CSO_1415_Catalog

2014 /15 

Global Sponsor of the CSO

Welcome! 

The 2014/15 season marks my fifth as Music Director of the Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra. Together with you, our subscribers, we continue our dedication to sharing 

world-class music with all of Chicago, and we reaffirm our commitment to serve our 

community as citizen musicians—to generously use and promote the power of music 

to enhance our culture and the lives of others. 

Thank you, Chicago, for supporting your orchestra. I look forward to seeing you at 

Symphony Center next season. 

Riccardo Muti Music Director 

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS 

Muti Conducts the Complete Tchaikovsky Symphonies 4 

Masterworks from Bach to Brahms 6 

From Berlioz to Boulez: Color and Sensuality 8 

2015 Reveries and Passions Festival 10 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

CSO Series 

Main Series........................................................................................ 12 

Afterwork Masterworks ® ....................................................................... 32 

Beyond the Score ® .............................................................................. 33 

CSO at the Movies............................................................................... 34 

CSO Family Matinees / Once Upon a Symphony ® ................................ 35 

Symphony Ball........................................................................................... 24 

Symphony Center Presents 

Chamber Music................................................................................... 36 

Piano.................................................................................................. 38 

Orchestras.......................................................................................... 40 

MusicNOW and New Music................................................................. 41 

Pixar in Concert and Jazz.................................................................... 42 

Welcome Yule!.......................................................................................... 43 

Special Concerts........................................................................................ 44 

How to Renew Guide.................................................................. Center insert 

Season Grid & Calendar........................................................... Center fold-out 

CSO Media.............................................................................. Center fold-out

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | RICCARDO MUTI Music Director | 312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 3 

“The combination of elegance and brilliance Muti inspires 

in these musicians is something to behold.” 

—Chicago Tribune

4 

Muti Conducts the Complete 

Tchaikovsky Symphonies 

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

RICCARDO MUTI conductor 

— 

SEPTEMBER 25–30 

TCHAIKOVSKY 4 

Series: Thursday A and F, Friday D, Saturday A and E, Tuesday A 

OCTOBER 2–4 

TCHAIKOVSKY 3 (Polish) 

Series: Thursday C and D, Friday A, Saturday B and G 

JANUARY 15–17 

TCHAIKOVSKY 1 (Winter Daydreams) 

Series: Thursday B and H, Friday A, Saturday B and G 


SCRIABIN 1 

Series: Thursday A and G, Friday D, Saturday C 

JANUARY 27 

SCRIABIN The Divine Poem 

Series: Tuesday B 

FEBRUARY 26–MARCH 3 

TCHAIKOVSKY 6 (Pathétique) 

SCRIABIN 2 

Series: Thursday B and I, Friday A, Saturday D, Tuesday B 

MARCH 5–7 

TCHAIKOVSKY 2 (Little Russian) 

Series: Thursday A and F, Friday B, Saturday A and E 

JUNE 11–13 

TCHAIKOVSKY Manfred Symphony 

SCRIABIN The Poem of Ecstasy 

Series: Thursday C and E, Friday C, Saturday A and F 

JUNE 18–20 

TCHAIKOVSKY 5 

Series: Thursday A and G, Friday B, Saturday B and H

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | RICCARDO MUTI Music Director | 312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 

5 

T 

he music of Tchaikovsky inhabits a world of melody and dreams that reaches westward for its 

form, but mines the riches of the composer’s inner life and Russian homeland for its emotional 

strength and distinctive color. 

Music Director Riccardo Muti leads all seven of Tchaikovsky’s monumental symphonies. Sweeping 

in scale and imbued with heartbreakingly beautiful melodies, these masterpieces journey from bold 

proclamations of epic consequence to whispered confidences of drawing-room intimacy. 

These passionate, reflective pillars of the Romantic repertoire are brought into provocative 

conversation with early 20th-century works by fellow genius Alexander Scriabin. (See the Season 

Highlight on page 18 for more about Scriabin.) 

Riccardo Muti 

Taking a Snowy Town, Vasily Surikov, 1891

6 

From the great Austro-German musical heritage 

Masterworks from 

Bach to Brahms 


— 


MUTI CONDUCTS 

BEETHOVEN 9 

Series: Thursday B and H, 

Sunday A, Tuesday B, 

Symphony Ball 

NOVEMBER 7 and 8 

BRAHMS 

HUNGARIAN DANCES 

Series: Friday C and Saturday D 

NOVEMBER 20–25 

BACH BRANDENBURG 

CONCERTOS 


Friday D, Saturday B and H, 

Sunday A, Tuesday A 

FEBRUARY 19–24 

MUTI CONDUCTS 

MOZART REQUIEM 

Series: Thursday C and D, 

Friday B, Saturday B and G, 

Tuesday A 

MARCH 5–7 

MUTI CONDUCTS 

BEETHOVEN TRIPLE 

CONCERTO 

Series: Thursday A and F, 

Friday B, Saturday A and E 

MARCH 26–29 

BRAHMS 3 


Saturday C, Beyond the Score ® 

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS 

— 

NOVEMBER 9 

BACH 

The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard piano 

Series: SCP Piano 

MARCH 1 

BACH COMPLETE VIOLIN 

SONATAS and PARTITAS 

Gil Shaham violin 

David Michalek visual artist 

Series: SCP Chamber Music 

MARCH 8 

BEETHOVEN, MOZART 

AND MORE 

András Schiff piano 


DECEMBER 11–16 

BEETHOVEN 7 


Friday A, Saturday D, Tuesday A 


BEETHOVEN 

EMPEROR CONCERTO 


Friday C, Saturday A and F, 

Afterwork Masterworks ® 

JANUARY 15 –17 

BRAHMS 

PIANO CONCERTO No. 2 


Friday A, Saturday B and G 

FEBRUARY 5–8 

BEETHOVEN 5 

Series: Thursday C and E, 

Saturday C, Sunday A 

APRIL 2–4 

UCHIDA PLAYS MOZART 


Friday A, Saturday A and F 

APRIL 23–26 

BRUCKNER 8 

Series: Friday A, Saturday B 

and G, Sunday A, Afterwork 

Masterworks ® 

APRIL 30–MAY 2 

BACH ORCHESTRAL 

SUITE No. 3 

Series: Thursday B and I, 

Friday C, Saturday A and F 

MAY 28 & 30 

BEETHOVEN 3 (EROICA) 


Saturday C 

APRIL 19 

BEETHOVEN WALDSTEIN 

SONATA 

Evgeny Kissin piano 


MAY 31 

BACH, BRAHMS AND MORE 

Orli Shaham piano 

Series: SCP Piano


7 

T 

he symphonic repertoire from the Austro-German tradition lies 

at the very of heart Western classical music. The astonishing 

depth and arresting beauty of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos set 

the stage for the great tradition to come. From Mozart’s Requiem to 

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, from Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 to 

Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony, these performances celebrate the works 

of the German and Austrian masters in whom we hear, even today, the 

enduring efflorescence of Bach’s irrepressible invention. 

Generations of audiences have been endlessly enchanted by these 

masterpieces. Join us as Music Director Riccardo Muti and the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra and Chorus open the 2014/15 season with Muti’s 

first-ever Chicago performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. 

Riccardo Muti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

Photos top to bottom: 

Mitsuko Uchida, 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, 

Gil Shaham, 

András Schiff 

Liszt at the Piano, Josef Danhauser, 1840

8 

A kaleidoscopic journey through nearly 200 years 

of dazzling French repertoire 

From Berlioz to Boulez: 

Color and Sensuality 


— 


MUTI CONDUCTS 

BERLIOZ AND DEBUSSY 


Friday D, Saturday A and E, 

Tuesday A 

NOVEMBER 13–15 

DEBUSSY AND BOULEZ 

Series: Thursday A and G, 

Friday A, Saturday C 

NOVEMBER 14 and 16 

Beyond the Score ® 

BOULEZ AT 90 

Provisionally definitive 

Series: Beyond the Score 

MARCH 12–17 

DUTOIT CONDUCTS 

RAVEL AND D’INDY 

Featuring works by Ravel, 

D’Indy and Franck 


Saturday B and H, Tuesday A 

MARCH 19–21 

YO-YO MA PLAYS LALO 

Featuring works by Ravel, 

Debussy, Saint-Saëns and 

Lalo 

Series: Thursday A and G, 

Friday C, Saturday A and E 

APRIL 30 –MAY 2 

POULENC 

Concert champêtre 


Friday C, Saturday A and F 

JUNE 4 and 6 

RAVEL 

La valse 


Saturday B and G 

JUNE 5 and 7 

Beyond the Score ® 

RAVEL: A PORTRAIT 

Complex but never 

complicated 

Series: Beyond the Score 


— 

OCTOBER 16 

TAKáCS QUARTET with 

MARC-ANDRé HAMELIN 

Program includes: 

Debussy String Quartet 

in G Major 

Franck Piano Quintet 

Series: SCP Chamber Music 

FEBRUARY 20 

ROTTERDAM 

PHILHARMONIC 

ORCHESTRA 

Yannick Nézet-Séguin 

conductor 

Hélène Grimaud piano 

Program includes: 

Ravel Piano Concerto 

in G Major 

Series: SCP Orchestras 

MAY 10 

ALEXANDRE 

THARAUD piano 

Program includes works by 

Satie and Ravel 


MAY 3 

CéDRIC 

TIBERGHIEN piano 

Program includes works by 

Ravel and Debussy 

Series: SCP Piano


9 

T 

hese programs comprise an array of composers who liberally 

suffused their music with the fresh, expansive splendor of France. 

Spanning two centuries, this evocative journey treks from the intoxicating 

romanticism of Hector Berlioz to the modernist landmarks of Pierre 

Boulez and traces a proud nation’s search for her musical identity in the 

face of ongoing social and political upheaval. 

These unquestionably Gallic works, with their sensual vitality and noble 

wit, are startling in their refi nement, yet vividly convey the colors and 

landscapes of an alluring France. As you listen, you’ll fi nd your mind’s 

eye conjuring the gentle pastures of verdant Normandy, the lavender 

fi elds of sun-soaked Provence, the windswept shores of stormy Bordeaux 

and the rambling peaks of the storied Pyrenees. 

