. Shaham has more than a dozen records to his name, garnering numerous

awards including multiple Grammys®, a Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone Editor’s Choice. Born in Illinois, Shaham later immigrated to Israel with his parents where he began his violin studies, completing them at Juilliard and Columbia University. The performance of Bartόk’s Second Violin Concerto with the CSO is part of Shaham’s ongoing exploration of violin concertos written in the 1930’s.

The Wednesday, March 30 performance is an Afterwork Masterworks® concert, featuring performances of the works by Bartόk and Rimsky-Korsakov only, without intermission, and begins at 6:30 p.m. All ticketholders are invited to enjoy complimentary wine and an engaging Q&A session in the Grainger Ballroom after the concert.

Tickets for all CSOA-presented concerts can be purchased by phone at 800-223-7114 or 312- 294-3000; online at cso.org, or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604.

Discounted student tickets for select concerts 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 prices are subject to change.

Bank of America is the Global Sponsor of the CSO.

The concert on March 31 has been made possible by a generous gift from Robert J. Buford.

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Chicago Symphony Orchestra Wednesday, March 30, 2016, 6:30 p.m. Afterwork Masterworks Chicago Symphony Orchestra Susanna Mälkki, conductor Gil Shaham, violin

BARTÓK Violin Concerto No. 2 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Op. 35

Tickets: $38-$98

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Thursday, March 31, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2016, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016, 8:00 p.m. Chicago Symphony Orchestra Susanna Mälkki, conductor Gil Shaham, violin

DEBUSSY Gigues, Images for Orchestra No. 1 BARTÓK Violin Concerto No. 2 RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Op. 35

Tickets: $34-$221

Featured Conductor and Soloist for these Concerts:

Susanna Mälkki Gil Shaham

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. Yo-Yo Ma is the CSO’s 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.