Some arrive with the force of a full orchestra. Others emerge in a fleeting musical exchange, a breathtaking solo or a melody that stays with you long after the performance ends. These are the moments that inspire us, connect us and bring us together through the power of live music.
Across the 2026/27 Season, discover extraordinary artists, unforgettable performances and experiences that span centuries, genres and traditions. Make music part of the moments that matter most to you.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra photography by Todd Rosenberg
Season at a Glance
ORCHESTRAL
SEP 17–19
Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn
ORCHESTRAL
SEP 24–26
Mäkelä Conducts Sibelius & Shostakovich
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 1–4
Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9
JAZZ
OCT 2
Freedom Riders with special guests Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 8–9
Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 10
Symphony Ball with Klaus Mäkelä
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 15–17
Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
JAZZ
OCT 16
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
CHAMBER MUSIC
OCT 18
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 22–25
Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto
ORCHESTRAL
OCT 29–31
Brahms Requiem
PIANO
NOV 1
Bruce Liu
ORCHESTRAL
NOV 5–8
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
ORCHESTRAL
NOV 11
Yo-Yo Ma & the CSO
ORCHESTRAL
NOV 13–14
Andrew Bird & the CSO
ORCHESTRAL
NOV 19–21
Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman
FAMILY
NOV 21
Symphonic Superheroes
CHAMBER MUSIC
NOV 22
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
MOVIE
NOV 27–29
How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert
HOLIDAY
NOV 28
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
ORCHESTRAL
DEC 3–5
Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8
FAMILY
DEC 5 | JAN 30 | FEB 13
Once Upon a Symphony: Stone Soup
PIANO
DEC 6
Lukas Sternath
HOLIDAY
DEC 8
A Chanticleer Christmas
ORCHESTRAL
DEC 10–12
Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman
MOVIE
DEC 11–13
Elf in Concert
CHAMBER MUSIC
DEC 15
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass
ORCHESTRAL
DEC 17–19
Handel’s Messiah
HOLIDAY
DEC 18–23
Merry, Merry Chicago!
PIANO JAN 10
Rudolf Buchbinder
MOVIE
JAN 29–30
West Side Story Film with Orchestra
PIANO JAN 31
Mitsuko Uchida
ORCHESTRAL
FEB 4–7
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
JAZZ
FEB 5
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
ORCHESTRAL
FEB 11–13
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
GLOBAL
FEB 12
Pink Martini
ORCHESTRAL
FEB 19–21
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
JAZZ
FEB 19
John Scofield & Dave Holland
ORCHESTRAL
FEB 25–27
Honeck Conducts
Bates & Mahler 1
GLOBAL
FEB 28
Kodo One Earth Tour 2027: Luminance
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 4–6
Bicket, Weiss & Bach
FAMILY
MAR 6
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 11–14
Beethoven Violin
Concerto & Mendelssohn
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 18–20
ALittle Night Music
JAZZ
MAR 19
Stanley Clarke & Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet
FAMILY
MAR 20 | APR 10 | APR 24
Once Upon a Symphony: The Elves and the Shoemaker
PIANO
MAR 21
Leif Ove Andsnes
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 24
Lang Lang Plays
Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 26
Lang Lang Plays
Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3
ORCHESTRAL
MAR 27
Lang Lang Plays
Beethoven Emperor Concerto
ORCHESTRAL
APR 2–3
Jordan, Hadelich & Tchaikovsky 4
GLOBAL
APR 4
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
ORCHESTRAL
APR 8–10
Muti Conducts Rossini
PIANO
APR 11
Yuja Wang
ORCHESTRAL
APR 15–18
Hrůša Conducts Shostakovich 7
JAZZ
APR 20
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
ORCHESTRAL
APR 22–24
Glover, Chen & the CSO
JAZZ
APR 23
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: The Ever Fonky Lowdown
PIANO
APR 25
Evgeny Kissin
ORCHESTRAL
APR 30–MAY 1
Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
ORCHESTRAL
MAY 6–8
Honeck Conducts
Mahler & Bruckner 9
PIANO
MAY 9
Piotr Anderszewski
ORCHESTRAL
MAY 13–16
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
JAZZ
MAY 14
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit
FAMILY
MAY 15
Einstein’s Imagination
CHAMBER MUSIC
MAY 18
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
ORCHESTRAL
MAY 20–22
Tan Dun: Water Concerto & Marco Polo
ORCHESTRAL
MAY 24
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
ORCHESTRAL
MAY 27–28
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Yunchan Lim
ORCHESTRAL
JUNE 3–6
Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
JAZZ
JUNE 4
Chucho Valdés with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
ORCHESTRAL
JUNE 10–12
Rachmaninov Piano
Concerto No. 2
ORCHESTRAL
JUNE 17–20
Mäkelä Conducts
Beethoven 9
MOVIE
JUNE 25–27
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Classical
Step into a season shaped by defining moments: exciting debuts, dazzling virtuosity and the timeless power of Beethoven woven throughout. From soaring symphonies to intimate solo showcases, each concert reveals the power of music in the present and its enduring influence on the future.
September
Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn
17 THU B | B2 7:30
18 FRI A | A1 1:30
19 SAT B | B1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Petr Popelka conductor
Hilary Hahn violin
SCHUMANN Overture to Manfred
MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 5
Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is packed with magical melodies and sparkling action, and there’s no more stylish interpreter than Hilary Hahn. Dvořák’s Fifth Symphony transports listeners from a country meadow to a Viennese ballroom.
Mäkelä Conducts
Sibelius & Shostakovich
24 THU A | A1 7:30
25 FRI A | A2 1:30
26 SAT A | A1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 7
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 4
Two exhilarating symphonies launch the fall residency of Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä — one that travels through majestic Nordic landscapes and another that reveals a Soviet-era composer in all his brilliant audacity.