Chicago Symphony Orchestra 


Riccardo Muti, Yo-Yo Ma, 

Charles Dutoit, 

Hélène Grimaud 

The Promenade, Woman with a Parasol, Claude Monet, 1875

10 

A three-week festival celebrating French operatic and symphonic 

landmarks, led by Esa-Pekka Salonen 

Reveries and Passions 

May 2015 


ESA-PEKKA SALONEN conductor 

— 

MAY 7–9 and 15 

RAVEL 

L’enfant et les sortilèges 

Series: Thursday C and E, 

Friday B and D, Saturday D 

MAY 14, 16 and 19 

DEBUSSY 

Pelléas et Mélisande 


Saturday B and H, Tuesday B 

MAY 21–23 

MESSIAEN 

Turangalîla-symphonie 


Friday A, Saturday A and E 

Cast led by: 

Chloé Briot soprano (Child) 

Chicago Symphony Chorus 

Duain Wolfe chorus director 

Ravel Mother Goose Suite 

Debussy La damoiselle élue 

Ravel L’enfant et les sortilèges 

Ravel’s lyrical fantasy L’enfant 

et les sortilèges (The Child and 

Magic Spells) tells the story of 

a child learning compassion 

from objects and animals 

that come to life around him. 

The work’s phantasmagorical 

whimsy climaxes with an 

extended duet for “meowing 

cats” that enchants and 

mesmerizes. 

See the Season Highlight on 

page 21 for more information 

about this program. 

Stéphane Degout baritone 

(Pelléas) 

Christine Rice mezzo-soprano 

(Mélisande) 

Eric Owens bass-baritone 

(Golaud) 

Willard White bass-baritone 

(Arkel) 

Felicity Palmer mezzo-soprano 

(Geneviève) 

Chloé Briot soprano 

(Yniold) 

When Debussy attended 

the fi rst performance of 

Maeterlinck’s play 

Pelléas et Mélisande in 

1893, he was as intrigued 

by its elusive love story as 

he was spellbound by 

its profound humanity. 

He went on to compose 

an opera that captured and, 

ultimately, surpassed the 

play’s poetry by enriching 

all its magic, mystery and 

gossamer delicacy with his 

own diaphanous scoring. 

Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano 

Ravel Piano Concerto 

in G Major 

Messiaen 

Turangalîla-symphonie 

Messiaen’s Turangalîlasymphonie 

is an ambitious 

statement about sensual love 

inspired by the legend of 

Tristan and Isolde. Saturated 

with orchestral color, this 

vibrant work incorporates 

Indian ragas and the exotic 

sound of the Indonesian 

gamelan in its irrepressible, 

joyous music.


11 

M 

aestro Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to Chicago to conduct a collection of French masterpieces 

that brim with restive longing and improbable midnight enchantments. Weaving stories 

about the many facets of human love—forbidden, elusive, passionate, exuberant, motherly and 

comforting—these sumptuous gems will dazzle and delight. 

Esa-Pekka Salonen 


Stéphane Degout, 

Chloé Briot, 

Willard White, 

Jean-Yves Thibaudet 

Refl ection, Odilon Redon, c. 1900

12 

THURSDAY A 

10 concerts at 8:00 | 5–concert series: THU F or THU G 

SEP 

25 

8:30 

NOV 

13 

DEC 

11 

JAN 

22 

MAR 

5 

MAR 

19 

APR 

2 

APR 

16 

MAY 

21 

JUN 

18 


Riccardo Muti, Stephanie Jeong, 

Dorothea Röschmann, Daniil Trifonov 

September 25 F 

8:30 Note Special Time 

MUTI CONDUCTS TCHAIKOVSKY 4 

Riccardo Muti conductor 

Berlioz Waverley Overture 

Debussy La mer 

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 

November 13 G 


Pablo Heras-Casado conductor 

Alice Sara Ott piano 

Stravinsky Fireworks 

Boulez Figures-Doubles-Prismes 

Bartók Piano Concerto No. 3 

Debussy Ibéria 

December 11 F 

BEETHOVEN 7 

Manfred Honeck conductor 

Haydn Symphony No. 93 

Strauss Don Juan 

Beethoven Symphony No. 7 

January 22 G 

MUTI CONDUCTS 

PROKOFIEV AND SCRIABIN 


Alisa Kolosova mezzo-soprano 

Sergey Skorokhodov tenor 



Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky 

Scriabin Symphony No. 1 

Riccardo Muti conducts works by two 

Russian composers for whom he has 

a remarkable affinity. Scriabin’s First 

Symphony is a glorious six-movement work 

that culminates in a triumphant chorus, 

yet it also holds much tender lyricism. 

Prokofiev’s cantata Alexander Nevsky, 

by contrast, is full of fire and steel, its 

imaginative orchestration and rousing 

choruses evoking Russia’s medieval 

victory over invading Teutonic knights. 

March 5 F 

MUTI CONDUCTS BEETHOVEN 


Stephanie Jeong violin 

Kenneth Olsen cello 

Jonathan Biss piano 

Ligeti Lontano 

Beethoven Triple Concerto 

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 (Little Russian) 

March 19 G 

CHARLES DUTOIT AND YO-YO MA 

Charles Dutoit conductor 

Yo-Yo Ma cello 

Robert Chen violin 

Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales 

Debussy Symphonic Fragments from 

The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian 

Saint-Saëns La muse et le poète 

Lalo Cello Concerto 

April 2 F 

UCHIDA PLAYS MOZART 

Mitsuko Uchida conductor 

Dorothea Röschmann soprano 

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 6 

Schumann Frauenliebe und -leben 

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 26 (Coronation) 

“Mitsuko Uchida’s annual visits to Orchestra 

Hall rank among the most life-affirming 

experiences granted to local concertgoers” 

(Chicago Tribune). The Japanese pianist, 

renowned for her Mozart interpretations, 

returns to play and conduct two of Mozart’s 

most beautiful and uplifting concertos. 

Uchida also accompanies soprano Dorothea 

Röschmann in a Schumann song cycle 

which movingly traces the intimate thoughts 

of a woman about her beloved. 

April 16 G 

SHOSTAKOVICH 8 

Semyon Bychkov conductor 

Daniil Trifonov piano 

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 

Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 

May 21 F 

SALONEN CONDUCTS MESSIAEN 

Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor 


Ravel Piano Concerto in G Major 

Messiaen Turangalîla-symphonie 

This program is part of the 2015 

Reveries and Passions Festival. 

June 18 G 



Bates Anthology of Fantastic Zoology 

[World premiere, CSO commission] 

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5


13 

THURSDAY B 

10 concerts at 8:00 | 5–concert series: THU H or THU I 

SEP 

18 

OCT 

9 

NOV 

20 

DEC 

18 

JAN 

15 

FEB 

26 

MAR 

12 

APR 

30 

MAY 

14 

JUN 

4 


Jaap van Zweden, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 

Denis Kozhukhin, Eric Owens 

September 18 H 

Muti Conducts Beethoven 9 


Camilla Nylund soprano 

Ekaterina Gubanova mezzo-soprano 

Christopher Ventris tenor 

Eric Owens bass 




October 9 I 

Mahler 5 

Jaap van Zweden conductor 


Bartók Rhapsody Nos. 1 and 2 

Mahler Symphony No. 5 

November 20 H 

Bach Brandenburg Concertos 

Nicholas Kraemer 

conductor and harpsichord 

Bach Complete Brandenburg Concertos 

(Nos. 1– 6) 

December 18 I 

Prieto and Yeh 

Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor 

Cynthia Yeh percussion 

Prokofiev Suite from Lieutenant Kijé 

MacMillan Veni, Veni, Emmanuel 

Revueltas Sensemayá 

Lutosławski Concerto for Orchestra 

Carlos Miguel Prieto fittingly opens winter 

in Chicago with Prokofiev’s Lieutenant 

Kijé Suite, which tells the musical story 

of a fictional Russian soldier, complete 

with romances, a wedding and a festive 

Troika sleigh ride. Featuring CSO Principal 

Percussionist Cynthia Yeh as soloist, James 

MacMillan’s Veni, Veni, Emmanuel is a 

riotous and exuberant showpiece based on 

the Advent plainchant of the same name. 

The concert ends with a blazing display of 

the full orchestra’s virtuosity in Lutosławski’s 

bracing and energetic Concerto for 

Orchestra. 

January 15 H 

Muti and Bronfman 


Yefim Bronfman piano 

Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 


(Winter Daydreams) 

February 26 I 

Muti Conducts Tchaikovsky 6 



Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) 

March 12 H 

Dutoit Conducts Ravel 

AND D’INDY 


Louis Lortie piano 

Ravel Rapsodie espagnole 

D’Indy Symphony on a French Mountain Air 

Franck Symphonic Variations 

Ravel Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé 

April 30 I 

Bicket Conducts Bach 

Harry Bicket conductor 

Kristian Bezuidenhout harpsichord 

Rameau Dance Suite from Platée 

Poulenc Concert champêtre 

Bach, arr. Stravinsky Four Preludes and 

Fugues from The Well-Tempered Clavier 

Bach Orchestral Suite No. 3 

Bach’s regal Orchestral Suite No. 3, most 

beloved for its Air “on the G string,” exudes 

18th-century elegance. Almost 200 years 

later, Poulenc revived the unexpected 

mix of Baroque grace and humor in his 

Concert champêtre, which features a solo 

harpsichord part, played here by Kristian 

Bezuidenhout. The CSO completes this 

charming program with Stravinsky’s 

arrangement of preludes and fugues from 

Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier. 

May 14 H 

Salonen Conducts Debussy 


Cast led by: 

Stéphane Degout baritone (Pelléas) 

Christine Rice mezzo-soprano (Mélisande) 

Debussy Pelléas et Mélisande 

This program is part of the CSO’s 2015 


June 4 I 

Gershwin and Ravel 

Ludovic Morlot conductor 

Denis Kozhukhin piano 

Gershwin An American in Paris 

Ravel Piano Concerto for the Left Hand 

Stravinsky Jeu de cartes 

Ravel La valse

14 

THURSDAY C 

10 concerts at 8:00 | 5–concert series: THU D or THU E 

OCT 

2 

DEC 

4 

JAN 

8 

FEB 

5 

FEB 

19 

MAR 

26 

APR 

9 

MAY 

7 

MAY 

28 

JUN 

11 


Riccardo Muti conducts the Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra and Chorus, Christopher Martin, 

Matthias Goerne, Rosa Feola, Jennifer Koh 

October 2 D 

MUTI AND MARTIN 


Christopher Martin trumpet 

Panufnik Concerto in modo antico 

Stravinsky Suite from The Firebird 

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 3 (Polish) 

December 4 E 

THE NUTCRACKER AND 

PETRUSHKA 

Ingo Metzmacher conductor 

Tchaikovsky Excerpts from The Nutcracker 

Stravinsky Petrushka 


(The Year 1905) 

Encompassing some of Tchaikovsky’s most 

imaginative creations, The Nutcracker 

introduced audiences to the twinkling 

magic of the celesta. Hear excerpts from 

this beloved ballet alongside Stravinsky’s 

Petrushka, which depicts the misadventures 

of a hapless puppet in pursuit of a beautiful 

ballerina. Ingo Metzmacher combines these 

fantastical scores with Shostakovich’s vivid 

and searing portrait of fateful events in the 

winter of 1905, when the brutal response of 

Tsarist forces to peaceful demonstration led 

to near revolution. 

