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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
  • November 26
    Guests in the House

    This commercial broadcast includes the CSO’s historical recordings lead by various guest conductors. Opening the broadcast is Khachaturian’s Symphony No. 3 lead by Leopold Stokowski, followed by John Williams’ Suite from Memoirs of a Geisha for Cello and Orchestra. Next, Neeme Järvi leads Kodály’s Dances of Galánta. Rounding out the broadcast is Franck’s Symphony in D Minor lead by Pierre Monteux.

    Khachaturian

    Symphony No. 3 in C Major
    Leopold Stokowski, conductor
    1968 (RCA)

    John Williams

    Suite from Memoirs of a Geisha for Cello and Orchestra
    John Williams, conductor
    2008 (Sony)

    Kodály

    Dances of Galánta
    Neeme Järvi, conductor
    1990 (Chandos)

    Gabriella Lena Franck

    Symphony in D Minor
    Pierre Monteux, conductor
    1961 (RCA)

  • December 3
    Salonen & Kuusisto

    Esa-Pekka Salonen returns to the CSO podium for Ravel’s Mother Goose and Stravinsky’s Symphony in Three Movements. In between, Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto introduces a 2021 concerto by Bryce Dessner. The broadcast rounds out with a 1981 London recording of Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra led by eighth music director Sir Georg Solti.

    Ravel

    Mother Goose

    Bryce Dessner

    Violin Concerto
    Pekka Kuusisto, violin

    Stravinsky

    Symphony in Three Movements
    Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor

  • December 10
    Afkham & Gluzman

    David Afkham returns to the CSO podium to lead Debussy’s La mer and Ravel’s La valse. Opening the program is Ravel’s Menuet antique. Next, Vadim Gluzman joins in Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1. Plus, Bernard Heitink conducts Webern’s Im Sommerwind.

    Ravel

    Menuet antique

    Shostakovich

    Violin Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 77

    Debussy

    La mer

    Ravel

    La valse
    David Afkham, conductor
    May 2023

  • December 17
    Reiner Rarities

    This broadcast celebrate the CSO’s sixth music director Fritz Reiner! Starting out the broadcast is Kabalevsky’s Colas Breugnon Overture, followed by Haydn’s Symphony No. 88. Next on the program are Weinberger’s Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper and Liebermann’s Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra. Concluding the broadcast, Lisa Della Casa joins in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.

    Kabalevsky

    Colas Breugnon Overture
    1959 (RCA)

    Haydn

    Symphony No. 88 in G Major
    1960 (RCA)

    Weinberger

    Polka and Fugue from Schwanda the Bagpiper
    1956 (RCA)

    Liebermann

    Concerto for Jazz Band and Orchestra
    Sauter-finegan Orchestra
    1954 (RCA)

    Mahler

    Symphony No. 4 in G Major
    Lisa Della Casa, soprano
    1958 (RCA)

  • December 24
    Handel Messiah & Tchaikovsky Nutcracker

    Eighth music director Sir Georg Solti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and a stellar cast of soloists in the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah. Next, the CSO Brass performs music by Gabrieli, and sixth music director Fritz Reiner closes this holiday celebration with selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet.

    Handel

    Messiah, Part 1
    Kiri Te Kanawa, soprano; Anne Gjevang, contralto; Keith Lewis, tenor; Gwynne Howell, bass-baritone; David Schrader, harpsichord; Chicago Symphony Chorus; Margaret Hillis, director; Sir Georg Solti, conductor

    Gabrieli/Crees

    Sacrae Smphoniae No. 6, Sonata Pian e forte
    Mark Ridenour, conductor

    Gabrieli/Crees

    Canzon duodecimi toni à 10

    Gabrieli/Block

    Canzon septimi toni à 8 (No. 2)
    Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass

    Tchaikovsky

    Selections from The Nutcracker, Op. 71
    Fritz Reiner, conductor