October
Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9
1 THU C | C2 7:30
2 FRI A | A1 1:30
3 SAT C | C1 7:30
4 SUN A | A1 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
MAHLER Symphony No. 9
In his valedictory Ninth Symphony, Mahler charts a deeply human journey, exploring the spirit’s capacity for beauty, sorrow and transcendence.
Hilary Hahn
Petr Popelka
Klaus Mäkelä
October
Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast
8 THU B | B1 7:30
9 FRI B | B1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Thomas Hampson baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
GABRIELI Canzon duodecimi toni
STRAVINSKY Petrushka
GABRIELI Sonata Pian’ e forte
WALTON Belshazzar’s Feast
Travel to the exotic Babylon of Belshazzar’s Feast, Walton’s cantata about the king who holds a garish pagan celebration. Stravinsky uses vivid orchestral colors of his own in Petrushka, a fanciful tale of puppets coming to life.
Symphony Ball with Klaus Mäkelä
10 SAT 6:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Thomas Hampson baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
STRAVINSKY Petrushka
WALTON Belshazzar’s Feast
Celebrate the 2026/27 Season in grand fashion, with a voyage to the opulent Babylon of Walton’s dramatic cantata, Belshazzar’s Feast. The musical celebration begins with Stravinsky’s dazzling tale of puppets springing to life.
Enhance your concert experience with a Symphony Ball gala package, including a private preconcert reception for patrons and sponsors in Forte event space and postconcert dinner and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. For more information, please email symphonyball@cso.org or call 312-294-3185.
This benefit event helps the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association strengthen Chicago’s cultural fabric and reach countless new audiences each year.
Klaus Mäkelä
Thomas Hampson
Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
15 THU A | A2 7:30
16 FRI A | A2 1:30
17 SAT B | B2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Giancarlo Guerrero conductor
Anne Akiko Meyers violin
SIERRA Fandangos
MÁRQUEZ Fandango
ELGAR Enigma Variations
Few contemporary violin concertos have made a splash quite like Márquez’s Fandango. Hear it played by Anne Akiko Meyers — for whom it was written — along with another vibrant take on the fandango and a touching series of musical portraits by Elgar.
Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto
22 THU C | C1 7:30
23 FRI WHEATON A 7:30 Edman Memorial Chapel
24 SAT A | A2 7:30
25 SUN A | A2 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor
Jian Wang cello
NIELSEN Overture to Maskarade
DVOŘÁK Cello Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Suite from The Sleeping Beauty
Jian Wang returns in Dvořák’s soaring Cello Concerto, the crown jewel of Romantic cello repertoire. Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite transports you to the Golden Age of ballet.
Brahms Requiem
29 THU A | A1 7:30
30 FRI A | A1 1:30
31 SAT B | B1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider conductor
Louise Alder soprano
Konstantin Krimmel baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
MOZART Symphony No. 36 (Linz)
BRAHMS A German Requiem
Brahms called A German Requiem his “human requiem,” and the gently powerful score offers a chance to reflect on love, sorrow and the passing of time. Mozart’s Linz Symphony is at once joyous and contemplative.
Giancarlo Guerrero
Anne Akiko Meyers
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
Jian Wang
Louise Alder
Konstantin Krimmel
November
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
5 THU B | B1 7:30
6 FRI A | A2 1:30
7 SAT C | C2 7:30
8 SUN A | A1 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Marek Janowski conductor
Mao Fujita piano
WAGNER Prelude to Parsifal
R. STRAUSS Burlesque
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5
Rising pianist Mao Fujita has made Strauss’ Burlesque a calling card, playing it “with the maturity of someone twice his age” (Bachtrack). Framing his performance are Wagner’s radiant Parsifal prelude and Beethoven’s iconic Fifth Symphony.
Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman
19 THU C | C2 7:30
20 FRI B | B2 7:30
21 SAT A | A1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jaap van Zweden conductor
Vadim Gluzman violin
WOLFE Liberty Bell
PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 2
RACHMANINOV Symphony No. 2
Be swept away by yearning passion, nostalgia and soaring climaxes. Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony draws you from one movement into the next, and Chicago favorite Vadim Gluzman takes on Prokofiev’s kaleidoscopic Second Violin Concerto.
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Andrew Bird & the CSO
13 FRI 7:30
14 SAT 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Bird violin and vocals
Jacomo Bairos conductor
Grammy-nominated violinist, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Andrew Bird makes his CSO debut with his acclaimed record The Mysterious Production of Eggs Featuring a full album performance with orchestral arrangements, the concert caps off with a suite of fanfavorite tunes from his near 30-year repertoire.
Mao Fujita
Marek Janowski
Jaap van Zweden
Vadim Gluzman
December
Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8
3 THU A | A2 7:30
4 FRI B | B1 7:30
5 SAT C | C2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
William Welter oboe
BARTÓK Two Pictures
R. STRAUSS Oboe Concerto
DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 8
Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti leads Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony — a tribute to the landscapes and folk dances of the composer’s native Bohemia.
Principal Oboe William Welter is the soloist in Strauss’ autumnal Oboe Concerto.
Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman
10 THU B | B2 7:30
11 FRI A | A1 1:30
12 SAT B | B2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
Yefim Bronfman piano
CHERUBINI Overture in G Major
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24
STRAUSS FAMILY Selections from overtures, waltzes and polkas
Nothing beats the December chill like a musical trip to old Vienna. Dance numbers by Johann Strauss Jr. and family are paired with Mozart’s graceful piano concerto, with the acclaimed Yefim Bronfman as soloist.