January 8 D 

LEWIS PLAYS 

BEETHOVEN EMPEROR 

Vasily Petrenko conductor 

Paul Lewis piano 

Elgar In the South (Alassio) 

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor) 

Rachmaninov Symphonic Dances 

February 5 E 

BEETHOVEN 5 


Matthias Goerne baritone 

Strauss and Schubert Selected Songs 


The opening “ba-ba-ba-BAH” of 

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is among the 

most recognizable moments in symphonic 

music. Hear this thrilling and immensely 

treasured work as masterfully played by 

the CSO under the baton of maestro Jaap 

van Zweden. “Today’s foremost interpreter 

of German art song” (Chicago Tribune), 

acclaimed baritone Matthias Goerne joins 

the CSO to perform some of the greatest 

Romantic songs by Richard Strauss and 

Franz Schubert. 

February 19 D 

MUTI CONDUCTS 



Rudolf Buchbinder piano 

Rosa Feola soprano 


Saimir Pirgu tenor 

Michele Pertusi bass 




Mozart Requiem 

March 26 D 

MOZART AND BRAHMS 

Edo de Waart conductor 

Orion Weiss piano 

Ippolito Nocturne 


Brahms Symphony No. 3 

April 9 E 

HAITINK CONDUCTS MAHLER 

Bernard Haitink conductor 


May 7 E 

SALONEN CONDUCTS RAVEL 


Cast led by: Chloé Briot soprano (Child) 






This program is part of the 2015 Reveries 

and Passions Festival. 

May 28 D 

CLYNE AND BEETHOVEN 3 


Jennifer Koh violin 

Berlioz Les francs-juges Overture 

Clyne Violin Concerto 


Beethoven Symphony No. 3 (Eroica) 

June 11 E 

MUTI CONDUCTS 

TCHAIKOVSKY MANFRED 


Scriabin The Poem of Ecstasy 

Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony

2014/15 Season Highlight 15 

MUTI CONDUCTS 


“The performance Muti drew from his orchestra and the mighty Chicago Symphony 

Chorus combined dedicated musicality and deep religious feeling to produce one of 

the great musical events of the season.”—Chicago Tribune 

The once mysterious origins of Mozart’s Requiem are now common 

knowledge. The anonymous commission that arrived in July 1791 

came from Count Franz von Walsegg-Stuppach, who already had 

a distasteful reputation for passing off other composers’ works 

as his own. Immersed in preparations for the premieres of his 

operas La clemenza di Tito and Die Zauberflöte, Mozart accepted 

the commission fees, but delayed working on the requiem until 

that fall. 

Mozart suddenly fell ill with fever in late November and died two 

weeks later, leaving the mass unfinished. His widow, Constanze, 

feared that she would lose the much-needed commission fees and 

hired one of Mozart’s students, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, to complete 

the requiem. 

The music is a stunning testament to Mozart’s unparalleled talent 

and ingenuity. The opening’s imitative counterpoint and the Kyrie’s 

brilliant double fugue hearken back to the Baroque church music 

of Bach and Handel. 

Yet Mozart also weaves in moments that were boldly modern for 

the time. The words describing the call to the Last Judgment are 

accompanied by a solo trombone. In the Confutatis, the male 

voices thunder exhortations while the angelic sopranos plead, “call 

me to be with the blessed.” 

Hear Mozart’s beloved and final masterpiece in February 2015 with 

the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of 

Music Director Riccardo Muti. 

PERFORMED FEBRUARY 19–24 

Series: Thursday C and D, Friday B, Saturday B and G, Tuesday A

16 

FRIDAY A 

8 concerts at 1:30 

OCT 

3 

NOV 

14 

DEC 

12 

JAN 

16 

FEB 

27 

APR 

3 

APR 

24 

MAY 

22 

October 3 







November 14 








Pablo Heras-Casado conducts a colorful 

program of 20th-century works, including 

Debussy’s sinuous Ibéria. Honoring 

the upcoming 90th birthday of CSO 

Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus 

Pierre Boulez, the CSO plays the musical 

maverick’s first work for full orchestra 

alone, Figures-Doubles-Prismes, while 

Alice Sara Ott joins the CSO for Bartók’s 

explosive Third Piano Concerto. 

December 12 

BEETHOVEN 7 





January 16 







February 27 





Tchaikovsky’s soul-stirring masterpiece, 

the Sixth Symphony, is among the greatest 

landmarks in the symphonic repertoire. 

The first movement’s tender love theme 

for strings and the scherzo’s electrifying 

march are just two highlights in a work of 

deep emotion. Scriabin’s Second Symphony 

presents an enticing mix of drama 

and lyricism that leads to a spectacularly 

triumphant ending. 

April 3 

Uchida Plays Mozart 






April 24 

Bruckner 8 


Bruckner Symphony No. 8 

May 22 






Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts two major 

20th-century masterpieces for piano 

and orchestra. Prepare for dazzling 

fireworks from captivating French pianist 

Jean-Yves Thibaudet in Ravel’s Concerto 

in G Major, a virtuosic work shot through 

with brilliance and clarity. Messiaen’s 

unparalelled Turangalîla-symphonie is a 

life-affirming, exuberant celebration of 

love and passion. This program is part 

of the 2015 Reveries and Passions Festival. 


Riccardo Muti, Yefim Bronfman, 

Alice Sara Ott, Manfred Honeck


17 

FRIDAY B 


OCT 

10 

DEC 

5 

DEC 

19 

FEB 

20 

MAR 

6 

APR 

17 

MAY 

15 

JUN 

19 


Ingo Metzmacher, Carlos Miguel Prieto, 

Cynthia Yeh, Robert Chen 

October 10 

Mahler 5 





Chicago Symphony Orchestra concertmaster 

Robert Chen plays Bartók’s two Violin 

Rhapsodies, impassioned works filled with 

Hungarian folk music and demanding 

brilliant virtuosity. Mahler’s gorgeous Fifth 

Symphony reflects many moments of 

personal significance to the composer, 

including the ravishing Adagietto that was 

a musical love letter to his wife, Alma. 

December 5 


PETRUSHKA 






December 19 








February 20 

MUTI CONDUCTS 












March 6 









April 17 






Winner of the 2011 Tchaikovsky 

International Piano Competition, Daniil 

Trifonov excites critics and audiences 

worldwide: “He offers far more than mere 

virtuosity… he demonstrates an elegant 

touch, witty grace and poetic insight” 

(The New York Times). In this appearance 

with the CSO, he performs Rachmaninov’s 

youthfully exuberant First Piano Concerto. 

Conductor Semyon Bychkov pairs this 

work with Shostakovich’s most ferocious 

symphony, a 1943 work that reflects WWII 

in its relentless third-movement scherzo, 

punctuated with breathtaking squeals and 

crashes as if from flying missiles. 

May 15 











June 19 






Riccardo Muti’s final installment in his cycle 

of the complete Tchaikovsky symphonies 

features the noble yet poignant Fifth, with 

its memorable horn solo and haunting 

waltz. This cherished masterwork is paired 

with the world premiere of Mead Composerin-Residence 

Mason Bates’ Anthology of 

Fantastic Zoology. Based on the book by 

Luis Borges, it promises music inspired 

by fantastic creatures like sprites, nymphs, 

sirens, banshees, and naga—to name only 

a few.

18 2014/15 Season Highlight 

MUTI 

CONDUCTS 4 

SCRIABIN 

MASTERPIECES 

“Mankind must be preached to. It must be led along new paths!” 

— Alexander Scriabin — 

One hundred years ago, in April 1915, the wildly controversial 

Russian composer and visionary Alexander Scriabin died, aged just 

43. To mark his centennial and honor his remarkable achievements, 

Riccardo Muti, one of this great artist’s most passionate and 

celebrated interpreters, conducts a thrilling sequence of orchestral 

masterpieces. In addition to the famous Poem of Ecstasy, 

subscribers will hear the richly romantic Symphony Nos. 1 and 2 

and the epic Third Symphony, The Divine Poem. 

Amazingly, all four pieces were written within nine years at the start 

of the 20th century. 

Scriabin’s First Symphony, from 1900, is almost operatic, its six 

movements culminating in a heavenly chorale for chorus and two 

solo voices. By contrast, the five-movement Second Symphony 

from the very next year is more classical and tragic, although it 

ends in a triumphant blaze of C major. 

In 1902, only one more year after the Second, Scriabin began his 

Third. By now numbered symphonies were less important to him 

than his rapidly developing spiritual ideas; therefore, he gave this 

new piece a suggestive French name—Le Divin Poème—and put 

explanatory titles at the top of each of the three main movements: 

“Luttes” (Struggles), “Voluptés” (Pleasures) and “Jeu divin” 

(Divine Play). 

Le Poème de l’extase (The Poem of Ecstasy), composed between 

1905 and 1908, was effectively Scriabin’s Fourth Symphony, 

though he never called it that. There are no separate movements; 

instead a single surging stream of music leads from a delicate 

introduction to one of the loudest and most overpowering climaxes 

in the entire orchestral repertoire. To accompany this mighty work, 

the composer wrote a poem in Russian which helps explain the 

music: in the darkness of chaos, the Male (represented by the 

trumpet) encounters the Female. The result is what Scriabin calls: 

“… a moment illuminating eternity… affirmation… ecstasy…” 

As well as being a symphonic composer, Scriabin is one of the most 

important composers for piano in the history of the instrument. 

