CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA RICCARDO MUTI DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 CSO_Wrap3_C1_Dec17Jan18.indd 1 11/17/17 4:31 PM ABOVE ALL ELSE SEEK BEAUTY 74 stories of uncompromising commitment to the art of living, designed by Helmut Jahn with interiors by Kara Mann. EXTRAORDINARY MICHIGAN AVENUE CONDOMINIUM RESIDENCES CALL FOR A PRIVATE SHOWING 312-781-7510 1000SOUTHMICHIGAN.COM @1000MCHICAGO FB.ME/1000MCHICAGO 1000M is developed by 1000 South Michigan Equities LLC and is exclusively marketed by @properties. All information, including exterior façade, prices, dimensions, square footage, features, amenities, finishes, floor plans and availability are subject to change without notice. Developer License Number 2496464. Full_Page_Template.indd 1 11/16/17 1:47 PM Full_Page_Template.indd 1 11/16/17 1:48 PM CONTENTS CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA A Welcome Letter Program Book Production 4 Frances Atkins From Board of Trustees Chair Helen Zell and Chicago Content Director Phillip Huscher Symphony Orchestra Association President Jeff Alexander Program Annotator Gerald Virgil Meet the Musicians: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Senior Content Editor 6 Laura Emerick The latest in a series of profiles featuring the renowned Laura Sauer Content Editors members of the CSO Kristin Tobin Designer 8 Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Wheaton College CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS The CSO returns to Wheaton for a second season of Founder and editor in chief: subscription concerts. Rance Crain Crain’s Custom Media, a division of 10 Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Crain’s Chicago Business, serves as the publisher for the Chicago Symphony Symphony Orchestra Orchestra program books. Crain’s Learn how the Civic Fellowship program fosters the Custom Media provides production, printing, and media sales services for burgeoning careers of civically engaged and talented the CSO program books. For more young musicians. details or to secure advertising space in the programs, please contact: 12 Meet the Musicians: Chicago Symphony Chorus CRAIN’S CUSTOM MEDIA Profiles featuring members of the Chicago Symphony Director: Chorus in honor of its sixtieth anniversary Frank Sennett, 312-649-5278 [email protected] 16 Meet the Composers Exclusive agent: Bryan Dowling, 773-275-1247 Profiles featuring past composers-in-residence in honor of [email protected] the twentieth season of the CSO’s MusicNOW series Project manager: Joanna Metzger, 312-649-5241 19 Our Donors and Volunteers [email protected] Crain’s Custom Media Profiles and lists of our generous donors and volunteers, 150 N. Michigan Avenue plus information on volunteer opportunities Chicago, IL 60601 25 THIS CONCERT Information about the program and the performers for this concert PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD ROSENBERG 44 Our Donors and Volunteers, continued 64 Upcoming Events Listings for many of the exciting concerts to be held at Symphony Center in the weeks ahead. Learn more at cso.org and csosoundsandstories.org. Global Sponsor of the CSO 2 CSO_Wrap3_Dec17Jan18_d3.indd 2 11/20/17 3:45 PM WE HAVE A REAL APPRECIATION FOR THINGS THAT ARE WELL ORCHESTRATED. Northern Trust is proud to support the Chicago Sympony Orchestra. For more than 125 years, we’ve been meeting our clients’ financial needs while nurturing a culture of caring and a commitment to invest in the communities we serve. Our goal is to help you find perfect harmony. TO LEARN MORE VISIT northerntrust.com WEALTH PLANNING \ BANKING \ TRUST & ESTATE SERVICES \ INVESTING \ FAMILY OFFICE Full_Page_Template.indd 1 9/7/17 10:53 AM LETTER FROM THE CHAIR AND THE PRESIDENT Dear Friends, This is a special time of year in Chicago. The energy on the streets is echoed by the festive concerts at Orchestra Hall, the home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The Orchestra is an ensemble of artists who have dedicated their lives to the art of symphonic music and who give us the priceless experience of hearing classical repertoire performed at the highest level with the world’s greatest conductors and soloists. Now is also a season for giving and expressing gratitude. All HELEN ZELL Chair of our programs are made possible through generous gifts from Board of Trustees friends like you. Your generosity makes you part of the Chicago Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association Symphony Orchestra Association’s ongoing pursuit of artistic excellence, the development of new audiences, innovative and nurturing education and community programs, and sharing the music we love with listeners here in Chicagoland and around the world. It also ensures that the important work of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra continues for generations to come. Please consider supporting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by making a gift to the Association’s Annual Fund this season. Your support helps the CSO remain a world-class orchestra and sustains the ongoing legacy of programs that engage more