Handel’s Messiah
17 THU C | C1 7:30
18 FRI A | A2 1:30
19 SAT C | C1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Masaaki Suzuki conductor
Sherezade Panthaki soprano
Hugh Cutting countertenor
Andrew Haji tenor
Paul Max Tipton bass-baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
HANDEL Messiah
Filled with uplifting messages and intimate storytelling, Handel’s oratorio never fails to inspire. A stellar cast of soloists and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus are conducted by Baroque music authority Masaaki Suzuki.
Riccardo Muti
William Welter
Masaaki Suzuki
Yefim Bronfman
Chicago Symphony Chorus
February
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
4 THU A | A2 7:30
5 FRI WHEATON A 7:30
Edman Memorial Chapel
6 SAT C | C1 7:30
7 SUN A | A2 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Dima Slobodeniouk conductor
Beatrice Rana piano
BEETHOVEN Leonore Overture No. 3
TCHAIKOVSKY Piano Concerto No. 1
NIELSEN Symphony No. 4 (The Inextinguishable)
Tchaikovsky’s explosive concerto with Beatrice Rana, one of “the finest pianists out there” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), anchors a program steeped in heroic struggle — from Beethoven’s meditation on freedom to Nielsen’s wartime vision of “everything that moves, that desires life.”
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
11 THU C | C1 7:30
12 FRI A | A2 1:30
13 SAT A | A2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Fabien Gabel conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
MUSSORGSKY (orch. Rimsky-Korsakov)
Prelude to Khovanshchina
KHACHATURIAN Piano Concerto
ZEMLINSKY The Mermaid
2026/27 CSO Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet takes on Khachaturian’s concerto, a beguiling, colorful blend of Russian Romanticism and Armenian folk music. Mussorgsky’s portrait of a Moscow sunrise and Zemlinsky’s luscious retelling of a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale frame the program.
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
19 FRI A | A1 1:30
20 SAT C | C2 7:30
21 SUN A | A1 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Karina Canellakis conductor
Randall Goosby violin
BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont
MOZART Violin Concerto No. 3
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 15
While in a hospital bed, Shostakovich embarked on his final symphony and filled it with memories from his profound musical life. Mozart’s effervescent concerto is a calling card for the engaging Randall Goosby.
Beatrice Rana
Fabien Gabel
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Karina Canellakis
Randall Goosby
Honeck Conducts
Bates & Mahler 1
25 THU B | B2 7:30
26 FRI A | A2 1:30
27 SAT A | A2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck conductor
BATES The Escapist Symphony world premiere, cso commission
MAHLER Symphony No. 1
Come along on two heroic journeys. The world premiere of The Escapist Symphony by Mason Bates draws on his opera The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, inspired by an anti-fascist superhero tale. Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony follows, charting a path from nature’s awakening to a storm-tossed finale.
March
Bicket, Weiss & Bach
4 THU A | A1 7:30
5 FRI B | B2 7:30
6 SAT B | B1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Harry Bicket conductor
Orion Weiss piano
MOZART Serenata notturna
BACH Keyboard Concerto No. 1
BACH Keyboard Concerto No. 3
PÄRT Summa
PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 1 (Classical)
Orion Weiss is the soloist in two of Bach’s most celebrated concertos in this era-spanning program that also features gems by Mozart and Pärt, plus Prokofiev’s affectionate parody.
Manfred Honeck
Harry Bicket
Orion Weiss
March
Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn
11 THU C | C2 7:30
12 FRI A | A1 1:30
13 SAT A | A1 7:30
14 SUN A | A2 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Maxim Emelyanychev conductor
Isabelle Faust violin
MENDELSSOHN-HENSEL Overture in C Major
MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 5 (Reformation)
BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto
Vast and noble, Beethoven’s revolutionary concerto is a perfect vehicle for the insights and golden sound of Isabelle Faust. Felix Mendelssohn’s symphony features a stately fantasy on a chorale by Martin Luther, and the first CSO performance of an overture by Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel reveals her distinct musical voice and command of form.
A Little Night Music
18 THU A | A2 7:30
19 FRI WHEATON A 7:30
Edman Memorial Chapel
20 SAT C | C1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
James Gaffigan conductor
Alisa Weilerstein cello
PROKOFIEV Symphony-Concerto
MOZART Eine kleine Nachtmusik
SCHUMANN Symphony No. 4
Prokofiev’s concerto is a speciality of Alisa Weilerstein, who captures its visceral joy and sardonic humor. Robert Schumann’s Fourth Symphony is a fervent memento of his happy marriage. Eine kleine Nachtmusik reveals Mozart at his most charming.
Maxim Emelyanychev
Isabelle Faust
James Gaffigan
Alisa Weilerstein
March
Lang Lang Plays the Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor Lang Lang piano
Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4
24 WED 7:30
BEETHOVEN Overture to Fidelio
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
One of classical music’s most celebrated ambassadors, Lang Lang kicks off this thrilling trio of programs with the First Piano Concerto — the daring twists of which pushed the limits of Classical convention — and the searching and sublime Fourth Piano Concerto.
Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3
26 FRI 1:30
BEETHOVEN Consecration of the House Overture
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3
The second installment treats listeners to the delightfully droll Second Piano Concerto, which Beethoven wrote for his public debut concert in Vienna, and the stormy and rapturous Third, with its nods to revolutionary-era marches.
Beethoven Emperor Concerto
27 SAT 7:30
BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor)
Lang Lang, Paavo Järvi and the CSO conclude their Beethoven cycle with the Emperor Concerto, considered one of the greatest piano concertos ever written. The Orchestra shines in Beethoven’s irrepressible Fourth Symphony.