To complement Maestro Muti’s orchestral journey, a number of 

Scriabin’s works will be included in the SCP Piano series, including 

his last major work in the medium, his Sonata No. 10 of 1913, 

music which Scriabin himself described as: 

“… born from the sun…“ 

SEE PAGE 4 FOR THE DATES AND SERIES LISTINGS 

FOR THESE WORKS.


19 

FRIDAY C 


NOV 

7 

JAN 

9 

MAR 

20 

MAY 

1 

JUN 

12 

November 7 

DVOŘáK NEW WORLD SYMPHONY 

Cristian Macelaru conductor 

Elena Urioste violin 

Brahms, arr. Dvořák 

Hungarian Dance Nos. 17–21 

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 

Dvořák Symphony No. 9 

(From the New World) 

January 9 

LEWIS PLAYS 







“One of the fi nest Beethoven interpreters of 

his generation” (The New York Times), Paul 

Lewis returns to the CSO for Beethoven’s 

most beloved and charming piano concerto. 

Vasily Petrenko has equally been acclaimed 

for his performances of 20th-century 

Russian repertoire, and this performance of 

Rachmaninov’s wryly apocalyptic Symphonic 

Dances is sure to be a roof-raiser. 

March 20 










Revered cellist and CSO Judson and Joyce 

Green Creative Consultant Yo-Yo Ma joins 

concertmaster Robert Chen for a touching 

and tender duet in Saint-Saëns’ La muse 

et le poète, then returns as soloist in Lalo’s 

noble and lyrical Cello Concerto. In the 

fi rst half of this program, Charles Dutoit 

conducts Debussy’s otherworldly Martyrdom 

of Saint Sebastian and Ravel’s poignant 

Valses nobles et sentimentales. 

May 1 

BICKET CONDUCTS BACH 








June 12 

MUTI CONDUCTS 




Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony 

Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony, based 

on Byron’s dramatic semi-autobiographical 

poem, is among the composer’s most 

brilliant and affecting inspirations. Its themes 

of tender love and exquisite longing find 

a perfect complement in Scriabin’s fervid 

Poem of Ecstasy. The extraordinarily colorful 

orchestration reverberates with sensuality 

and intimate emotion. 

Photos clockwise from upper left: 

Riccardo Muti, Cristian Macelaru, 

Elena Urioste, Vasily Petrenko, Harry Bicket, 

Kristian Bezuidenhout

20 

FRIDAY D 


SEP 

26 

NOV 

21 

JAN 

23 

APR 

10 

MAY 

8 

September 26 



Berlioz Waverley Overture 



Riccardo Muti begins this season’s journey 

through Tchaikovsky’s symphonies with 

the powerfully dramatic Fourth. A brilliant 

symphony that will display the CSO’s mastery 

of orchestral color, its fourth movement 

features an imaginative dialogue between 

pizzicato strings and sprightly woodwinds. 

Tchaikovsky’s Fourth is fittingly paired with 

works by two other masters of orchestration: 

Berlioz’s rarely-heard Waverley Overture 

and Debussy’s dazzling portrait of the sea 

in all its moods. 

November 21 





(Nos. 1–6) 

January 23 

MUTI CONDUCTS 









April 10 




May 8 












Bernard Haitink, Duain Wolfe, Riccardo Muti, 

Chicago Symphony Chorus, Nicholas Kraemer

2014/15 Season Highlight 21 

L’enfant et les sortilèges 

Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts Ravel’s glittering jewel of a one-act opera 

One of French music’s greatest masterpieces, Ravel’s “lyric 

fantasy” L’enfant et les sortilèges (The Child and Magic Spells) 

tells the dreamlike story of a small child who rebels against the 

strictness of his mother only to find his whole world turned upside 

down by magical forces beyond his control. 

This astoundingly sumptuous score, written in the 1920s to a witty 

and provocative text by the scandalous French novelist Colette, 

shows Ravel’s orchestral mastery at its most flawless and virtuosic. 

Singing teapots, clocks, furniture, trees, birds and animals tumble 

over one another in a story which moves from the laughter and 

whimsy of a child’s nursery to the darkness and power of nature 

and—in the final bars—a deeply moving sense of reconciliation 

and forgiveness. 

PERFORMED MAY 7–9 AND 15 

Series: Thursday C and E, Friday B and D, Saturday D 

This work is part of the 2015 Reveries and Passions Festival.

22 

SATURDAY A 

10 concerts at 8:00 | 5–concert series: SAT E or SAT F 

SEP 

27 

DEC 

6 

DEC 

20 

JAN 

10 

MAR 

7 

MAR 

21 

APR 

4 

MAY 

2 

MAY 

23 

JUN 

13 


Riccardo Muti, Yo-Yo Ma, Kenneth Olsen, 

Jonathan Biss, Esa-Pekka Salonen 

September 27 E 



Mendelssohn Calm Sea and 

Prosperous Voyage Overture 



December 6 F 


PETRUSHKA 






December 20 E 








January 10 F 

LEWIS PLAYS 







“One of the finest Beethoven interpreters of 

his generation” (The New York Times), Paul 

Lewis returns to the CSO for Beethoven’s 

most beloved and charming piano concerto. 

Vasily Petrenko has equally been acclaimed 

for his performances of 20th-century 

Russian repertoire, and this performance of 

Rachmaninov’s wryly apocalyptic Symphonic 

Dances is sure to be a roof-raiser. 

March 7 E 









March 21 E 










April 4 F 

Uchida Plays Mozart 






May 2 F 

Bicket Conducts Bach 








May 23 E 






This program is part of the 2015 


June 13 F 

MUTI CONDUCTS 




Tchaikovsky Manfred Symphony


23 

SATURDAY B 

10 concerts at 8:00 | 5–concert series: SAT G or SAT H 

OCT 

4 

NOV 

22 

JAN 

17 

FEB 

21 

MAR 

14 

APR 

11 

APR 

25 

MAY 

16 

JUN 

6 

JUN 

20 


Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 

Rudolph Buchbinder, Ludovic Morlot, 

Mason Bates 

October 4 G 







November 22 H 





(Nos. 1–6) 

January 17 G 







Yefim Bronfman plays the sunniest of 

Brahms’ Piano Concertos, a massive work 

that showcases Brahms’ full compositional 

mastery. Bronfman is joined by Riccardo 

Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 

who continue this season’s Tchaikovsky 

cycle with the haunting First Symphony, 

“Winter Daydreams.” 

February 21 G 

MUTI CONDUCTS MOZART REQUIEM 











March 14 H 


AND D’INDY 







April 11 H 




April 25 G 

Bruckner 8 



May 16 H 





Eric Owens bass-baritone (Golaud) 

Willard White bass-baritone (Arkel) 

Felicity Palmer mezzo-soprano (Geneviève) 

Chloé Briot soprano (Yniold) 




June 6 G 

Gershwin and Ravel 


Denis Kozhukhin piano 

Gershwin An American in Paris 

Ravel Piano Concerto for Left Hand 

Stravinsky Jeu de cartes 

Ravel La valse 

Gershwin’s An American in Paris captures 

the heady glamour and colorful sound world 

of 1920s Paris—complete with taxi horns 

and a sultry blues melody played by muted 

trumpet. Cocky and urbane, Stravinsky’s 

Jeu de cartes depicts the precipitous rise 

and fall of a social climber. Complementing 

the program’s “city slickers” theme are 

Ravel’s ravishing La valse and jazz-inflected 

Piano Concerto for Left Hand, featuring 

Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin. 

June 20 H 





Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5

24 Join us for a magnificent celebration to launch the 2014/15 season! 

Symphony 

Ball 

Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in 

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH SYMPHONY 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 

6:00 Preconcert Reception 

7:00 Concert 

Immediately followed by postconcert gala dinner and dancing at the Palmer House 

The Women’s Board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association proudly presents 

Symphony Ball, a prestigious gala evening of music and celebration that 

launches the 2014/15 season. Enjoy a festive preconcert reception at Symphony 

Center, followed by a spectacular concert as Music Director Riccardo Muti leads 

the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in Beethoven’s jubilant Ninth Symphony. 

Gala patrons continue their evening with postconcert dinner and dancing at 

the Palmer House. 

Symphony Ball is one of Chicago’s not-to-be-missed parties. 

Purchase your tickets for this celebration today at cso.org or 312-294-3000!

AN AGENCY OF 

THE STATE OF ILLINOIS 

2014/15 Season 

25 

OPEN HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE CSO 2014/15 SEASON-AT-A-GLANCE GRID AND CALENDAR 

Our Sponsors 

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is grateful for the generous support of 

these leading corporate, foundation and government sponsors for the 2014/15 season. 

How to Renew Guide 

Contents Include: 

Subsriber Rewards ...........................................................2 

Renewal Instructions ......................................................3 

Payment Plans .....................................................................4 

Julius N. Frankel 

Parking .....................................................................................5 

Foundation 

Prices & Seat Maps ..........................................................6 

The Negaunee Foundation

26 

SATURDAY C 


NOV 

15 

JAN 

24 

FEB 

7 

MAR 

28 

MAY 

30 

November 15 








January 24 

MUTI CONDUCTS 









February 7 

BEETHOVEN 5 



Strauss and Schubert Select Songs 


March 28 

MOZART AND BRAHMS 

Edo de Waart conductor 

Orion Weiss piano 

Ippolito Nocturne 



Two brilliant young American artists feature 

prominently in this program led by Dutch 

conductor Edo de Waart. The concert opens 

with the eerie and whimsical Nocturne by 

Michael Ippolito (born 1985), followed by 

pianist Orion Weiss (born 1981) performing 

Mozart’s regal C-Major Concerto No. 25. 

Brahms’ impassioned and heartfelt Third 

Symphony rounds off what promises to be a 

memorable evening. 

May 30 

CLYNE AND BEETHOVEN 3 



Berlioz Les francs-juges Overture 




Berlioz’s brilliant Les francs-juges Overture 

opens a program featuring the world 

premiere of Mead Composer-in-Residence 

Anna Clyne’s Violin Concerto. The 

soloist is Chicago native Jennifer Koh, 

a violinist acclaimed for her “penetrating 

sound, myriad colorings and commanding 

technique” (The New York Times). The 

final work on this program, Beethoven’s 

Eroica Symphony, moves from its famous 

funeral march to a brilliant scherzo and 

extraordinarily inventive set of variations. 


