September
CSO
Season Opening with Szeps-Znaider
SEP 18 | THURSDAY 7:30
SEP 19 | FRIDAY 1:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor and violin
Teng Li viola
MOZART Sinfonia concertante, K. 364
ELGAR Symphony No. 2
One of the most heartfelt musical dialogues ever written, Mozart’s Sinfonia concertante for violin and viola shares a program with Elgar’s stately, visionary Second Symphony.
CSO
Joyce DiDonato & the CSO
SEP 20 | SATURDAY 6:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano
WEBER Overture to MENDELSSOHN Selections from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
R. STRAUSS Wiegenlied
R. STRAUSS Morgen!
R. STRAUSS Zueignung
BIZET Habanera from WAGNER Overture to
Kick off the new season in style! Joyce DiDonato joins Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider and the CSO for a celebratory program of vocal selections and Mendelssohn’s enchanting
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
CSO Ravel Piano Concertos & Suite from Carmen
SEP 25 | THURSDAY 7:30
SEP 26 | FRIDAY 1:30
SEP 27 | SATURDAY 7:30
SEP 28 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mikko Franck conductor
Alice Sara Ott piano
PÉPIN Les Eaux célestes
RAVEL Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
RAVEL Piano Concerto in G Major
BIZET Carmen Suite
Alice Sara Ott pairs Ravel’s wildly original piano concertos in rare side-by-side
Alice Sara Ott
October
WORLD & FOLK
Aida Cuevas: 50 Years Singing to México
SEP 26 | FRIDAY 8:00
Aida Cuevas vocals
Aida Cuevas, the unrivaled queen of ranchera music, celebrates her 50th anniversary with her signature elegance, artistry and heartfelt authenticity.
CSO
Piccolo Play & Adagio for Strings
OCT 3 | FRIDAY 1:30
OCT 4 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Daniela Candillari conductor
Jennifer Gunn piccolo
Giulia Semenzato soprano
Jennifer Johnson Cano mezzo-soprano
SIMON Fate Now Conquers
BARBER Adagio for Strings
MUSGRAVE Piccolo Play
PERGOLESI Stabat Mater
Pergolesi’s sacred masterpiece is filled with spine-tingling music on the nature of grief, hope and healing. These emotions also course through works by Barber and Carlos Simon.
CSO
Hadelich, Dvořák & Brahms 2
OCT 9 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 10 | FRIDAY 7:30 WHEATON COLLEGE
OCT 11 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Philippe Jordan conductor
Augustin Hadelich violin
KODÁLY Dances of Galánta
DVOŘÁK Violin Concerto
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
Dvořák’s soulful Violin Concerto is a perfect vehicle for Augustin Hadelich, who “conveys the music’s rousing energy” (The New York Times). Brahms’ rustic Second Symphony closes the program.
JAZZ
Christian McBride & Brad Mehldau
OCT 10 | FRIDAY 8:00
Christian McBride bass
Brad Mehldau piano
Christian McBride and Brad Mehldau showcase their extraordinary musical rapport and captivating interplay in a rare duo performance.
Philippe Jordan
Aida Cuevas
CHAMBER
TwoSet Violin with Sophie Druml, piano
OCT 14 | TUESDAY 7:30
TwoSet Violin brings its unique blend of humor and artistry to Symphony Center.
As The Strad notes, “their love of classical music imbues every moment” and has sparked joy in millions worldwide.
CSO
Mäkelä Conducts Symphonie fantastique
OCT 16 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 17 | FRIDAY 7:30
OCT 18 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Antoine Tamestit viola
BERLIOZ Harold in Italy
BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique
Klaus Mäkelä leads Symphonie fantastique, Berlioz’s thriller packed with depictions of witchcraft, obsession and murder. Berlioz’s Harold in Italy features viola virtuoso
Antoine Tamestit.