Hear all five Beethoven piano concertos with the LANG LANG package to enjoy the best savings and seating priority.
See page 23 for details.
* Tickets to priority access concerts are currently only available to subscribers. PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERTS*
April
Jordan, Hadelich & Tchaikovsky 4
2 FRI B | B1 7:30
3 SAT B | B2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Philippe Jordan conductor
Augustin Hadelich violin
WAGNER Overture to Rienzi
KORNGOLD Violin Concerto
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4
Following his spellbinding appearance last season, Augustin Hadelich returns for Korngold’s Violin Concerto paired with Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, which swings from dark despair to exuberant triumph.
Muti Conducts Rossini
8 THU C | C2 7:30
9 FRI B | B2 7:30
10 SAT A | A1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti conductor
Eleonora Buratto soprano
Elizabeth DeShong mezzo-soprano
Giovanni Sala tenor
Maharram Huseynov bass-baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
ROSSINI Overture to William Tell
ROSSINI Ballet Music from William Tell
ROSSINI Stabat mater
A specialty of Riccardo Muti, Rossini’s Stabat mater fuses operatic drama with devotional majesty. Music from William Tell opens the program, including the overture whose whirlwind finale has raced from the opera house to TV, movies and pop culture.
Philippe Jordan
Augustin Hadelich
Riccardo Muti
May
Hrůša Conducts
Shostakovich 7
15 THU A | A1 7:30
16 FRI B | B1 7:30
17 SAT C | C2 7:30
18 SUN A | A2 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Jakub Hrůša conductor
SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 7 (Leningrad)
Composed during the siege of Leningrad in World War II, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony captures the spirit of resistance with raw immediacy. Named 2026 Conductor of the Year by Musical America, Jakub Hrůša leads a powerful performance of this landmark work.
Glover, Chen & the CSO
22 THU B | B1 7:30
23 FRI A | A2 1:30
24 SAT A | A2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Dame Jane Glover conductor Robert Chen violin
ABELS More Seasons
R. STRAUSS Violin Concerto
RAVEL Le tombeau de Couperin
HAYDN Symphony No. 83 (The Hen)
Join Dame Jane Glover and the CSO for Haydn’s playful The Hen Symphony and Michael Abels’ witty take on Vivaldi. Also enjoy Richard Strauss’ mercurial concerto, here featuring Concertmaster Robert Chen, and Ravel’s tender dance suite.
Honeck Conducts Mahler & Bruckner 9
6 THU A | A1 7:30
7 FRI A | A1 1:30
8 SAT A | A1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck conductor
Marianne Crebassa mezzo-soprano
MAHLER Songs from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
BRUCKNER Symphony No. 9
Bruckner’s final symphony creates a world of serenity and soaring majesty. Manfred Honeck guides us through this masterpiece along with Mahler’s bittersweet song cycle featuring mezzo-soprano Marianne Crebassa.
Robert Chen
Dame Jane Glover
Jakub Hrůša
Marianne Crebassa
May
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
13 THU C | C1 7:30
15 SAT B | B1 7:30
16 SUN A | A1 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Lisa Batiashvili violin
LINDBERG New Work
united states premiere, cso co-commission
LINDBERG Violin Concerto No. 1
SIBELIUS Symphony No. 1
Klaus Mäkelä surveys music of his native Finland with works by Magnus Lindberg: a CSO co-commission, followed by his First Violin Concerto, played by Lisa Batiashvili.
An exuberant Sibelius symphony concludes the program.
Tan Dun: Water Concerto & Marco Polo
20 THU B | B2 7:30
21 FRI A | A2 1:30
22 SAT C | C1 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Tan Dun conductor
Yuri Yamashita percussion
TAN DUN Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds
TAN DUN Water Concerto
TAN DUN Concerto for Orchestra from Marco Polo
Explore the kaleidoscopic musical world of Tan Dun, who leads the CSO in three of his inventive works that make use of everything from ancient relics to water and recorded bird songs.
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Yunchan Lim
27 THU C | C1 7:30
28 FRI A | A1 1:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Esa-Pekka Salonen conductor
Yunchan Lim piano
SALONEN Tiu (Revised Version)
united states premiere
LISZT Piano Concerto No. 2
BERLIOZ Selections from Romeo and Juliet
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT*
Pianist Yunchan Lim shows why he’s among today’s most thrilling Liszt interpreters in a program that also features
Esa-Pekka Salonen conducting his own music and orchestral selections from Berlioz’s passionate Romeo and Juliet
*Tickets to priority access concerts are currently only available to subscribers.
Lisa Batiashvili
Tan Dun
Yuri Yamashita
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Yunchan Lim
June
Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
3 THU B | B1 7:30
4 FRI A | A2 1:30
5 SAT B | B2 7:30
6 SUN A | A1 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Kazuki Yamada conductor
Lucas Jussen piano
Arthur Jussen piano
GLASS The Light
POULENC Concerto for Two Pianos
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 2
Poulenc’s imaginative Double Concerto is animated by Dutch brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen. Also discover a wondrous score by Glass and Tchaikovsky’s symphony built on Ukrainian folk tunes.
Rachmaninov Piano
Concerto No. 2
10 THU C | C2 7:30
11 FRI A | A1 1:30
12 SAT C | C2 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sir Mark Elder conductor
Benjamin Grosvenor piano
RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2
ELGAR Symphony No. 1
British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor embraces both the romance and the danger of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto. This sets the stage for Elgar’s most passionate work: his First Symphony.
Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
17 THU A | A2 7:30
18 FRI B | B2 7:30
19 SAT A | A2 7:30
20 SUN A | A2 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Chen Reiss soprano
Sasha Cooke mezzo-soprano
Siyabonga Maqungo tenor
Gerald Finley bass-baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
BEETHOVEN Elegy
BOULEZ Le soleil des eaux
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9
Two hundred years ago, Beethoven shook the world with his final symphony, and especially its Ode to Joy finale.
Klaus Mäkelä pairs this monumental work with Beethoven’s poignant Elegy and Boulez’s iridescent cantata.
Lucas & Arthur Jussen
Kazuki Yamada
Sir Mark Elder
Benjamin Grosvenor
Klaus Mäkelä
Donald Palumbo
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Thursdays at 7:30
A 10-Concert Package
Includes A1+A2
Klaus Mäkelä bookends this kaleidoscopic series with robust symphonies by Sibelius, Shostakovich and Beethoven. Also on the lineup are Romantic masterworks by Bruckner, Dvořák and Elgar; dazzling concertos, and a soaring choral landmark.
B 8-Concert Package
Includes B1+B2
Plan a perfect night on the town with this eightconcert lineup of cherished favorites, lesser-known gems and bold premieres. Hear symphonies by Haydn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Dvořák and Mahler; a lavish cantata by Walton, and Tan Dun’s trailblazing music.
C 10-Concert Package
Includes C1+C2
Timeless tales of good against evil and of victory over darkness course through the concerts on this series. Hear sumptuous pieces by Berlioz, Rossini, Tchaikovsky and Zemlinsky, plus spiritual works by Handel and Mendelssohn.
10/15 A2 Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations 12/3 A2 Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8 2/4 A2 Rana Plays Tchaikovsky 3/18 A2 A Little Night Music 6/17 A2 Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
B1-2 4-Concert Selection
10/8 B1 Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast 11/5 B1 Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita 4/22 B1 Glover, Chen & the CSO 6/3 B1 Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
9/17 B2 Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn 12/10 B2 Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman 2/25 B2 Honeck Conducts Bates & Mahler 1 5/20 B2 Tan Dun: Water Concerto & Marco Polo
10/1 C2 Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9 11/19 C2 Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman 3/11 C2 Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn 4/8 C2 Muti Conducts Rossini 6/10 C2 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
Fridays at 1:30
A 18-Concert Package
Includes A1+A2
This flagship series offers a marvelously varied portrait of the CSO. Across 18 afternoons in Orchestra Hall, delve into symphonic masterworks from Beethoven to Shostakovich, hear today’s top soloists, and savor inspiring choral music from Brahms and Handel.
GREATEST SAVINGS: 18-concert FRI A package
Fridays at 7:30
B 8-Concert Package
Includes B1+B2
Sample the best of the season’s offerings with this eight-concert series. Enjoy several iconic symphonies, immerse yourself in soulful Russian masterworks, and experience the vocal splendor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.
WHEATON A 3-Concert Package
Spend your Friday nights with music by Tchaikovsky, Schumann and Nielsen, as well as top soloists including Beatrice Rana and Alisa Weilerstein.
4/9 B2 Muti Conducts Rossini 6/18 B2 Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
CSO at Wheaton — Edman Memorial Chapel
10/23 Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto 2/5 Rana Plays Tchaikovsky 3/19 A Little Night Music
Chen Reiss Sasha Cooke
Siyabonga Maqungo Gerald Finley
Saturdays at 7:30
A 10-Concert Package
Includes A1+A2
Recommended for aficionados and newcomers alike, this 10-concert series spotlights deeply rewarding symphonies from Haydn to Shostakovich. Immerse yourself in great musical storytelling by Tchaikovsky, Zemlinsky and Mason Bates, and savor the passion and spirituality of Rossini.
B 8-Concert Package
Includes B1+B2
Gather with friends or your special someone in Orchestra Hall for eight nights of enthralling music. Hear sweeping works by Elgar, Dvořák, Tchaikovsky and Korngold, and experience music based on the Spanish fandango and the Viennese waltz.
C 10-Concert Package
Includes C1+C2
Leading soloists of our day perform some of the most thrilling and demanding concertos in this 10-concert collection. Immerse yourself in works by Rachmaninov, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev and Richard Strauss.
A1-2 5-Concert Selection
9/26 A1 Mäkelä Conducts Sibelius & Shostakovich 11/21 A1 Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman
3/13 A1 Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn 4/10 A1 Muti Conducts Rossini 5/8 A1 Honeck Conducts Mahler & Bruckner 9
10/24 A2 Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto 2/13 A2 Thibaudet & The Mermaid 2/27 A2 Honeck Conducts Bates & Mahler 1 4/24 A2 Glover, Chen & the CSO 6/19 A2 Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
B1-2 4-Concert Selection
9/19 B1 Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn
10/31 B1 Brahms Requiem
3/6 B1 Bicket, Weiss & Bach
5/15 B1 Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
10/17 B2 Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations 12/12 B2 Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman 4/3 B2 Jordan, Hadelich & Tchaikovsky 4 6/5 B2 Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
C1-2 5-Concert Selection
10/3 C1 Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9
12/19 C1 Handel’s Messiah
2/6 C1 Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
3/20 C1 A Little Night Music
5/22 C1 Tan Dun: Water Concerto & Marco Polo
11/7 C2 Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita 12/5 C2 Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8
A Sunday series is the perfect way to end your busy weekend. Immerse yourself in rich, timeless favorites by Beethoven, Mahler and Tchaikovsky, as well as infrequently heard gems by Elgar, Nielsen and Glass.