Pierre Boulez, Pablo Heras-Casado, 

Edo de Waart, Orion Weiss, 

Anna Clyne, Riccardo Muti


27 

SATURDAY D 


NOV 

8 

DEC 

13 

FEB 

28 

APR 

18 

MAY 

9 

November 8 

DvoŘák New World Symphony 

Cristian Macelaru conductor 

Elena Urioste violin 

Brahms, arr. Dvořák 

Hungarian Dance Nos. 17–21 

Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 


(From the New World) 

Dvořák’s New World Symphony is among 

the most recognizable and well-loved 

orchestral works ever written, its passion 

and fire balanced with moving serenity. 

Rising young conductor Cristian Macelaru 

pairs this beautiful masterpiece with 

Brahms’ exhilarating Hungarian Dances 

and Bruch’s rapturous First Violin Concerto, 

played here by hypnotic and sensitive 

violinist Elena Urioste. 

December 13 

BEETHOVEN 7 





Manfred Honeck returns to Chicago to 

conduct three masterpieces from the 

Austro-German tradition. The lilting 

dance-rhythms of Haydn’s Symphony 

No. 93 and the rambunctious rhythms 

of Beethoven’s Seventh, described 

by Wagner as “the apotheosis of the 

dance,” frame Richard Strauss’ 

Don Juan. In Strauss’ depiction of 

the legendary lover, a brazen horn call 

announces a swaggering Don Juan, 

whose numerous romantic conquests 

lead to a tragic finale. 

February 28 





April 18 






May 9 









In this first program of the 2015 Reveries 

and Passions Festival, Esa-Pekka Salonen 

couples an early Debussy work with two 

youth-centered pieces by Ravel. The Mother 

Goose Suite is a radiant collection of musical 

tales, from Tom Thumb to Beauty and 

the Beast, with considerable feeling behind 

its deceptively simple exterior. A fantasy 

opera in one act about childhood, L’enfant 

et les sortilèges (The Child and Magic Spells) 

presents an enchanting and poignant 

story about a rude child who learns 

compassion. This program is part of the 

2015 Reveries and Passions Festival. 


Riccardo Muti, the Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra and Chorus, Manfred Honeck

28 

SUNDAY A 


SEP 

21 

OCT 

12 

NOV 

23 

FEB 

8 

APR 

26 

September 21 










October 12 

Mahler 5 





November 23 





(Nos. 1–6) 

Among Bach’s most beloved and celebrated 

works, his six Brandenburg Concertos 

demonstrate some of the most daring and 

innovative instrumental scoring in the entire 

Baroque repertoire. Whether the groundbreaking 

blend of hunting horns and oboes 

with strings of No. 1, the bright piccolo 

trumpet of No. 2 (which inspired Paul 

McCartney’s Penny Lane) or the remarkable 

No. 5 in which the harpsichord strikes out 

alone above the orchestra for virtuosic glory, 

this flawless collection of gems is pure 

delight. 

April 26 

Bruckner 8 



Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony is imbued 

with mystical passions and aesthetic glories. 

It rises from a doom-laden opening to a 

third movement containing the noblest, 

most ecstatic music the composer ever 

created. Semyon Bychkov, one of today’s 

most esteemed conductors, guides us 

through Bruckner’s final and most profound 

symphony. 

February 8 

BEETHOVEN 5 



Strauss and Schubert Select Songs 



Riccardo Muti, Camilla Nylund, 

Ekaterina Gubanova, Christopher Ventris, 

Chicago Symphony Chorus, 

Jaap van Zweden

2014/15 Season Highlight 

29 

MAHLER 5 

5 

A journey from darkness into light unfolds in one of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 

signature works. 

Mahler wrote his Fifth Symphony in 1901 and 1902, a time of great 

change for the composer. He was enjoying numerous triumphs in 

his personal and professional life: he met and married his beloved 

wife Alma and held jobs with the Vienna Court Opera and Vienna 

Philharmonic. He also experienced dark trials. In 1901, he suffered 

a dangerous and nearly fatal hemorrhage, leaving him quite shaken. 

Mahler claimed that the Fifth Symphony represented a transformation 

in his orchestral writing, one that focused on orchestral technique 

and abandoned the programmatic music that typified his previous 

symphonies. However, there are several clear references to his life 

throughout the five-movement symphony. 

The unsettling opening begins with a trumpet fanfare and settles 

into an elegiac funeral march, similar in spirit to the first of the 

composer’s Kindertotenlieder. The following movement struggles 

between darkness and light, with a rough and wild theme juxtaposed 

by a striking chorale and some dance-like moments. The more 

light-hearted Scherzo, based on a traditional Austrian ländler, 

contains one of the most difficult horn solos in the repertoire. The 

tender and breathtaking Adagietto is a love letter to his wife, Alma, 

prominently quoting the prelude from Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. 

The Adagietto leads seamlessly to the jubilant Finale, during 

which Mahler summarizes the symphony with references to previous 

movements, leading to a triumphant coda. The entire work has gone 

from deep despair and anger to love, and then ends in pure joy. 

PERFORMED OCTOBER 9–12 

JAAP van ZWEDEN conductor 

Series: Thursday B and I, Friday B and Sunday A

30 

TUESDAY A 


SEP 

30 

NOV 

25 

DEC 

16 

FEB 

24 

MAR 

17 

APR 

21 

September 30 



Tchaikovsky The Tempest 



Riccardo Muti begins this season’s journey 

through Tchaikovsky’s symphonies with 

the powerfully dramatic Fourth. A brilliant 

symphony that will display the CSO’s mastery 

of orchestral color, its fourth movement 

features an imaginative dialogue between 

pizzicato strings and sprightly woodwinds. 

Tchaikovsky’s Fourth is paired with The 

Tempest, which depicts characters from the 

Shakespeare play, and Debussy’s dazzling 

portrait of the sea in all its moods. 


Louis Lortie, Riccardo Muti conducts 

the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 

Charles Dutoit 

November 25 




Program features the complete 

Bach Brandenburg Concertos (Nos. 1–6) 

December 16 

BEETHOVEN 7 





February 24 

MUTI CONDUCTS MOZART REQUIEM 











March 17 


AND D’INDY 







Charles Dutoit leads the Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra in a program brimming with 

Gallic charm, color and variety. Canadian 

pianist Louis Lortie is the soloist in Franck’s 

beguiling Symphonic Variations and D’Indy’s 

delightful Symphony on a French Mountain 

Air. Bookending these works are two of 

Ravel’s most ravishing scores: the sensuous 

Rapsodie espagnole and the Second Suite 

from his ballet, Daphnis and Chloé, with its 

glorious opening dawn music. 

April 21 





Shostakovich Symphony No. 8


31 

TUESDAY B 


SEP 

23 

DEC 

9 

JAN 

27 

MAR 

3 

APR 

14 

MAY 

19 

CSO Tuesday series concerts are sponsored by United Airlines. 

September 23 










Join us for a rousing start to the 2014/15 

season when Riccardo Muti conducts the 

Chicago Symphony Orchestra and 

Chorus in Beethoven’s most glorious and 

jubilant masterpiece. An exhilarating 

testament to the human spirit, Beethoven’s 

Ninth bursts with brooding power and 

kinetic energy and culminates in the exultant 

hymn, “Ode to Joy.” 

December 9 


PETRUSHKA 






January 27 

Muti Conducts Scriabin 


Mendelssohn Calm Sea and 

Prosperous Voyage Overture 


Scriabin The Divine Poem 

Scriabin’s highly dramatic symphony The 

Divine Poem is lavishly orchestrated with 

an exuberant sense of heroic striving. 

Riccardo Muti, a masterful Scriabin 

interpreter, combines this luscious piece 

with two portraits of the sea: Mendelssohn’s 

illustrative overture Calm Sea and 

Prosperous Voyage and Debussy’s lustrous 

La mer, which captures the sea’s moods 

from mist-shrouded dawn through 

sun-dappled waves to the fury of a storm. 

April 14 

Haitink Conducts Mahler 



Former CSO principal conductor Bernard 

Haitink leads one of Mahler’s most 

enigmatic yet enticing symphonies. 

Abandoning the programmatic stories of his 

early symphonies, Mahler presents a vividly 

orchestrated, magical tour following 

his own dictum: “A symphony must be like 

the world—it must embrace everything.” 

Unforgettable are the haunting horn calls 

which open the second movement’s 

“night music,” awakening a throng of 

animated sounds. 

May 19 





Eric Owens bass-baritone (Golaud) 

Willard White bass-baritone (Arkel) 

Felicity Palmer mezzo-soprano (Geneviève) 

Chloé Briot soprano (Yniold) 





Esa-Pekka Salonen, Chicago Symphony Chorus, 

Christine Rice, Felicity Palmer 

March 3 




Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique)

32 

The music you love at the time you love | 4 WEEKNIGHTS AT 6:30 

AFTERWORK 

MASTERWORKS® 

Explore epic masterpieces with the world’s best orchestra in four concerts perfectly 

designed to fit your schedule. These midweek programs feature glorious orchestral 

music, an early start time and no intermission. Concert length is approximately 75 

minutes. 

Extend your experience after each concert with complimentary wine and an engaging 

Q&A session with the guest artists in the Grainger Ballroom. There’s no better way to 

spend your weekday evenings than with the CSO! 

Top four photos, clockwise from upper left: 

Vasily Petrenko, Semyon Bychkov, 

Paul Lewis, Jennifer Koh 

Wednesday, November 12 








Pablo Heras-Casado conducts a 

colorful program of 20th-century works, 

including Debussy’s sinuous Ibéria. 

Honoring the upcoming 90th birthday 

of CSO Helen Regenstein Conductor 

Emeritus Pierre Boulez, the CSO 

plays the musical maverick’s first 

work for full orchestra alone, Figures- 

Doubles-Prismes, while Alice Sara Ott 

joins the CSO for Bartók’s explosive 

Third Piano Concerto. 

Wednesday, January 7 

LEWIS PLAYS 





Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 

(Emperor) 


“One of the finest Beethoven 

interpreters of his generation” 

(The New York Times), Paul Lewis 

returns to the CSO for Beethoven’s most 

beloved and charming piano concerto. 

Vasily Petrenko has equally been 

acclaimed for his performances of 

20th-century Russian repertoire, and 

this performance of Rachmaninov’s 

wryly apocalyptic Symphonic Dances 

is sure to be a roof-raiser. 