PIANO
Yunchan Lim
OCT 19 | SUNDAY 3:00
WEBERN Variations, Op. 27
BACH Goldberg Variations, BWV 988
Yunchan Lim, who at 18 became the youngest-ever winner of the Van Cliburn Competition, climbs the summit of Baroque keyboard music in Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
CSO
The Soldier’s Tale
OCT 23 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 24 | FRIDAY 1:30
OCT 25 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Stefan Asbury conductor
Steve Scott director
STRAVINSKY Fanfare for a New Theatre
STRAVINSKY Septet
STRAVINSKY Octet
STRAVINSKY The Soldier’s Tale
Step into the engrossing world of Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale, the story of a soldier-fiddler who makes a Faustian pact with the devil, in this semi-staged production featuring actors from The Goodman. Other Stravinsky delights include the neoclassical Octet.
Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale is produced in association with Goodman Theatre.
WORLD & FOLK
An Evening with Chris Thile
OCT 24 | FRIDAY 8:00
Chris Thile mandolin and vocals
Grammy Award-winning mandolinist Chris Thile, praised as “an all-round musician” (The Guardian), brings his genrespanning artistry to Symphony Center. This wide-ranging program also draws from Thile’s solo recordings of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, the second volume of which is due out this fall.
TwoSet
Violin
Chris Thile
JAZZ
Herbie Hancock
OCT 26 | SUNDAY 7:00
Herbie Hancock piano and keyboards
Herbie Hancock, “one of music’s most catalytic forces” (Chicago Tribune), seamlessly navigates his vast catalog with playfully electric energy and charm.
CSO
Muti Conducts Strauss, Hindemith & Dvořák 9
OCT 30 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 31 | FRIDAY 1:30
NOV 1 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
JOHANN STRAUSS, JR. Overture to The Gypsy Baron
HINDEMITH Symphony, Mathis der Maler
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 9
(From the New World)
Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo
Muti returns with Dvořák’s New World Symphony, whose glorious melodies celebrate American folk music and spirituals, alongside Hindemith’s majestic Mathis der Maler
PIANO
Beatrice Rana
NOV 2 | SUNDAY 3:00
PROKOFIEV Selections from Romeo and Juliet
DEBUSSY Etudes, Book II
TCHAIKOVSKY (arr. Pletnev)
Concert Suite from The Nutcracker PROKOFIEV Sonata No. 6 in A Major
Beatrice Rana brings stunning depth to Debussy’s kaleidoscopic Etudes, Book II, while Prokofiev’s Sonata No. 6 surges with bold, dramatic power. Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev add festive sparkle and vivid storytelling to this dynamic program.
Beatrice Rana
November
CSO
Muti & Sáinz-Villegas
NOV 6 | THURSDAY 7:30
NOV 7 | FRIDAY 1:30
NOV 8 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas guitar
STRAVINSKY Divertimento, Suite from The Fairy’s Kiss
RODRIGO Concierto de Aranjuez
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas takes on the most famous guitar concerto of all. Riccardo Muti leads Brahms’ Fourth Symphony — a blend of warmth and poignant anguish, capped with a tempest of a finale.
JAZZ
Joshua Redman Quartet with special guest Gabrielle Cavassa
NOV 7 | FRIDAY 8:00
Joshua Redman Quartet
Joshua Redman saxophones
Gabrielle Cavassa vocals
Joshua Redman and his quartet play music from the group’s upcoming Blue Note album, with Gabrielle Cavassa joining for selections from his last record, where are we
The live concert experience is more meaningful when it is shared with friends. There is no better way to enjoy worldclass artists and programming than bringing a group to Symphony Center. Always the highlight of our musical year!”
Peter Lograsso, subscriber for 20+ years
CSO
Chen Leads
The Four Seasons
NOV 13 | THURSDAY 7:30
NOV 14 | FRIDAY 7:30
NOV 15 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Robert Chen leader and violin
MOZART Divertimento in B-flat Major, K. 137
BEETHOVEN (orch. Mahler) String Quartet No. 11
VIVALDI The Four Seasons
Concertmaster Robert Chen takes center stage in Vivaldi’s landmark Four Seasons and leads Mahler’s orchestral rendering of Beethoven’s Serioso Quartet and Mozart’s exquisitely crafted Divertimento in B-flat Major.