A1-2 5-Concert
Selection
10/4 A1 Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9 11/8 A1 Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita 2/21 A1 Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby 5/16 A1 Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1 6/6 A1 Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
10/25 A2 Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto 2/7 A2 Rana Plays Tchaikovsky 3/14 A2 Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn 4/18 A2 Hrůša Conducts Shostakovich 7 6/20 A2 Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
Priority Access Package
LANG LANG 3-Concert Package
Follow Beethoven’s evolution at the keyboard as superstar pianist Lang Lang performs all five piano concertos with the CSO across three special concerts, from youthful brilliance to the commanding Emperor.
Lang Lang Plays the Complete Beethoven Concertos
3/24 Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4 3/26 Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3 3/27 Beethoven Emperor Concerto
Curated Package Prices
Beethoven: The Eternal Original
Two hundred years later, musicians and audiences still marvel at the brilliance, power and depth of Beethoven’s music. From the combined forces of orchestra and chorus to the intimacy of a sonata, every form he touched was transformed — synthesizing all that came before and shaping everything that followed.
This season, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra explores Beethoven’s enduring impact through performances of his iconic overtures, Symphonies Nos. 4 and 5 and the monumental Ninth Symphony with the Chicago Symphony Chorus. Lang Lang leads three special evenings devoted to the complete piano concertos, and recital programs highlight remarkable works for piano and violin with today’s most revered interpreters.
Rediscover what makes Beethoven the eternal original. Visit cso.org/Beethoven for more details.
“ Beethoven broke all the rules, and turned out pieces of breathtaking rightness.”
LEONARD BERNSTEIN
NOV 1 PIANO
Bruce Liu
NOV 5-8 ORCHESTRAL
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
NOV 22 CHAMBER MUSIC
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
JAN 10 PIANO
Rudolf Buchbinder
FEB 4-7 ORCHESTRAL
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
FEB 19-21 ORCHESTRAL
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
MAR 11-14 ORCHESTRAL
Beethoven Violin
Concerto & Mendelssohn
MAR 21 PIANO
Leif Ove Andsnes
MAR 24-27 ORCHESTRAL
Lang Lang Plays the Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos*
APR 25 PIANO
Evgeny Kissin
MAY 18 CHAMBER MUSIC
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
JUNE 17-20 ORCHESTRAL
Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9*
*Priority Access Concert. Tickets are currently only available to subscribers.
Save 15% when you create your own subscription of three or more programs.
Classic Encounter with Terri Hemmert
Thursdays at 6:15
Music. Conversation. A fresh perspective.
Start your evening at Symphony Center with an interactive multimedia discussion between Chicago’s favorite radio DJ, WXRT’s Terri Hemmert, and a CSO musician. From the Beatles to Brahms, discover how classical music continues to shape the sounds we know and love. Enjoy four evenings of Classic Encounter — the perfect pairing with your CSO Classical concerts.
Tickets include dessert and a glass of wine or non-alcoholic beverage.
OCT 29 ORCHESTRAL
Brahms Requiem
FEB 25 ORCHESTRAL
Honeck Conducts
Bates & Mahler 1
MAR 18 ORCHESTRAL
A Little Night Music
MAY 13 ORCHESTRAL
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
2026/27 CSO Artist-in-Residence
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Elegance. Brilliance. Imagination.
Thibaudet brings his distinctive blend of virtuosity and vision to the role of CSO Artist-in-Residence, offering performances that showcase his remarkable range and expressive power.
OCT 18 CHAMBER MUSIC
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
FEB 11-13 ORCHESTRAL
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
MAY 24 ORCHESTRAL
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
CSO at the Movies
Discover where film’s greatest moments come alive — from the thrill of a dragon in flight to the rush of a new romance — as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performs each legendary score live. Relive the stories you love, now elevated by the power of this world-class orchestra. Your escape starts here.
November
How to Train Your Dragon 2
27 FRI 7:30 MOVIES A
28 SAT 7:30
29 SUN 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Nicholas Buc conductor
When Hiccup and Toothless discover a secret ice cave with wild dragons and a mysterious Dragon Rider, they find themselves in an epic battle to save the future of man and dragons! Experience the spectacular sequel presented in HD, with John Powell’s score performed live to picture by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Buddy the elf travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. Now experience this holiday adventure and John Debney’s delightful score live with members of the CSO.
January
West Side Story
29 FRI 7:30 MOVIES A
30 SAT 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
David Newman conductor
Watch this iconic film, winner of ten Academy Awards® , including Best Picture. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays Leonard Bernstein’s electrifying score live, while the original, remastered film is shown in glorious high definition on the big screen with the vocals and dialogue intact.
June Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
25 FRI 7:30 MOVIES A
26 SAT 7:30
27 SUN 3:00
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Sarah Hicks conductor
After the destruction of the Death Star, Darth Vader pursues Luke Skywalker, who is studying the ways of the Force with Jedi Master Yoda. Enter the Star Wars universe with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert, featuring John Williams’ Grammywinning score live to the film.
& ™ Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Presentation Licensed by Disney Concerts in association with Warner/Chappell Music.
Two ways to subscribe and save Create Your Own Subscription
Select three or more movies — or mix and match performances from across the season — to create a subscription that’s uniquely yours. Pick your dates, choose your seats, and save 15%.
Curated Package Prices: Fridays at 7:30
MOVIES
A 3-Concert Package
Watch Hollywood classics on the big screen as the CSO performs the scores live. Journey through more than 50 years of cinema, from West Side Story and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back to How To Train Your Dragon 2.
11/27 How to Train Your Dragon 2
1/29 West Side Story
6/25 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Subscription orders are subject to a $25 fee.
CSO for Kids
One meaningful moment can spark a lifelong love of classical music. Invite the young people in your life to discover that magic through concerts designed for kids ages 3-12, where theater, storytelling and multimedia come together to create long-lasting musical memories for the whole family.