Thursday, April 23 

Bruckner 8 




Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony is imbued 

with mystical passions and aesthetic 

glories. It rises from a doom-laden 

opening to a third movement containing 

the noblest, most ecstatic music 

the composer ever created. Semyon 

Bychkov, one of today’s most esteemed 

conductors, guides us through 

Bruckner’s final and most profound 

symphony. 

Tuesday, June 2 

CLYNE and BEETHOVEN 3 







Chicago native Jennifer Koh, acclaimed 

for her “penetrating sound, myriad 

colorings and commanding technique” 

(The New York Times), returns to 

the CSO for the world premiere of a 

violin concerto by Mead Composer-in- 

Residence Anna Clyne. Beethoven’s 

Eroica Symphony moves from its 

famous funeral march to a brilliant 

scherzo and extraordinarily inventive 

set of variations.

Telling the stories of music | 3 FRIDAYS AT 7:30 | 3 SUNDAYS AT 3:00 

33 

GERARD McBURNEY creative director 

Designed for newcomers to classical music and longtime aficionados alike, each 

Beyond the Score program takes you on a dramatic exploration of a composer’s 

music. With live actors, stunning visual projections and musical excerpts played 

by the CSO, the compelling story of the composer’s life and art unfolds, illuminating 

the world that shaped the work’s creation. 

November 14 & 16 

Boulez AT 90 

Provisionally definitive 

In 2015 Pierre Boulez turns 90, and 

Beyond the Score celebrates with 

a phantasmagorical acoustic and 

theatrical journey through a lifetime 

of musical adventures, innovations 

and discoveries. Performed within an 

extraordinary, specially commissioned 

design, this production will mix live 

performance with rare archival footage 

and new interviews with the composer 

and conductor who was, from the 

first, one of Beyond the Score’s most 

passionate champions. 

June 5 & 7 

RAVEL: A PORTRAIT 

Complex but never complicated 

In a season in which the CSO plays an 

especially large number of pieces by 

this most beloved of French composers, 

Beyond the Score responds with a 

musical and dramatic depiction of this 

complex, subtle, private, paradoxical 

and mysterious man who once 

declared: ‘’My teacher in composition 

was Edgar Allan Poe... He taught 

me that true art is a perfect balance 

between pure intellect and emotion.” 

March 27 & 29 


Free but happy 

In the summer of 1883, vacationing 

in the ancient German spa town of 

Wiesbaden, Brahms celebrated his 

recent 50th birthday by composing one 

of his mellowest and most open-hearted 

orchestral works. When he showed 

the score to his lifelong friend Clara 

Schumann, she exclaimed: “One beat 

of the heart, every movement a jewel!” 

Top three photos, clockwise from upper left: 

Pierre Boulez, Johannes Brahms, 

Maurice Ravel

34 

Experience your favorite films in a whole new way | 3 FRIDAYS AT 8:00 

CSO 

at the 

Movies 

With our CSO at the Movies series, you’ll enjoy hits ranging from Hollywood’s Golden 

Age to today’s blockbusters accompanied live by the incomparable Chicago Symphony 

Orchestra. Save your seat for three thrilling nights of musical movie magic. 

This is one of our most popular series, and tickets sell out quickly. Add this package 

to your subscription order today! 

November 28 

PIXAR IN CONCERT 

Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Richard Kaufman conductor 

— 

Join us at Symphony Center for an unforgettable Thanksgiving weekend as 

the Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays music from your favorite Pixar movies. 

Memorable scores from Pixar’s 14 films including Up, the Toy Story trilogy 

and their latest release, Monsters University, will be played live with visually 

stunning clips of some of the most beloved characters in cinematic history. 

Presentation licensed by Disney Music Publishing © Disney/Pixar 

Richard Kaufman 

Additional programs for March 13 and May 29 will be announced in 

the coming months. Stay tuned for more information! 

All concerts in the CSO at the Movies series are recommended for ages 8 and up; 

infants will not be admitted.

Great music. Unforgettable moments. | 3 SATURDAYS AT 11:00 a.m A OR 12:45 p.m. B 

35 

CSO 

FAMILY 

Matinees 

PERFECT FOR AGES 5 AND UP! 

Music is a universal language, transcending words and depicting people, places and 

experiences through melody, harmony and rhythm. Join us for three programs that 

explore the ways that music communicates, taking you to different places, vividly 

portraying characters and inspiring an amazing range of emotions. 

Enrich the child in your life through the one-of-a-kind experience of hearing the 

Chicago Symphony Orchestra playing orchestral masterpieces. Instill a lifelong love 

of music with these fun and engaging programs for the young and the young at heart. 

Extend the fun with FREE preconcert adventures in the Rotunda, featuring activities 

with partner organizations, colorful and engaging exhibits and interactive musical 

experiences. 

November 22 

Downtown Sounds 

Members of the 


Program to include: 

Bernstein “Times Square 1944” 

from On the Town 

Copland Music for a Great City 

What does your neighborhood or town 

sound like? Many composers have 

written music about their favorite 

places, using melodies and rhythms 

to portray city streets and bustling 

neighborhoods. Be transported around 

the world without leaving Orchestra 

Hall in this program featuring music by 

Bernstein and Copland. 

March 21 

Carnival of the Animals 



Program to include: 

Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals 

What instruments would you choose 

to create the sound of a massive 

elephant lumbering across the safari, 

an elegant swan in flight or a school 

of fish swimming with the current? 

Discover how members of the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra can conjure a 

zoo full of characters in this concert 

featuring Saint-Saëns’ popular Carnival 

of the Animals. 

May 2 

Tchaikovsky Spectacular 


Edwin Outwater conductor 

Hubbard Street 2 guest artists 

Program to include excerpts from: 

Tchaikovsky 

Symphony No. 1 (Winter Daydreams) 

Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique) 

Fantasy Overture to Romeo and Juliet 

Experience all of the feelings Pyotr Ilyich 

Tchaikovsky expressed through his music— 

triumph, sadness, humor, tragedy, love and 

more! Edwin Outwater, the CSO and guest 

dancers introduce you to the spectacular 

sounds of one of the greatest composers of 

all time. 

PERFECT FOR AGES 3–5! 

Start an engaging journey into the world of music for the preschooler in your life 

with Once Upon a Symphony. In 2014/15, we present two delightful 

programs, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk, featuring small 

ensembles of CSO musicians paired with vivid storytelling, sets, costumes 

and images created by Chicago Children’s Theatre. 

Presented in collaboration with 

6 SATURDAYS AT 10:OO AND 11:45 a.m. 

BUNTROCK HALL 

DEC. 6 • JAN. 10 • FEB. 21 • APR. 11 • APR. 18 • APR. 25

36 Extraordinary artistry. Intimate collaborations. | 5–CONCERT SERIES 

CHAMBER 

MUSIC 

Today’s leading interpreters of classical music take the stage at Orchestra Hall for 

five intimate recitals, exploring music ranging from timeless masterworks to bold new 

compositions. Hear these world-renowned artists in exciting programs that reveal the 

enchanting mysteries of musical collaboration. 

Photo top: Takács Quartet 

Photo bottom: Marc-André Hamelin

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS | 312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 

37 

Thursday, October 16, 7:30 

Takács Quartet with 

Marc-André Hamelin piano 

Haydn String Quartet in B-Flat Major, 

Op. 64, No. 3 

Debussy String Quartet in G Minor 

Franck Piano Quintet 

The illustrious Takács Quartet opens the 

2014/15 Symphony Center Presents 

Chamber Music series with Debussy’s only 

string quartet, a sensual and impressionistic 

tour de force of color and texture. The 

brilliantly precise ensemble, deftly matched 

by virtuosic Canadian pianist Marc-André 

Hamelin, returns in the second half for 

Franck’s exquisite and passionate Piano 

Quintet. 

Wednesday, November 19, 7:30 

ANNE-SOPHIE MUTTER violin 

Mutter Virtuosi 

Roman Patkolo double bass 

Currier Ringtones 

Mendelssohn Octet 

Vivaldi The Four Seasons 

Exceptional violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter 

founded the Mutter Virtuosi to support and 

train the next generation of great artists. She 

joins current and former members of the 

program for two of chamber music’s most 

treasured works: Mendelssohn’s sparkling 

and animated Octet and Vivaldi’s delightful 

The Four Seasons. They open the concert 

with American composer Sebastian Currier’s 

Ringtones, a piece commissioned especially 

for the Mutter Virtuosi. 

Sunday, March 1, 3:00 

GIL SHAHAM violin 

David Michalek visual artist 

Bach Complete Sonatas and Partitas 

Bach’s sublime Sonatas and Partitas for 

Solo Violin are among the most technically 

demanding and emotionally penetrating 

works he ever composed. 2012 Musical 

America Instrumentalist of the Year 

Gil Shaham plays all six tremendous 

works in one afternoon, accompanied by 

projections of visual imagery created by 

artist David Michalek. “The Illinois-born, 

Israel-bred violinist could give the inimitable 

Jascha Heifetz a close race in the razzle 

dazzle department” (Chicago Tribune). 

Sunday, April 12, 3:00 

Hilary Hahn violin 

Two-time Grammy ® Award-winner Hilary 

Hahn returns to Symphony Center for her 

only Chicago appearance of the 2014/15 

season. “Hahn started out as a prodigy of 

rare clarity and virtuosity and has developed 

into a daring, mature artist eager for new 

collaborations and repertory” (The New York 

Times). 

Sunday, May 17, 3:00 


with Musicians from the 


Beloved cellist and CSO Judson and 

Joyce Green Creative Consultant 

Yo-Yo Ma combines forces with musicians 

from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

in what is sure to be a warm-hearted 

and engaging afternoon of intimate musicmaking. 

“The concert’s atmosphere was 

spontaneous and congenial… The idea 

was to gather gifted musician friends 

and turn them loose on music they 

rarely get a chance to perform onstage” 

(Chicago Sun-Times). 


Gil Shaham, Hilary Hahn, 

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yo-Yo Ma with Musicians 

from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra

38 

Virtuosity at its finest | SUNDAYS AT 3:00 | 10–concert series: E | 5–concert series: A or B 

PIANO 

Featuring the biggest names of the keyboard world, the Symphony Center Presents Piano 

series explores 300 years of thrilling repertoire with cherished masterpieces and modern 

classics. Artists this season include Chicago favorites Evgeny Kissin and Maurizio Pollini, 

along with series newcomers Alexandre Tharaud and Orli Shaham. 