Joshua Redman
January
MOVIES
A Live Presentation of 2001:
A Space Odyssey
JAN 9 | FRIDAY 7:30
JAN 10 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
André de Ridder conductor
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey features stunning visuals and iconic music. André de Ridder leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in breathtaking live-to-picture performances of this iconic score.
Presented in association with Warner Bros. Discovery, Southbank Centre London and the British Film Institute.
ORCHESTRAS
Sinfónica de Minería
JAN 18 | SUNDAY 3:00
Sinfónica de Minería
Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor Pacho Flores trumpet
REVUELTAS Sensemayá
HAYDN Trumpet Concerto
D’RIVERA Concerto Venezolano
REVUELTAS La noche de los mayas
Mexico’s leading orchestra, the Sinfónica de Minería, makes its Symphony Center debut with Carlos Miguel Prieto conducting works by Revueltas, Haydn and Paquito D’Rivera.
PIANO
Kirill Gerstein
JAN 25 | SUNDAY 3:00
LISZT Three Petrarch Sonnets
LISZT Après une lecture du Dante (Fantasia quasi Sonata) from Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année, Italie
BRAHMS Scherzo in E-flat Minor, Op. 4
BRAHMS Sonata No. 3 in F Minor, Op. 5
Join Kirill Gerstein for a program exploring Liszt and Brahms, two Romantic-era luminaries. Liszt’s fantastical Dante Sonata and Brahms’ majestic Sonata No. 3 crown the two halves.
CSO
Salonen, Trifonov & Beethoven
JAN 29 | THURSDAY 7:30
JAN 30 | FRIDAY 7:30
JAN 31 | SATURDAY 7:30
FEB 1 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor
Daniil Trifonov piano
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 4 (Romantic)
Bruckner’s Romantic Symphony evokes a storybook landscape of peaks and valleys, forest dances and hymns of thanksgiving. Chicago favorite Daniil Trifonov takes on Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto.
February
CSO
Salonen Conducts
La mer
FEB 5 | THURSDAY 7:30
CLASSIC ENCOUNTER*
FEB 6 | FRIDAY 1:30
FEB 7 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor
Gabriel Cabezas cello
DEBUSSY Images
SMITH Lost Coast
DEBUSSY La mer
Embark on a thrilling voyage over two striking visions of the ocean in Debussy’s ravishing La mer and Gabriella Smith’s Lost Coast, inspired by the rugged Northern California coastline.
*Ask us about this special preconcert event.
JAZZ
José James presents the 50th anniversary of Marvin Gaye’s I Want You with special guest Lizz Wright
FEB 6 | FRIDAY 8:00
José James vocals
Lizz Wright vocals
José James and special guest Lizz Wright pay tribute to Marvin Gaye’s I Want You, reimagining the music of this provocative album in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
José James
CHAMBER
Joyce DiDonato in Emily – No Prisoner Be
FEB 10 | TUESDAY 7:30
Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano
Time For Three
Ranaan Meyer bass and vocals
Nick Kendall violin and vocals
Charles Yang violin and vocals
PUTS Emily – No Prisoner Be
Joyce DiDonato and string trio Time
For Three unite in an extraordinary collaboration inspired by the poetry of Emily Dickinson, with music by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts (The Hours, Silent Night).
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Daniil Trifonov
February
CSO
Jaap van Zweden, Himari & Mozart Jupiter
FEB 12 | THURSDAY 7:30
FEB 13 | FRIDAY 7:30
WHEATON COLLEGE
FEB 14 | SATURDAY 7:30
FEB 15 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jaap van Zweden conductor
Himari violin
THOMPSON To See the Sky
BRUCH Violin Concerto No. 1
MOZART Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)
Sensational teen Himari illuminates
Bruch’s First Violin Concerto in her CSO subscription debut. Mozart’s electrifying Jupiter Symphony caps the program.
