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,