October 26 A 

Maurizio Pollini 

“Pollini’s playing is powerful and precise, 

driven by a probing intellect and executed 

with steely, virtually infallible fingers” 

(The New York Times). Hear this legendary 

piano master live in concert at Orchestra 

Hall as he opens the Symphony Center 

Presents Piano 2014/15 season. 

Special Add-on: 

AIMARD AND STEFANOVICH 

PLAY BOULEZ’S PIANO WORKS 

Save up to 10% when you add this to your renewal order. 

See page 47 for more details. 

November 9 B 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard 

Bach The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 

Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier changed 

the world’s understanding of counterpoint, 

rhythm and thematic transformation forever. 

French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard 

puts his unique stamp on the first book 

of this epic masterpiece. “This is Bach 

playing to listen to every day, fresh and spry” 

(Gramophone). 

January 25 A 

Garrick Ohlsson 

Program to include works by Scriabin, 

Prokofiev and Rachmaninov 

A sublime interpreter with magisterial power 

and exquisite finesse, Garrick Ohlsson 

commands an enormous repertoire. Prepare 

for an astounding afternoon of fine musicmaking. 

“Mr. Ohlsson offers interpretations 

that blend the gossamer and the athletic” 

(The New York Times). 

February 22 B 

Olli Mustonen 

Tchaikovsky Album for the Young 

Chopin Mazurkas from Op. 59 and 56 

Mustonen Sonata (Jehkin Iivana) 

Scriabin Sonata No. 10 

Scriabin Vers la flamme 

“An extraordinary pianist for extraordinary 

music… Mustonen’s dazzling pianism is 

truly hypnotic” (Gramophone). Few artists 

today can equal the combination of glittering 

sonorities and awe-inspiring agility of Finnish 

pianist Olli Mustonen. This superb talent 

brings a program blending pieces by two 

Russian masters, Tchaikovsky and Scriabin, 

and Chopin with his own Jehkin Livana, 

a work inspired by mystical Nordic legends. 

March 8 B 

András Schiff 

Haydn Sonata in C Major 

Beethoven Sonata No. 30 

Mozart Sonata in C Major, K. 545 

Schubert Sonata in C Minor, D. 958 

András Schiff’s impeccable clarity of tone 

illuminates everything he plays, yielding 

fresh, pure insights from treasured 

masterworks. In this concert, he launches 

a three-part, multi-season exploration 

of the final three sonatas by each of the 

greatest composers of the Classical era: 

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.

SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS | 312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 

39 

March 22 A 

Murray Perahia 

Each time he returns to Symphony 

Center, American pianist Murray Perahia 

combines his trademark balanced sense of 

phrasing with spirited musicality and crisp 

articulation. “The commanding insights 

Perahia brings to this repertory…breathe 

freshness and distinction into works we’ve 

heard many times before, but seldom played 

at this inspired level” (Chicago Tribune). 

April 19 B 

Evgeny Kissin 

Beethoven Sonata No. 21 (Waldstein) 

Prokofiev Sonata No. 4 in C Minor 

Rachmaninov Select Op. 23 and 

Op. 32 Preludes 

“The capacity crowd leapt to its feet at the 

end, roaring its appreciation, clearly hoping 

to hear another marathon of encores” 

(Chicago Tribune). Don’t miss Evgeny 

Kissin’s exceptional artistry and dazzling 

virtuosity in his annual visit to Symphony 

Center, certain to be one of the musical 

events of the year. 

May 3 A 

CÉDRIC TIBERGHIEN 

Ravel Gaspard de la nuit 

Debussy A selection of preludes and etudes 

Szymanowski Mask 

Debussy Masques 

Debussy D’un cahier d’esquisses 

Debussy L’isle joyeuse 

French pianist Cédric Tiberghien makes 

his Symphony Center Presents Piano 

series debut with a delightful, mostly Gallic 

program. “The highlight was brilliant 

pianist Cédric Tiberghien, who played 

with a rich, rounded tone and fleet, crisp 

articulation” (The New York Times). 

May 10 B 

Alexandre Tharaud 

Couperin Seven Pieces 

Rameau Movements from 

Suite in A 

Satie Avant-dernières Pensées 

Satie Gnossiennes Nos. 1, 3 and 4 

Ravel Miroirs 

Magnetic French pianist Alexandre Tharaud 

makes his Symphony Center debut with a 

program pairing Baroque French works with 

pieces by Satie and Ravel. “Mr. Tharaud 

played with a subdued sensitivity and 

delicacy of touch that demanded close 

attention. He got it” (The New York Times). 

May 31 A 

Orli Shaham 

Bach Partita No. 1 in B-flat Major 

Schoenberg Six Little Piano Pieces 

Brahms Six Piano Pieces, Op. 118 

Schubert Impromptu in G-flat Major 

Adolphe Intermezzo, My Inner Brahms 

Brahms Four Piano Pieces, Op. 119 

A pianist of grace and vitality, Orli Shaham 

is an extraordinarily gifted artist with 

flawless technique and remarkable 

musicality. Enjoy a delightful afternoon 

with her selection of keyboard gems 

by Bach, Brahms, Schubert and 

more in this Symphony Center Presents 

Piano debut! 

Photos top row left to right: Maurizio Pollini, 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Garrick Ohlsson, 

András Schiff, Murray Perahia 

Photos bottom row left to right: Evgeny Kissin, 

Olli Mustonen, Cédric Tiberghien, 

Alexandre Tharaud, Orli Shaham

40 Great orchestras. Revered maestros. Beloved masterworks. | 3–CONCERT SERIES 

ORCHESTRAS 

Hear a selection of the world’s greatest orchestras in this thrilling three-concert series. 

From the high-octane energy of the London Philharmonic to the impassioned virtuosity 

of the Rotterdam Philharmonic to the bold brilliance of the Seoul Philharmonic, the 

2014/15 season promises a sonic feast of symphonic music. 

Saturday, October 18, 8:00 

London Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

Vladimir Jurowski conductor 

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet piano 

Lindberg Chorale 

Rachmaninov Rhapsody on a Theme 

of Paganini 


Among the world’s most versatile orchestras, 

the London Philharmonic Orchestra brings 

its invigorating perspective to two works 

inspired by musical heroes. Lindberg’s 

richly textured Chorale reconceives a 

Bach cantata theme, and Rachmaninov’s 

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini invents 

24 glittering piano variations on a melody 

by the famed violinist. Completing the 

program is Shostakovich’s Eighth Symphony, 

a profound work that explores sounds of 

light, darkness, loss and consolation. 

Friday, February 20, 8:00 

Rotterdam Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

YANNICK NÉZET-SÉGUIN conductor 

Hélène Grimaud piano 

Escher Musique pour l’esprit en deuil 


Prokofiev Symphony No. 5 

Acclaimed for his “commanding and kinetic 

conducting style” (The New York Times), 

Yannick Nézet-Séguin makes his Chicago 

debut, leading the electrifying Rotterdam 

Philharmonic Orchestra in Prokofiev’s 

magnificent Fifth Symphony. The composer 

wrote that this symphony celebrates “free 

and happy Man, his mighty powers, his pure 

and noble spirit.” French pianist Hélène 

Grimaud joins the orchestra for Ravel’s 

scintillating, jazz-inflected piano concerto. 

Friday, April 24, 8:00 

Seoul Philharmonic 

Orchestra 

MYUNG-WHUN CHUNG conductor 

Sunwook Kim piano 



Brahms’ beloved Fourth Symphony radiates 

with warm-hearted melodies and majestic, 

soaring emotions. Hear it as gloriously 

played by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra 

under their revered maestro, Myung-Whun 

Chung. “Chung’s Seoul Philharmonic has a 

beefy, opulent sound… this is an ensemble 

Chung has obviously built himself from the 

ground up” (Los Angeles Times). 

Photos left to right: Vladimir Jurowski, 

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Myung-Whun Chung

Chicago’s most vibrant new music scene | MONDAYS AT 7:00 

41 

MusicNOW 

4 CONCERTS + PIZZA + DRINKS 

SEPTEMBER 29 • JANUARY 19 • MARCH 23 • JUNE 1 

Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive 

Regular $72 Student $28 

Uniquely curated by Mead Composers-in-Residence Mason Bates and Anna Clyne, each MusicNOW concert is an audio/visual journey 

through groundbreaking repertoire with musicians from the CSO and Principal Conductor Cliff Colnot. Each Monday night features video 

program notes that play before each piece, pre- and postconcert entertainment from DJ collective illmeasures and a postconcert reception 

with free food and drink. 

MusicNOW receives funding through a leadership challenge grant from Irving Harris Foundation, Joan W. Harris. 

Major support is provided by Cindy Sargent and Sally Mead Hands Foundation. 

Photos left to right: Anna Clyne and Mason Bates, Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Cliff Colnot 

NEW MUSIC 

November 13–15 

PIERRE BOULEZ 

Figures-Doubles-Prismes 

Figures-Doubles-Prismes is the first work 

Pierre Boulez (b. 1925) composed for 

full orchestra alone. Physically dispersing the 

woodwind and brass players among 

the strings on the platform, the work is filled 

with vividly imaginative textures and colors. 

December 18–20 

JAMES MACMILLAN 

Veni, Veni, Emmanuel 

A devout Catholic, Scottish composer 

James MacMillan (b. 1959) based his 

exuberant percussion concerto on the 

Advent plainchant Veni, Veni, Emmanuel. 

March 26 & 28 

MICHAEL IPPOLITO Nocturne 

A student of John Corigliano, American 

Michael Ippolito (b. 1985) drew 

inspiration for his Nocturne from Joan Miró’s 

1940 painting of the same name. 

May 28 & 30 

ANNA CLYNE Violin Concerto 


See May 30 listing on page 24 for complete 

description. 

June 18–20 

MASON BATES 

Anthology of Fantastic Zoology 


See June 19 listing on page 17 for complete 

description. 


Pierre Boulez, James MacMillan, 

Michael Ippolito 

These concerts are all part of the CSO 

subscription series. See the concert 

grid located in the center fold-out of this 

catalog for dates and series listings.