Once Upon a Symphony®
Perfect for ages 3-5 Saturdays at 10:00 & 11:45 Buntrock Hall at Symphony Center
Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre Guarantee your tickets before they
Stone Soup
DEC 5 | JAN 30 | FEB 13
A hungry traveler finds a way to persuade the townspeople to share their food with him. In this musical adaptation of the classic tale, learn how the act of sharing fosters joy and celebration.
The Elves and the Shoemaker
MAR 20 | APR 10 | APR 24
A poor shoemaker and his wife receive magical help from elves who secretly finish their shoes during the night. Discover this fable about the joy that comes from giving — and receiving — kindness and generosity.
Once Upon a Symphony Package Prices
Subscription
Family Matinees
Perfect for ages 5-12
Saturdays at 11:00 FAMILY AM & 12:45 FAMILY PM Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center
Symphonic Superheroes
NOV 21
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Alastair Willis conductor
Move over Superman, Wonder Woman and other caped crusaders! In this captivating program, you’ll discover the superhero qualities of a symphony orchestra.
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
MAR 6
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conductor
Benjamin Britten’s piece is the ultimate introduction to the instruments of an orchestra. Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads the CSO in this iconic and delightful score.
Einstein’s Imagination
MAY 15
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Tania Miller conductor
Discover the imaginative world of Albert Einstein and find out how the principles of physics determine a musical performance. Conductor Tania Miller leads members of the CSO in this vibrant, thought-provoking program.
Family Matinees Curated Package Prices
FAMILY AM | PM 3-Concert Package
A joyful trio of concerts that spark curiosity, creativity and wonder — perfect for making shared musical memories.
11/21 Symphonic Superheroes
3/6 The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra 5/15 Einstein’s Imagination
Subscription orders are subject to a $25 fee.
Alastair Willis
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
Tania Miller
Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music
Step into the intimate world of chamber music, where every note has the power to become a defining moment. This season brings together the world’s most compelling artists in programs that explore the full spectrum of expression — from heartfelt dialogues between instruments to subtle gestures imbued with meaning.
October
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
18 SUN SCP CHAMBER A 3:00
Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
Lisa Batiashvili violin
Gautier Capuçon cello
SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Trio No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 8
DEBUSSY Piano Trio in G Major
DVOŘÁK Piano Trio in F Minor, Op. 65
CSO Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet and stars
Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon explore youthful works by Debussy and Shostakovich paired with Dvořák’s richly dramatic Trio in F Minor.
November
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
22 SUN SCP CHAMBER A 3:00
Nemanja Radulović violin Double Sens
BEETHOVEN (arr. Radulović) Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major, Op. 47 (Kreutzer)
BACH Chaconne from Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004
BACH Concerto for Violin in D Minor, BWV 1052R
Sparks fly when Serbian-French violinist Nemanja Radulović leads his chamber orchestra, Double Sens, in this beguiling program of Bach and Beethoven.
Lisa Batiashvili
Gautier Capuçon
Nemanja Radulović
May
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
18 TUE SCP CHAMBER A 7:30
Evgeny Kissin piano
Maxim Vengerov violin Gautier Capuçon cello
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 1, No. 3
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1 (Ghost)
BEETHOVEN Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 97 (Archduke)
Three of today’s most celebrated musicians — piano legend Evgeny Kissin, violin icon Maxim Vengerov and cello virtuoso Gautier Capuçon — explore how Beethoven revolutionized the once-humble piano trio with newfound passion and expressivity.
Curated Package Prices:
Tuesday at 7:30, Sundays at 3:00
SCP CHAMBER A 3-Concert Selection
This three-concert package showcases chamber music’s full expressive range, featuring legendary collaborators — including the 2026/27 CSO Artist-in-Residence — and bold reinterpretations of classical masterpieces.
10/18 Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
11/22 Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
5/18 Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
Subscription orders are subject to a $25 fee.
Nemanja Radulović and Double Sens
Evgeny Kissin
Maxim Vengerov
Symphony Center Presents Piano
Witness the pivotal moments that unfold when today’s leading pianists take the stage — moments of daring imagination, poetic nuance and sheer technical command. From visionary sonatas to daring new interpretations, each program offers a rare chance to experience the piano’s artistry at its most immediate and alive.
November
Bruce Liu
1 SUN SCP PIANO A | A1 3:00
LIGETI Fanfares from Etudes, Book I
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight)
CHOPIN Two Nocturnes, Op. 27
RAVEL Alborada del gracioso from Miroirs
DEBUSSY Rêverie
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 (Waldstein) MOMPOU Glossa sobre Au clair de la lune
ALBÉNIZ El puerto from Iberia, Book I LISZT Rhapsodie espagnole
Ever since his meteoric rise at the 2021 International Chopin Competition, Bruce Liu has roused audiences with performances that balance breathtaking power and poetic refinement. Don’t miss his spellbinding return to Chicago.
December
Lukas Sternath
6 SUN SCP PIANO A | A2 3:00
SCHUBERT (trans. Liszt) Selected Songs
SCHUBERT Wanderer Fantasy
LISZT Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année, Italie
Lukas Sternath is the new sound of Vienna, making his eagerly awaited U.S. and North American debut at Symphony Center with Schubert’s formidable Wanderer Fantasy and Liszt’s evocative renderings of Italian art and poetry.
Bruce Liu
Lukas Sternath
January
Rudolf Buchbinder
10 SUN SCP PIANO A | A1 3:00
MOZART Variations on Ah vous dirai-je, maman, K. 265
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata)
SCHUBERT Sonata in B-flat Major, D. 960
The eminent Austrian pianist returns to Chicago with music that is especially close to his heart: Beethoven’s emotionally charged Appassionata Sonata, framed by Mozart’s jewel-like variations and Schubert’s final, visionary sonata.
