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Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Sundays at 8pm
CSO_Muti-Photo-High-Res_credit-Todd-Rosenberg

Photo by Todd Rosenberg

Hear live performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra alongside selections from the orchestra’s expansive catalog of recordings. Find out the fascinating stories found inside the music; get insights from the CSO musicians, guest artists, and composers themselves; and learn more about the music and programmatic themes highlighted during the CSO’s concert season. Hosted by Lisa Simeone.

Schedule
  • March 30
    Szeps-Znaider & Carpenter

    Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider leads Poulenc’s Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Strings, and Timpani and Saint-Saëns’s Symphony No. 3, featuring organ soloist Cameron Carpenter. The broadcast opens with Dukas’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and rounds out with Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe and Boléro.

    Paul Dukas

    The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

    Francis Poulenc

    Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Strings, and Timpani

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Variation No. 20 from Goldberg Variations (encore)

    Camille Saint-Saëns

    Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 78
    Cameron Carpenter organ
    Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor
    December 2022


    Maurice Ravel

    Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe

    Maurice Ravel

    Boléro
    Daniel Barenboim conductor
    1991 (Erato)

  • April 6
    Canellakis & Gerstein

    This week, Karina Canellakis makes the CSO debut in Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben. Opening the program is Augusta Read Thomas’ Brio, followed by Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, featuring Kirill Gerstein.

    Gioachino Rossini

    Overture to The Barber of Seville

    Sir Georg Solti conductor
    1972 (London)

    Augusta Read Thomas

    Brio

    Robert Schumann

    Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54

    Frédéric Chopin

    Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 42 (encore)
    Kirill Gerstein piano


    Richard Strauss

    Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40
    Karina Canellakis conductor
    May 2022

  • April 13
    A Chicago Symphony Chorus Spotlight

    This week, we take a look back at Grammy-winning performances by the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Music directors Daniel Barenboim and Sir Georg Solti conduct Bruckner’s Psalm 150 and Brahms’s A German Requiem. Former principal guest conductor Pierre Boulez conducts Bartók’s Cantata profana.

    Anton Bruckner

    Psalm 150
    Ruth Welting soprano
    Margaret Hillis director, Chicago Symphony Chorus
    Daniel Barenboim conductor
    1979 (Deutsche Grammophon)

    Béla Bartók

    Cantata profana
    John Aler tenor
    John Tomlinson baritone
    Margaret Hillis director, Chicago Symphony Chorus
    Pierre Boulez conductor
    1991 (Deutsche Grammophon)

    Johannes Brahms

    A German Requiem
    Kiri Te Kanawa soprano
    Bernd Weikl baritone
    Margaret Hillis director, Chicago Symphony Chorus
    Sir Georg Solti conductor
    1978 (London)

  • April 20
    Beethoven, Mozart & Tchaikovsky

    This week, Julian Rachlin showcases his singular versatility as a violinist, violist and conductor. He joins Associate Concertmaster Stephanie Jeong in Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante before leading a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Meditation from Souvenir d’un lieu cher. Taking the podium, Rachlin bookends the program by conducting works by Mozart and Beethoven.

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat Major for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra, K. 320d
    [364]
    Stephanie Jeong violin
    Julien Rachlin viola

    Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
    (arr. Glazunov)

    Meditation from Souvenir d’un lieu cher, Op. 42
    Julien Rachlin violin

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No. 36 in C Major, K. 425 (Linz)
    Julien Rachlin conductor
    May 2022

    Paul Hindemith

    Nobilissima visione
    Jean Martinon conductor
    1967 (RCA)

  • April 27
    Mäkelä Conducts Shostakovich 10

    On April 2, 2024, Klaus Mäkelä was named Zell Music Director Designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This week, we feature performances from that special moment, beginning with Zinovjev’s Batteria. Next, we hear two works by Shostakovich: The First Cello Concerto with Sol Gabetta, followed by a powerful reading of the Tenth Symphony.

    Richard Strauss

    Excerpt from Don Juan, Op. 20
    Fritz Reiner conductor
    1960 (RCA)

    Sauli Zinovjev

    Batteria

    Dmitri Shostakovich

    Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, Op. 107

    Pēteris Vasks

    Gramata cellam: II. Dolcissimo (encore)
    Sol Gabetta cello

    Dmitri Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 10 in E Minor, Op. 93
    Klaus Mäkelä conductor
    April 2024

  • May 4
    Mäkelä Conducts López Bellido & Mahler 5

    Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä returns to the CSO podium to lead Mahler’s Fifth Symphony. The program includes Sibelius’ The Swan of Tuonela, and the U.S. premiere of Aino by Jimmy López, which the CSO’s co-commissioned. Opening the broadcast is Corigliano’s Tournaments Overture under Sir Georg Solti’s baton.

    John Corigliano

    Tournaments Overture
    Sir Georg Solti conductor

    1984 (CSO First 100 Years) 


    Jean Sibelius

    The Swan of Tuonela No. 2 from Four Legends from the Kalevela, Op. 22

    Jimmy López

    Aino

    Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 5
    Klaus Mäkelä conductor

    February 2023

  • May 11
    Thielemann Conducts Bruckner

    Christian Telemann returns to the CSO podium to lead Bruckner’s Eighth Symphony. The broadcast also includes Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde, led by Daniel Barenboim, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s ninth music director from 1991 until 2006.