42 CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | RICCARDO MUTI Music Director | SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS 

SEASON HIGHLIGHT 

A Thanksgiving weekend 

of fun, laughter and 

music for your family with 

the CSO and Pixar 

Friday, November 28, 8:00 

CSO at the Movies 

Saturday, November 29, 8:00 

Sunday, November 30, 3:00 



Richard Kaufman conductor 

Bring your family for an unforgettable 

Thanksgiving weekend as the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra plays music 

from your favorite Pixar movies. Memorable 

scores from Pixar’s 14 fi lms including 

Up, the Toy Story trilogy and their latest 

release, Monsters University, will be 

played live with visually stunning clips of 

some of the most beloved characters in 

cinematic history. 

Presentation licensed by Disney Music Publishing 

© Disney/Pixar 

Recommended for ages 8 and up. 

Infants will not be admitted. 


JAZZ 

SPECTACULAR ARTISTS. UNFORGETTABLE CONCERTS. 

Artists will be announced in April 2014. Stay tuned!

Chicago’s seasonal favorite returns for a festive 20-year celebration 43 

“That chorus maestro Duain Wolfe carries the show is 

an understatement. He merrily narrates from 

his podium, conducts the orchestra and leads the 

sing-alongs with aplomb.” 

—Chicago Sun-Times 

“For high-spirited Christmas music and dancing, 

Orchestra Hall is the place to be.” 

—Chicago Classical Review 

DECEMBER 13–23 

Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

Duain Wolfe creative director and conductor 


Welcome Yule! Children’s Ensemble 

Welcome Yule! Dance Ensemble 

Add this special celebration to your 

subscription order and SAVE UP TO 10% off 

single ticket prices.

44 

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | RICCARDO MUTI Music Director | SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS 

SPECIAL CONCERTS 

A jubilant celebration to launch 

the 2014/15 season 

Saturday, September 20, 7:00 

Symphony Ball: 











The Women’s Board of the Chicago 

Symphony Orchestra proudly presents 

Symphony Ball, a prestigious gala evening 

of music and celebration that launches 

the 2014/15 season. Enjoy a festive 

preconcert reception at Symphony Center, 

followed by a spectacular concert as 

Music Director Riccardo Muti leads the 

Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus 

in Beethoven’s jubilant Ninth Symphony. 

Gala patrons will continue their evening 

with postconcert dinner and dancing at the 

Palmer House. 

The greatest mariachi 

in the world 

Sunday, September 28, 3:00 

Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán 

Based in Mexico City, Mariachi Vargas is 

considered the greatest mariachi in the 

world. Their annual program at Symphony 

Center continues to delight audiences with 

infectious energy and joyful interaction. 

Don’t miss what is “without doubt the best 

display of mariachi virtuosity” (Los Angeles 

Times). 

— 

Two Grammy ® Award-winning 

masters 

Friday, October 17, 8:00 

Chris Thile & Edgar Meyer 

Bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolinist 

Chris Thile of Punch Brothers team up as 

composers/performers to cross traditional 

boundaries in a diverse program of original 

music. Expect an intelligent, entertaining 

performance from these two MacArthur 

Fellows, whose long history of collaborations 

will bring a soon-to-be-released recording of 

new material on Nonesuch. 

Halloween fun 

for the whole family 

Saturday, October 25, 3:00 

Hallowed Haunts 

Civic Orchestra of Chicago 

We invite trick-or-treaters of all ages to 

get into the Halloween spirit at our 

annual Hallowed Haunts concert! This 

spook-tacular afternoon with the Civic 

Orchestra of Chicago is full of symphonic 

thrills and chills that will haunt and 

delight. Don your Halloween costume and 

join fellow ghosts and ghouls for preconcert 

activities from 1:30-2:30. 

Recommended for ages 5 and up.

312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 

45 

Save up to 10% when you add these thrilling concerts to your subscription. 

Call 312-294-3000 or visit cso.org for prices. 

Dynamic skill and artistry 


CHINA NCPA ORCHESTRA 

Lu Jia conductor 

Yuja Wang piano 

Qigang The Five Elements Suite for Orchestra 



Established in March 2010, the NCPA 

Orchestra is the orchestra in residence at 

the National Centre for the Performing 

Arts in Beijing, China. Witness the dynamic 

skill and artistry of this ensemble and pianist 

Yuja Wang, “simply the most important 

pianist to appear in recent years, period” 

(The Detroit News), in a program featuring 

Ravel’s gorgeous Concerto in G Major and 

Dvořák’s songful Eighth Symphony. 

Dazzling movement, vibrant color 

and stunning beauty 

Wednesday, November 5, 7:30 

MAZOWSZE 

Mazowsze, the magnificent State Song 

and Dance Ensemble of Poland, returns 

to Chicago. With 100 dancers, singers 

and musicians in 1,500 costumes, 

Mazowsze will astound you with an amazing 

kaleidoscopic display of dazzling movement, 

vibrant color and stunning beauty. See 

an unforgettable program that “makes 

tradition and the sheer love of dancing and 

music-making seem vital and enduring” 

(The New York Times). 

— 

An afteroon of old-world 

holiday charm 


VIENNA BOYS CHOIR 

Christmas in Vienna 

Ring in the holiday season with the 

enchanting sounds of the Vienna Boys 

Choir when they return for their annual 

Thanksgiving performance! This 

legendary choir has captivated millions 

with their incredible musicianship and 

unique charm. Enjoy an afternoon 

fi lled with holiday favorites, secular music 

and popular folk songs. 

Experience your favorite Pixar 

movies as you never have before! 





Richard Kaufman conductor 

Bring your family for an unforgettable 

Thanksgiving weekend concert as the CSO 

plays music from your favorite Pixar movies. 

Memorable scores from Pixar’s 14 fi lms 

including Up, the Toy Story trilogy and 

their latest release, Monsters University, will 

be played live with visually stunning clips 

of some of the most beloved characters in 

cinematic history. 

Presentation licensed by Disney Music Publishing 

© Disney/Pixar 

— 

An orchestra of voices 

Tuesday, December 2, 7:30 

Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 

A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS 

Fourth Presbyterian Church 

126 E. Chestnut Street 

Chanticleer’s annual performances in 

Chicago are the perfect way to spark 

your holiday spirit. This Grammy ® Awardwinning 

“orchestra of voices” will perform 

traditional Christmas music ranging from 

Baroque classics to 21st-century favorites 

in Chicago’s beautiful Fourth Presbyterian 

Church.

46 

CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | RICCARDO MUTI Music Director | SYMPHONY CENTER PRESENTS 

These concerts make a perfect addition to any concert series. 

Save up to 10% when you purchase by August 7, 2014. 

A lively Irish holiday 

celebration 

Sunday, December 7, 3:00 

THE CHIEFTAINS CHRISTMAS 

Join the Chieftains, Ireland’s world-class 

musical ambassadors, for a spirited 

Christmas celebration. This magical program 

brings the warmth of an Irish pub to 

Orchestra Hall with ancient Irish melodies, 

lively dancing and craic, the Irish word for 

great fun. 

— 

The glorious sounds of the 

CSO Brass 

Thursday, December 18, 3:00 

THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA BRASS 

Witness the staggering power, amazing 

precision and brilliant virtuosity that make 

the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass 

the best in the world. These acclaimed 

musicians will present a program of 

traditional favorites and symphonic 

masterworks arranged for brass ensemble. 

This concert is presented in collaboration with the Midwest 

Clinic, an international band and orchestra conference. 

“A must-see holiday spectacle” 

—Chicago Sun-Times 

Saturday, December 13, 3:00 

Sunday, December 14, 1:30 & 5:30 

Friday, December 19, 7:00 

Saturday, December 20, 3:00 

Sunday, December 21, 3:00 

Monday, December 22, 3:00 

Tuesday, December 23, 3:00 

WELCOME YULE! 

20th Anniversary 



Duain Wolfe creative director and conductor 


Welcome Yule! Children’s Ensemble 

Welcome Yule! Dance Ensemble 

Now entering its 20th season, Welcome Yule! 

has thrilled audiences of all ages with 

musical holiday magic featuring members 

of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra 

and Chorus. Save your spot in Orchestra Hall 

for this special milestone program that will 

feature new surprises and old favorites. 

Celebrating 15 years of 

international collaboration 

Friday, March 6, 8:00 

THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE 

WITH YO-YO MA 

The Silk Road Ensemble, which brings 

together musicians and composers from 

more than 20 countries, comes to Symphony 

Center with founder and CSO Judson and 

Joyce Green Creative Consultant Yo-Yo Ma. 

These international all-stars celebrate their 

15th anniversary with a diverse program of 

repertoire from around the world, new music 

by members of the group and commissions 

by acclaimed composers. Experience what 

Ma calls “the 

bond of mutual respect, friendship and trust 

that is palpable every time we’re on stage.”

312-294-3000 | CSO.ORG 

47 

SPECIAL CONCERTS 

Celebrating over six decades of 

Pierre Boulez 

Sunday, March 15, 3:00 

Boulez: Piano Works 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard piano 

Tamara Stefanovich piano 

Boulez Notations, for Piano 

Boulez Piano Sonata No. 1 

Boulez Piano Sonata No. 2 

Boulez Movements from Piano Sonata No. 3 

Boulez Incises 

Boulez une page d’éphéméride 

Boulez Structures, Book II 

One of 20th-century music’s definitive 

voices and musical mavericks, Pierre Boulez 

has been actively involved in composition, 

conducting and music-making for over 

60 years. His innovative approach to sound 

and structure radically transformed the 

landscape of modern music. A longtime 

collaborator and close associate of 

Boulez, Pierre-Laurent Aimard joins Tamara 

Stefanovich in this intimate celebration of 

the visionary composer’s keyboard works for 

his 90th birthday. 

Astounding strength and 

unmatched skill 

Monday, March 16, 7:30 

Kodo 

As the world’s premier taiko ensemble, 

Kodo is forging new directions for traditional 

Japanese drumming. Pounding out 

marvelous rhythms with thrilling ferocity, 

precision, dexterity and athleticism, 

these performers showcase absolute 

mastery of the drums. “Kodo can raise the 

roof” (The New York Times). 

“Irresistible. The celebration 

of an era.”—L.A. Times 

Wednesday, April 8, 8:00 

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester: 

Golden Age 

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester embody the 

high style and musical glory of the 1920s 

and ’30s, capturing the wit and flair of an 

era with suave modern chic. Max’s droll wit, 

understated lyrics and tenderly expressive 

baritone are matched by his stellar 12-piece 

band in virtuosic recreations of swing and 

cabaret hits.

220 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60604 312-294-3000 CSO.ORG

CSO_1415_Catalog

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