CSO
Mäkelä Conducts Ein Heldenleben
FEB 19 | THURSDAY 7:30
FEB 20 | FRIDAY 7:30
FEB 21 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
SIBELIUS Lemminkäinen
R. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben
Richard Strauss portrays himself as the central character of his extravagant showpiece A Hero’s Life. Klaus Mäkelä pairs the work with Sibelius’ Lemminkäinen, a symphonic portrait of Finland’s folk hero.
PIANO
Marc-André Hamelin
FEB 22 | SUNDAY 3:00
IVES Sonata No. 2 (Concord, Mass., 1840–60)
SCHUMANN Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
SCRIABIN Sonata No. 3 in F-Sharp Minor, Op. 23
Marc-André Hamelin highlights Ives’ visionary Concord Sonata, a tribute to Transcendentalist thinkers, alongside Scriabin’s turbulent Third Sonata. Schumann’s mercurial Fantasy Pieces span humor, joy and brooding intensity.
WORLD & FOLK
Tango After Dark
FEB 28 | SATURDAY 7:30
Don’t miss the “splendid, sensual, imposing extravagance of Argentine tango” (DanceTabs) in Tango After Dark. Germán Cornejo leads a stellar cast of dancers, singers and musicians in an unforgettable evening featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla.
“
One of the secrets of a welllived life is the ability to seize the joy of the moment. Thanks for giving us the many joyous moments we have experienced at several concerts each season.”
Monarch Landing Senior Living
Himari
Tango After Dark
March
CSO
Mäkelä Conducts
The Rite of Spring
MAR 5 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 6 | FRIDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
MILHAUD Le Bœuf sur le toit
GERSHWIN An American in Paris
STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
Led by Klaus Mäkelä, the CSO presents one of the most electrifying and revolutionary works in the orchestral repertoire: Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. Also featured are Milhaud’s playful Le Bœuf sur le toit, a kaleidoscope of rhythmic wit and whimsy, and Gershwin’s An American in Paris, a jazzinfused portrait of the City of Light.
Pinchas Zukerman
Amanda Forsyth
Michael Stephen Brown
CHAMBER
Zukerman Trio
MAR 7 | SATURDAY 7:30
Pinchas Zukerman violin
Amanda Forsyth cello
Klaus Mäkelä
Michael Stephen Brown piano
HIGDON Pale Yellow from Piano Trio
MENDELSSOHN Piano Trio No. 1
DVOŘÁK Dumky for Piano, Violin and Cello, Op. 90
“The matchless musicianship and charisma” of legendary violinist Pinchas Zukerman, acclaimed cellist Amanda Forsyth and celebrated pianist Michael Stephen Brown creates “a trio made in heaven” (Limelight), anchored by Dvořák’s vibrant and introspective Dumky Trio.
PIANO
Benjamin Grosvenor
MAR 8 | SUNDAY 3:00
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)
SCHUMANN Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17
SCRIABIN Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp Minor, Op. 19
RAVEL Gaspard de la nuit
Experience Benjamin Grosvenor’s performance of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, a cornerstone of the piano repertoire, alongside works by Schumann, Scriabin and Ravel.
CSO
Jakub Hrůša & Leif Ove Andsnes
MAR 12 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 13 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAR 14 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša conductor Leif Ove Andsnes piano
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 1 (Spring)
SMETANA Selections from The Bartered Bride
Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša leads selections from Smetana’s The Bartered Bride, an opera full of soaring tunes and folkloric color. Leif Ove Andsnes scales Beethoven’s stormy Third Piano Concerto.
JAZZ
Nubya Garcia / Somi
MAR 13 | FRIDAY 8:00
Nubya Garcia tenor saxophone
Somi vocals
Kate Dumbleton guest curator
Tenor saxophonist Nubya Garcia and vocalist Somi make their Symphony Center debuts with graceful, powerful and genreblending music.
Nubya Garcia
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is always a must do! Our groups thoroughly enjoy every concert, and the CSO staff are more than accommodating. We rest easy knowing our groups are in good hands.”
Complete Customer Itinerary Service, Inc.