    Anton Bruckner

    Symphony No. 8 in C Minor (1890 version)
    Christian Thielemann conductor
    October 2022

    Richard Wagner

    Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
    Daniel Barenboim conductor
    1994 (Teldec)

  • May 18
    Giulini Conducts Mahler 9

    As part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Mahler Festival 2025 celebrations, tune in to a special radio broadcast featuring the CSO’s First Principal Guest Conductor Carlo Maria Giulini leading Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 9.

    Sergei Prokofiev

    Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 (Classical)
    Carlo Maria Giulini conductor
    1976 (Deutsche Grammophon)

    Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 9
    Carlo Maria Giulini conductor
    1976 (Deutsche Grammophon)

  • May 25
    Haitink Conducts Mahler 2

    In honor of the Mahler Festival 2025, Bernard Haitink leads the CSO in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, featuring vocalists Miah Persson and Christianne Stotijin, alongside the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Opening the broadcast, Pierre Boulez leads Scriabin’s The Poem of Ecstasy.

    Alexander Scriabin

    The Poem of Ecstacy, Op. 54
    Pierre Boulez conductor
    1995 (Deutsche Grammophon)

    Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 2 in C Minor (Resurrection)
    Miah Persson soprano
    Christianne Stotijin mezzo-soprano
    Duain Wolfe director
    Bernard Haitink conductor
    2008 (CSO Resound)

  • June 1
    2024 Ravinia Festival Opening Night: Celebration of Americana

    Marin Alsop, Chief Conductor of the Ravinia Festival, leads the CSO in a program celebrating American composers. Opening the program is Copland’s Suite from Appalachian Spring, followed by Johnson’s Charleston. Next, soloist Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha joins in Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24. Rounding out the program is Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, featuring pianist Michelle Cann.

    John Stafford Smith
    (arr. Stock)

    The Star-Spangled Banner

    Aaron Copland

    Suite from Appalachian Spring (full orchestra version)

    James P. Johnson
    (orch. Davind Rimelis,
    arr. Nicholas Hersh)

    Charleston

    Samuel Barber

    Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Op. 24
    Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano

    George Gershwin
    (orch. Grofé)

    Rhapsody in Blue

    James P. Johnson
    (ed. and arr.
    Nicholas Hersh)

    Victory Stride (encore)
    Michelle Cann piano
    Marin Alsop conductor
    July 2024

    Charles Ives
    (arr. Schuman)

    Variations on America
    Morton Gould conductor
    1966 (RCA)

    Morton Gould

    Spirituals for Orchestra
    Morton Gould conductor
    1965 (RCA)

  • June 8
    Hrůša Conducts Má vlast

    This week, we hear Jakub Hrůša’s CSO debut concert program, Smetana’s Má vlast. Opening the broadcast is Pierre Boulez conducting Mahler’s Totenfeier from a 1996 Deautsche Grammophon recording.

    Gustav Mahler

    Totenfeier
    Pierre Boulez conductor

    1996 (Deutsche Grammophon)

    Bedřich Smetana

    Vysehrad, No. 1 from Má vlast

    Bedřich Smetana

    The Moldau, No. 2 from Má vlast

    Bedřich Smetana

    Sárka, No. 3 from Má vlast

    Bedřich Smetana

    From Bohemia’s Fields and Groves, No. 4 from Má vlast

    Bedřich Smetana

    Tábor, No. 5 from Má vlast

    Bedřich Smetana

    Blanik, No. 6, from Má vlast

  • June 15
    Muti Conducts Sleeping Beauty & Swan Lake

    This week, Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti leads a program featuring Tchaikovsky’s Suites from The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake, opening with Reznicek’s Overture to Donna Diana. Filling out the broadcast, Stephanie Jeong, So Young Bae, Lawrence Neuman, and Kenneth Olsen perform Ravel’s String Quartet in F Major.



    Emil von Reznicek

    Overture to Donna Diana

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Suite from The Sleeping Beauty, Op. 66a
    Riccardo Muti conductor
    January 2022

    Maurice Ravel

    String Quartet in F Major
    Stephanie Jeong violin
    So Young Bae violin
    Lawrence Neuman viola
    Kenneth Olsen cello

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Suite from Swan Lake, Op. 20a

    Johann Strauss, Jr.

    Emperor Waltz, Op. 437
    Riccardo Muti conductor

    January 2022

  • June 22
    Muti, Herbert & Pines of Rome

    Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti conducts Kraft’s Timpani Concerto, featuring Principal Timpani David Herbert. The program opens with Mozart’s Divertimento in F Major and closes with Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1 and Pines of Rome.

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Divertimento in F Major, K. 138

    William Kraft

    Timpani Concerto No. 1
    David Herbert timpani

    Ottorino Respighi

    Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 1

    Ottorino Respighi

    Pines of Rome
    Riccardo Muti conductor
    May 2023


    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Quartet for Flute and Strings in D Major, K. 285
    Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson flute
    Robert Chen violin
Li-Kuo Chang viola
    John Sharp cello


    Alberto Ginastera

    String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20
    Stephanie Jeong violin
    Simon Michal violin

    Weijing Michal viola
    Kenneth Olsen cello