than 450,000 people each year in life-changing musical experiences. On behalf of the members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, JEFF ALEXANDER President Chicago Symphony Chorus, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Negaunee Chicago Symphony Music Institute, our trustees, volunteers, administration, and above Orchestra Association all, the hundreds of thousands of people whose lives are enriched through our programs each year, we thank you for your presence and support. We send our warmest wishes for a music-filled, happy and healthy New Year. To make a contribution, please visit CSO.org/give or contact Donor Services at 312-294-3100. Thank you for your support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 4 CSO_Wrap3_Dec17Jan18_d3.indd 4 11/20/17 3:45 PM Friday, November 17, 2017 through Monday, January 1, 2018 See trees in a different light. Make memories as you stroll a mile-long paved path through the winter woods brought to life with innovative lights, projections, and music. New this year! Be a part of the interactive light display! Purchase a glowing Illu-medallion that reacts to the spectacular sights and sounds along your journey. Advance purchase recommended. mortonarb.org/holidaymortonarb.org/holiday Illumination Sponsors Arboretum members always save on Illumination tickets. Not a member yet? Visit mortonarb.org/join before you plan your Illumination visit! CONNECT WITH US #IlluminationTMA #mortonarboretum 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 • mortonarb.org • 630-968-0074 Full_Page_Template.indd 1 10/19/17 9:58 AM Meet the MUSICIANS David Herbert Principal Timpani The Clinton Family Fund Chair HOMETOWN YEAR JOINED THE CSO EDUCATION Columbia, Missouri 2013 The Juilliard School PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG TODD BY PHOTO Which works are you Offstage, I like to: lute pinnacle for me. Stranded most looking forward to I have a new YouTube channel on a desert island, I’d take performing, and why? called Tuned in with David Schubert’s songs and string Anything and everything with Herbert that is focused on quartets and be very happy. Maestro Riccardo Muti; he is music education and discussions truly a gift to our great orches- with members of the CSO and What is your most mem- tra and this incredible city. other musicians. I encourage orable CSO performance He makes us feel special and you to watch and subscribe. I’m or experience? appreciated, and we endeavor to also studying Italian, but am I will never forget those incred- meet (and hopefully exceed) his discouraged because I’m unable ible concerts of Bach’s B minor extremely high expectations. to roll my “Rrrrrrs.” mass with Maestro Muti—my I also have a tremendous first time playing with him. amount of respect and antic- What is some of your ipation for performing with favorite music? Why did you choose Herbert Blomstedt. He makes I must admit that I love the your instrument? you feel that a great perfor- Carpenters, the Ink Spots, It’s the best of all things. I get mance is a precious, or even Les Baxter—anything that’s to play Bach, Haydn, Mozart, religious, experience. sentimental or exotic is music to Beethoven, Brahms, and my ears—but nothing is better Schubert (my favorite), and than Schubert. That’s the abso- the drums! 6 CSO_Wrap3_Dec17Jan18_d3.indd 6 11/20/17 3:45 PM Meet the MUSICIANS Jennifer Gunn Piccolo and Flute HOMETOWN YEAR JOINED THE CSO EDUCATION Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania 2005 Duquesne University PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG TODD BY PHOTO Which works are you University of Texas clarinet Why did you choose your most looking forward to professor) and our two pups. instrument? performing, and why? When we’re in Austin, you will I think the piccolo chose me. I In January, we are play- find us boating on Lake Travis. am drawn to the colorful addi- ing Bartók’s Concerto for tion it makes to the orchestral Orchestra. This piece contains Who are your favorite sound. It often does not get one of my favorite piccolo composers? enough credit as a beautiful parts in addition to wonderful It is very hard for me to pick instrument, and I hope to passages for the entire orches- a favorite because it changes change listeners’ opinions tra. During the same week, the from week to week depending about that. CSO will play for the movie on who is conducting. For Singin’ in the Rain. Movie example, I love playing Verdi Any advice for listeners? nights are always fun. under Maestro Muti’s direc- Come and enjoy! You don’t tion, Mahler’s symphonies with need a music degree to enjoy a Offstage, I like to: Haitink, American music with concert. If you would like more When I am not onstage, you Michael Tilson Thomas, and information about the concert, might find me meeting friends French music with Charles the preconcert lectures and for dinner, going to a show, Dutoit. Each conductor brings Classic Encounter series are exercising at my local Bar their musical opinions, and it great ways to get a taste of what Method studio, or heading to is the Orchestra’s job to deliver you are about to experience.