CSO
An Opera Night with Riccardo Muti
MAR 19 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 20 | FRIDAY 7:30
MAR 21 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
Lidia Fridman soprano
Francesco Meli tenor
Chicago Symphony Chorus
VERDI Sinfonia to La battaglia di Legnano
VERDI Prelude to I Masnadieri
GIORDANO Amor ti vieta from Fedora
CATALANI Ebben?...Ne andrò lontana from La Wally
VERDI O Signore, dal tetto natio from I Lombardi
VERDI Patria oppressa from Macbeth
VERDI Overture to Nabucco
VERDI Va, pensiero from Nabucco
PUCCINI Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut
PUCCINI Act IV from Manon Lescaut
Revel in an enthralling selection of treasured Italian opera repertoire, anchored by Verdi’s passion-filled works. Riccardo Muti leads a handpicked lineup of international singers with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
“
A highlight of the school year is our annual 8th-grade orchestra trip to the CSO. Students leave feeling inspired and motivated by the music and have a renewed appreciation for the sonic wonder that an orchestra can create.”
Southeast Middle School
FAMILY
PERFECT FOR AGES 5-12
Classical Elements
MAR 21 | SATURDAY 11:00 & 12:45
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Mei-Ann Chen conductor
Conductor Mei-Ann Chen and members of the CSO embark on a musical exploration of air, fire and water — the elements that create balance on planet Earth.
WORLD & FOLK
Ravi Shankar Ensemble
MAR 22 | SUNDAY 3:00
Shubhendra Rao sitar
Ayush Mohan sarod
Ravichandra Kulur flute
Padma Shankar violin and vocals
Anubrata Chatterjee tabla
BC Manjunath mridangam
In the group’s debut tour, the Ravi Shankar Ensemble pays tribute to Ravi Shankar’s legacy with a presentation of his masterful compositions alongside rare archival visuals.
Lidia Fridman
Francesco Meli
March
CSO
Muti Conducts Tchaikovsky & Rota
MAR 26 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 27 | FRIDAY 7:30
WHEATON COLLEGE
MAR 28 | SATURDAY 7:30
MAR 29 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 3 (Polish)
ROTA Music from The Leopard
ROTA Suite from The Godfather
Riccardo Muti pairs Tchaikovsky’s elegant Polish Symphony with the evocative music of Nino Rota, celebrated for his iconic film scores and compositions that seamlessly blend drama, lyricism and charm.
The CSO concert was an unforgettable experience. Our students were inspired by the world-class performance and gained a deeper appreciation for orchestral music. The staff are genuinely passionate about music education and made the planning effortless, ensuring a meaningful visit.”
Nation Ford High School
JAZZ
Miles Davis at 100: Gonzalo Rubalcaba / Unlimited Miles
MAR 27 | FRIDAY 8:00
Gonzalo Rubalcaba piano
Unlimited Miles
John Beasley piano
Sean Jones trumpet
Mark Turner saxophone
Kurt Rosenwinkel guitar
Ben Williams bass
Terreon Gully drums
Pay tribute to Miles Davis’ centennial and his enduring legacy with a double bill concert featuring virtuosic pianism and bold new arrangements.
CHAMBER
Yo-Yo Ma in Recital
MAR 28 | SATURDAY 1:30
Yo-Yo Ma cello
ZHAO Summer in the High Grassland
BACH Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
SAYGUN Allegretto from Partita for Solo Cello
BACH Suite No. 5 in C Minor, BWV 1011
CRUMB Sonata for Solo Cello
BACH Suite No. 6 in D Major, BWV 1012
Yo-Yo Ma returns to Symphony Center with an intimate program that invites you to experience his artistry in its most personal and profound form.
Yo-Yo Ma
CSO
Sibelius 2 & Tüür Accordion Concerto
APR 2 | THURSDAY 7:30
CLASSIC ENCOUNTER*
APR 3 | FRIDAY 1:30
APR 4 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Ksenija Sidorova accordion
BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Haydn
TÜÜR Prophecy
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 2
With its unforgettable, triumphant finale, Sibelius’ Second Symphony stands as an emblem of Finland’s nationalist spirit.
