For Immediate Release: Press Contacts: June 2, 2016 Eileen Chambers, 312-294-3092 Photos Available By Request
[email protected] MUSIC DIRECTOR RICCARDO MUTI LEADS TWO PROGRAMS TO CONCLUDE THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S 125TH SEASON June 16–26, 2016 Muti Leads Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with Julia Fischer as Soloist (June 16–21) Muti Leads an All-Bruckner Program including the Symphony No. 9 and Te Deum featuring the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Soloists (June 23–26) CHICAGO—Music Director Riccardo Muti returns in June to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in two programs to conclude the 125th season (June 16–26). Throughout the 2015/16 season, Muti and the Orchestra have honored the ensemble’s distinguished history with performances of works that received either their world or U.S. premieres from the CSO. The final season program includes two of these works—Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, which was given its U.S. premiere by the CSO in 1904, and his choral masterwork, Te Deum, which was given its U.S. premiere by the CSO in 1892. Both premieres were led by the CSO’s first music director, Theodore Thomas. Muti opens his June residency with the CSO with a program (June 16–21) that includes Brahms’ Serenade No. 1 and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with Julia Fischer as soloist. Originally composed as chamber music, Brahms later adapted his Serenade No. 1 for full orchestra, offering a preview of the rich compositional style that would emerge in his four symphonies. The six-movement work is filled with lyrical wind and string passages, as well as exuberant writing in the allegro and scherzo movements.