CSO Audio Program Notes

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Jan 18-20. Rafael Payare makes his subscription series debut leading the CSO in Bernstein's much loved Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Bartók's popular Concerto for Orchestra. CSO Principal Bassoon Keith Buncke showcases his artistry and extraordinary agility in Mozart's lively masterpiece.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Jan 18-20. Rafael Payare makes his subscription series debut leading the CSO in Bernstein's much loved Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Bartók's popular Concerto for Orchestra. CSO Principal Bassoon Keith Buncke showcases his artistry and extraordinary agility in Mozart's lively masterpiece.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 21-23. Nikolaj Znaider has appeared as a virtuoso soloist of "fine technical control, deep musical understanding and even greater feeling" (Chicago Tribune) and a conductor with "no shortage of fireworks" (Bachtrack). He makes his Orchestra Hall podium debut performing and conducting Beethoven's lyrical Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's landmark Symphony No. 5.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 21-23. Nikolaj Znaider has appeared as a virtuoso soloist of "fine technical control, deep musical understanding and even greater feeling" (Chicago Tribune) and a conductor with "no shortage of fireworks" (Bachtrack). He makes his Orchestra Hall podium debut performing and conducting Beethoven's lyrical Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's landmark Symphony No. 5.

Nikolaj Znaider has appeared as a virtuoso soloist of "fine technical control, deep musical understanding and even greater feeling" (Chicago Tribune) and a conductor with "no shortage of fireworks" (Bachtrack). He makes his Orchestra Hall podium debut performing and conducting Beethoven's lyrical Violin Concerto and Shostakovich's landmark Symphony No. 5. More info and tickets: https://cso.org/ticketsandevents/production-details-2017-18/chicago-symphony-orchestra/shostakovich5/

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 14-19. Chicago favorite Jaap van Zweden returns to lead the CSO in Tchaikovsky's striking, lyrically poignant Fifth Symphony. Joining him is internationally renowned pianist Denis Kozhukhin, who will take on Rachmaninov's towering Second Concerto. "[Kozhukhin's] dazzling performance must have lifted Orchestra Hall a few feet off its foundation. It was hard, in fact, to imagine any pianist seizing this formidably difficult concerto in a mightier grip than this Russian firebrand. Even in a day when keyboard virtuosos are thick on the ground, Kozhukhin is special" (Chicago Tribune).

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 14-19. Chicago favorite Jaap van Zweden returns to lead the CSO in Tchaikovsky's striking, lyrically poignant Fifth Symphony. Joining him is internationally renowned pianist Denis Kozhukhin, who will take on Rachmaninov's towering Second Concerto. "[Kozhukhin's] dazzling performance must have lifted Orchestra Hall a few feet off its foundation. It was hard, in fact, to imagine any pianist seizing this formidably difficult concerto in a mightier grip than this Russian firebrand. Even in a day when keyboard virtuosos are thick on the ground, Kozhukhin is special" (Chicago Tribune).

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 7-12. Distinguished conductor Neeme Jarvi, praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "masterful, gorgeously and dramatically shaped" interpretations, returns to Symphony Center to conduct music by two Czech masters. The program begins with selections from Smetana's The Bartered Bride and also features Dvorak's Fifth Symphony, which pays homage to Bohemia's landscape and folk dance traditions. The extraordinary Alisa Weilerstein also performs one of her favorite works, Barber's Cello Concerto, which she describes as "a very emotional piece...with fireworks and aching lyricism."

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Dec 7-12. Distinguished conductor Neeme Jarvi, praised by the Los Angeles Times for his "masterful, gorgeously and dramatically shaped" interpretations, returns to Symphony Center to conduct music by two Czech masters. The program begins with selections from Smetana's The Bartered Bride and also features Dvorak's Fifth Symphony, which pays homage to Bohemia's landscape and folk dance traditions. The extraordinary Alisa Weilerstein also performs one of her favorite works, Barber's Cello Concerto, which she describes as "a very emotional piece...with fireworks and aching lyricism."

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 30 - Dec 1. Gil Shaham, one of today's pre-eminent violinists and "a virtuoso of deeply intense sincerity" (The New York Times), performs Mendelssohn's enchanting and well-loved concerto. An acclaimed interpreter of Sibelius, Finnish conductor John Storgards makes his CSO debut leading the composer's first symphonic masterpiece.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 16-21. Riccardo Muti and pianist Kirill Gerstein, recognized for his masterful technique and "boundlessly charismatic performances" (New York Classical Review), team up for Brahms' titanic First Piano Concerto. Completed when Brahms was only 25, the concerto, with its ferocious opening, is an early demonstration of the young composer's symphonic vigor. Puccini's stirring Preludio sinfonico and Strauss' charming orchestral showpiece Le bourgeois gentilhomme round out the program.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 16-21. Riccardo Muti and pianist Kirill Gerstein, recognized for his masterful technique and "boundlessly charismatic performances" (New York Classical Review), team up for Brahms' titanic First Piano Concerto. Completed when Brahms was only 25, the concerto, with its ferocious opening, is an early demonstration of the young composer's symphonic vigor. Puccini's stirring Preludio sinfonico and Strauss' charming orchestral showpiece Le bourgeois gentilhomme round out the program.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 9-11. Conductor Manfred Honeck leads the CSO in a program of valedictory masterpieces. Arabella Steinbacher, highly regarded for her "finely polished technique and a beautifully varied palette of timbres" (The New York Times), performs Berg's last composition, his deeply moving Violin Concerto written in memory of Alma Mahler's daughter. Schubert's exuberant final symphony has one of the most exhilarating finales in symphonic repertoire.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 9-11. Conductor Manfred Honeck leads the CSO in a program of valedictory masterpieces. Arabella Steinbacher, highly regarded for her "finely polished technique and a beautifully varied palette of timbres" (The New York Times), performs Berg's last composition, his deeply moving Violin Concerto written in memory of Alma Mahler's daughter. Schubert's exuberant final symphony has one of the most exhilarating finales in symphonic repertoire.

Welcome to this digital edition of Phillip Huscher's Program Notes for upcoming concerts by the CSO Nov 2-5. World-renowned pianist Sir András Schiff returns to perform and conduct a program of spirited and expressive works, including Beethoven's playful First Piano Concerto and Bach's popular Keyboard Concerto No. 5. "Schiff made the music feel alive and of the moment...with shining tone and uncompromising, otherworldly intensity" (Los Angeles Times).