Brahms’ gloriously lyrical tribute to Haydn and an accordion concerto by Erkki-Sven Tüür open the program.
*Ask us about this special preconcert event.
CSO
Songs of Love and Farewell
APR 9 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 10 | FRIDAY 7:30
APR 11 | SATURDAY 7:30
APR 12 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša conductor
Corinne Winters soprano
JANÁČEK Overture to From the House of the Dead RACHMANINOV The Isle of the Dead R. STRAUSS Four Last Songs
WAGNER Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde (Orchestral version)
Why are we here, and what comes next? Experience four meditations on mortality and the hereafter by Richard Strauss, Wagner, Rachmaninov and Janáček.
April
CSO
Evgeny Kissin with the CSO
APR 16 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 18 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andrey Boreyko conductor
Evgeny Kissin piano
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Russian Easter Overture
SCRIABIN Piano Concerto
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Piano Concerto
LIADOV Kikimora
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 1
Evgeny Kissin, “a deeply intuitive and sensitive musician” (The New York Times), joins the CSO in three piano concertos by Prokofiev, Scriabin and Rimsky-Korsakov.
CSO
Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
APR 23 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 24 | FRIDAY 7:30
APR 25 | SATURDAY 7:30
APR 26 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Joe Hisaishi conductor and piano
Dubbed “the John Williams of Japan” by Pitchfork, Joe Hisaishi is one of the most celebrated composers of our time. Hisaishi returns to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in his symphonic works and iconic film scores.
Evgeny Kissin
Yuja Wang & the Mahler Chamber Orchestra
CHAMBER
Yuja Wang & the Mahler Chamber Orchestra
APR 29 | WEDNESDAY 7:30
Yuja Wang piano and conductor Mahler Chamber Orchestra
CHOPIN Piano Concerto No. 2
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1 (Classical)
PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2
Pianist Yuja Wang leads the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in a dazzling program featuring Chopin’s radiant Second Piano Concerto, Prokofiev’s bold Second Piano Concerto and his vibrant Classical Symphony, blending virtuosic brilliance with her dynamic artistry.
Joe Hisaishi
May
CSO
Canellakis, Tao & Tchaikovsky 5
APR 30 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 1 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 2 | SATURDAY 7:30
MAY 3 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Karina Canellakis conductor
Conrad Tao piano
DVOŘÁK Scherzo capriccioso
BARTÓK Piano Concerto No. 3
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5
“With desire and passion,” Tchaikovsky wrote on the score of his Fifth Symphony, a work that journeys from despair to soaring triumph. Bartók’s beguiling Third Piano Concerto features soloist Conrad Tao.
JAZZ
Mike Reed’s Chicago Inspirations
MAY 1 | FRIDAY 8:00
The City Was Yellow Students from the Jazz Institute of Chicago Jazz Links Program
Geof Bradfield saxophone and musical director
The Magic Box
Mike Reed drums and guest curator
Nicole Mitchell flute
Tomeka Reid cello
Greg Ward alto saxophone
Joshua Abrams bass
Jason Adasiewicz vibraphone
Drummer-composer Mike Reed and a powerhouse ensemble of fellow Chicago improvisers explore the legacy of Chicago avant-garde jazz bassist Fred Hopkins.
CSO
DiDonato Performs Neruda Songs
MAY 7 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 8 | FRIDAY 7:30
MAY 9 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Edward Gardner conductor
Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano
BARBER First Essay for Orchestra
LIEBERSON Neruda Songs
WALTON Symphony No. 1
2025/26 CSO Artist-in-Residence
Joyce DiDonato sings Peter Lieberson’s heartbreakingly sensuous song cycle set to the poetry of Pablo Neruda. Walton’s tumultuous and alluring First Symphony concludes the program.
Our annual tours to Chicago always feature CSO concerts. Thrilling performances, creative programs, and Orchestra Hall is among a handful of our favorite venues throughout the musical world.”
Great Performance Tours
Canellakis
Mike Reed
FAMILY
PERFECT FOR AGES 3-12
Mother Goose & the Cabinet of Wonder
MAY 9 | SATURDAY 11:00 & 12:45
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
James Bagwell conductor Natalie Merchant vocals
Join legendary singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, members of the CSO and special guests for a joyful singalong with Mother Goose. Featuring Merchant’s nursery rhyme adaptations, the program highlights a vibrant array of instrumental groups and musical styles.
Mother Goose & the Cabinet of Wonder is a coproduction of Natalie Merchant, Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
CSO
Poulenc Gloria & Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony
MAY 14 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 15 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 16 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Juraj Valčuha conductor Erin Morley soprano
Chicago Symphony Chorus
RAVEL Mother Goose Suite
POULENC Gloria
SAINT-SAËNS Symphony No. 3 (Organ)
Discover an all-French program anchored by Saint-Saëns’ epic Organ Symphony. Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite charms with its tender evocation of childhood, while Poulenc’s Gloria dazzles with wit and radiant energy.
Natalie Merchant Erin Morley
Pekka Kuusisto
PIANO
Evgeny Kissin
MAY 17 | SUNDAY 3:00
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3
CHOPIN Mazurka in E Minor, Op. 41, No. 2
CHOPIN Mazurka in A-flat Major, Op. 41, No. 4
CHOPIN Mazurka in C Minor, Op. 56, No. 3
CHOPIN Mazurka in B Major, Op. 63, No. 1
CHOPIN Mazurka in A Minor, Op. posth.
(Emile Gaillard)
SCHUMANN Kreisleriana, Op. 16
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No. 12 in C-sharp Minor
Evgeny Kissin presents a spectacular, eras-spanning recital featuring Beethoven’s revolutionary Piano Sonata No. 7, a set of Chopin mazurkas and works by Schumann and Liszt.
CSO
Pekka Kuusisto: Time Shifting
MAY 21 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 22 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 23 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Pekka Kuusisto conductor and violin
GRIEG Holberg Suite
KREISLER Violin Concerto in C Major
(In the Style of Vivaldi)
RAUTAVAARA The Fiddlers
HAYDN Symphony No. 64
(Tempora mutantur)
CLYNE Sound and Fury
Finnish star Pekka Kuusisto explores the theme of time itself. He conducts works by Haydn, Grieg, Rautavaara and former Mead Composer-in-Residence Anna Clyne, and steps out as the soloist in Kreisler’s Violin Concerto.
Hilary Hahn
CHAMBER
Hilary Hahn in Recital
MAY 24 | SUNDAY 3:00
Hilary Hahn violin
Hilary Hahn returns to Chicago with a program demonstrating “the golden-age richness and astonishing technique that have long made her a standout in a crowded field” (The New York Times).
CSO
Brahms, Strauss & Ravel La valse
MAY 28 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 29 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 30 | SATURDAY 7:30
MAY 31 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor
Martin Helmchen piano
BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 1
R. STRAUSS Suite from Der Rosenkavalier
RAVEL La valse
Brahms’ First Piano Concerto awes with its intense passion and unabashedly dramatic piano writing — the ideal showcase for Martin Helmchen. Works by Ravel and Richard Strauss evoke Vienna’s bygone golden age.
Symphony Center performances are beyond impressive! Absolutely the highlight of every student tour that we bring to Chicago.”
Good News Tour and Travel
JAZZ
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
JUNE 2 | TUESDAY 8:00
The legendary Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and its trailblazing leader Wynton Marsalis return to Symphony Center, their home in Chicago.
CSO Alsop Conducts Adams, Copland & Marsalis
JUNE 4 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 5 | FRIDAY 1:30
JUNE 6 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop conductor
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
ADAMS The Rock You Stand On cso co-commission
COPLAND Suite from Appalachian Spring
MARSALIS Liberty (Symphony No. 5)
cso co-commission
The CSO joins forces with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for Liberty (Symphony No. 5), Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Wynton Marsalis’ latest symphonic work. Copland’s Appalachian Spring and a new work by John Adams kick off an all-American celebration.
Wynton Marsalis
PIANO
Conrad Tao
JUNE 7 | SUNDAY 3:00
GERSHWIN The Man I Love
GERSHWIN Swanee
SCHOENBERG Walzer from Five Piano Pieces, Op. 23
GERSHWIN Oh, Lady, Be Good!
DEBUSSY Pour les agréments from Etudes
TATUM Cherokee
RAVEL Mouvement de menuet from Sonatine
GERSHWIN But Not for Me
DEBUSSY Pour les arpèges composés from Etudes
STRAYHORN Lush Life
SCHUMANN Auf einer Burg from Liederkreis, Op. 39
GERSHWIN I Loves You, Porgy
GERSHWIN I Got Rhythm
RACHMANINOV (trans. Barnatan) Symphonic Dances, Op. 45
After his acclaimed 2023 CSO subscription debut, Conrad Tao returns with a selection of Gershwin song arrangements interwoven with works by Debussy, Ravel, Rachmaninov and Schumann.
CSO
Gaffigan, Thibaudet & Bernstein
JUNE 11 | THURSDAY 7:30 CLASSIC ENCOUNTER*
JUNE 12 | FRIDAY 1:30
JUNE 13 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
James Gaffigan conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir
GERSHWIN (orch. Rose) Overture to Girl Crazy
Selected Spirituals
WEILL (arr. R. R. Bennett) Lady in the Dark, Symphonic Nocturne
BERNSTEIN Symphony No. 2 (The Age of Anxiety)
Leonard Bernstein’s The Age of Anxiety features Jean-Yves Thibaudet performing the extravagant piano part. Sumptuous orchestral highlights from Gershwin and Weill musicals frame a stirring selection of spirituals performed with the Apostolic Church of God Sanctuary Choir.
*Ask us about this special preconcert event.
CSO
Lincoln Portrait & Ellington Harlem
JUNE 18 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 20 | SATURDAY 7:30
JUNE 21 | SUNDAY 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Weilerstein conductor
MONTGOMERY Banner
MARTINŮ The Rock
COPLAND Lincoln Portrait
IVES Three Places in New England
ELLINGTON (orch. Henderson & Peress) Harlem
In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, experience a powerful program featuring Copland’s soaring tribute to Lincoln, musical portraits of New England by Ives and Martinů, and Ellington’s swinging tour of Harlem.
Conrad Tao
James Gaffigan
CSO
A Musical Tribute to John Williams & Steven Spielberg
JUNE 23 | TUESDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Steven Reineke conductor
Celebrate the legendary collaboration between composer John Williams and filmmaker Steven Spielberg as the CSO brings to life some of cinema’s most iconic music.
MOVIES
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
JUNE 25 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 26 | FRIDAY 7:30
JUNE 27 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sarah Hicks conductor
Experience Star Wars: A New Hope like never before as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs John Williams’ iconic Oscar-winning score live with the full film on the big screen at Symphony Center.
© & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. Presentation licensed by Disney Concerts in association with 20th Century Fox Film Corp., Lucasfilm Ltd., and Warner/Chappell Music.
© All rights reserved.
Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert
Our Sponsors
Anonymous
Randy L. and Melvin R. Berlin
Family Fund for the Canon
Kenneth C. Griffin
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
Ling Z. and Michael C. Markovitz
Sargent Family Foundation
Schmidt Family Fund
Major artistic support for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2025/26 season is generously provided by Zell Family Foundation and The Negaunee Foundation
The Artist-in-Residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is made possible through a generous gift from James and Brenda Grusecki
Major support for MusicNOW is generously provided by the Zell Family Foundation, the Sargent Family Foundation, the Sally Mead Hands Foundation and the Julian Family Foundation
Generous support for CSO concerts, guest artists and guest conductors has been provided by the Juli Plant Grainger Fund for Artistic Excellence and the Grainger Fund for Excellence
Generous support for the Chicago Symphony Chorus has been provided by The Grainger Foundation
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