Mitsuko Uchida
31 SUN SCP PIANO A | A2 3:00
HAYDN Variations in F Minor
SCHOENBERG Six Little Piano Pieces
MOZART Rondo in A Minor, K. 511
KURTÁG Márta ligatúrája
SCHUBERT Piano Sonata in A Major, D. 959
One of the world’s great pianistic storytellers, Mitsuko Uchida is a longtime favorite of Chicago audiences. For her first Symphony Center solo piano recital since 2018, she brings her peerless insights to Schubert’s A Major Sonata.
March
Leif Ove Andsnes
21 SUN SCP PIANO A | A1 3:00
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 30 in E Major, Op. 109
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 32 in C Minor, Op. 111
Each of Beethoven’s final piano sonatas takes the instrument into uncharted new realms, so when Leif Ove Andsnes takes on all three, it’s truly an event.
April
Yuja Wang
11 SUN SCP PIANO A | A1 3:00
One of classical music’s reigning superstars, Yuja Wang is a versatile and inquisitive pianist. Never content with the safe or predictable, she backs up her blazing virtuosity with bold programming choices.
Rudolf Buchbinder
Leif Ove Andsnes
Yuja Wang
Mitsuko Uchida
April
Evgeny Kissin
25 SUN SCP PIANO A | A2 3:00
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 1 in F Minor, Op. 2, No. 1
BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1 (Quasi una fantasia)
BEETHOVEN Diabelli Variations
Get ready as Evgeny Kissin, one of the world’s most electrifying pianists, returns with a program of seminal works by Beethoven. Hear the mighty Diabelli Variations, along with two of the composer’s early sonatas.
May
Piotr Anderszewski
9 SUN SCP PIANO A | A2 3:00
BRAHMS Twelve Selections from Opp. 116-119
SCHUBERT Sonata in C Minor, D. 958
Piotr Anderszewski’s interpretations may challenge your expectations, but they’ll never leave you unmoved. Discover the affinities between Brahms and Schubert in this program.
Curated Package Prices: Sundays at 3:00
SCP PIANO A 8-Concert Package Includes A1+A2
Eight of today’s most extraordinary pianists are featured on this series. Rising stars and distinguished veterans offer an assortment of keyboard works, including two all-Beethoven recitals and programs spanning Haydn, Mozart, Liszt and Ravel.
A1-2 4-Concert Selection
11/1 A1 Bruce Liu
1/10 A1 Rudolf Buchbinder
3/21 A1 Leif Ove Andsnes 4/11 A1 Yuja Wang
12/6 A2 Lukas Sternath 1/31 A2 Mitsuko Uchida
4/25 A2 Evgeny Kissin
5/9 A2 Piotr Anderszewski
Subscription orders are subject to a $25 fee.
Evgeny Kissin
Piotr Anderszewski
Symphony Center Presents Jazz
Experience jazz as it was meant to be heard: alive, spontaneous and created in the moment. This season brings together legendary artists and rising voices in performances filled with connection, discovery and the thrill of the unexpected. From intimate musical conversations to electrifying collective energy, each concert offers something unrepeatable.
October
Freedom Riders with special guests Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
2 FRI SCP JAZZ A | A2 8:00
Freedom Riders
Sarah Elizabeth Charles vocals
Alfredo Colón alto saxophone
Tomoki Sanders tenor saxophone
Milena Casado trumpet
Carmen Staaf piano
Ben Williams bass
Makaya McCraven drums
Sasha Berliner vibraphone
Kurt Elling vocals
Lizz Wright vocals
This groundbreaking international jazz collective continues in the tradition of providing a soundtrack to the global civil rights movement.
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
16 FRI SCP JAZZ A | A1 8:00
Branford Marsalis saxophones
Dianne Reeves vocals
The Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves celebrate John Coltrane’s centennial with a one-of-a-kind program that highlights selections from their upcoming album revisiting Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman.
Branford Marsalis
Kurt Elling
Dianne Reeves
Lizz Wright
February
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
5 FRI SCP JAZZ A | A1 8:00
Jeff Parker guitar
Josh Johnson alto saxophone
Paul Bryan bass
Makaya McCraven drums
Isaiah Collier saxophones
Guitarist Jeff Parker and saxophonist Isaiah Collier embody the modern Chicago sound — music shaped by rhythm, risk and a fearless tradition of innovation.
John Scofield & Dave Holland
19 FRI SCP JAZZ A | A2 8:00
John Scofield guitar
Dave Holland bass
Performing as a duo, John Scofield and Dave Holland bring their infinite talent to a program featuring original compositions and a selection of jazz standards.
March
Stanley Clarke & Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet
19 FRI SCP JAZZ A | A1 8:00
Stanley Clarke bass
Hiromi piano and keyboards
PUBLIQuartet
Stanley Clarke and Hiromi pay tribute to their friend, the visionary pianist and composer Chick Corea, performing Corea’s works and original pieces inspired by his boundless creativity.
April
Jazz at Lincoln Center
Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
20 TUE SCP JAZZ A | A2 8:00
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Wynton Marsalis trumpet and artistic director
Wynton Marsalis leads his final season as music director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, concluding a transformative tenure that elevated jazz nationwide.
Jeff Parker
Isaiah Collier
John Scofield
Dave Holland
Wynton Marsalis
May
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit
14 FRI SCP JAZZ A|A2 8:00
Joel Ross vibraphone
The Vibraphone Summit
Warren Wolf vibraphone
Joe Locke vibraphone
Stefon Harris vibraphone
Chien Chien Lu vibraphone
A century after its Chicago debut, the vibraphone’s legacy reverberates at Symphony Center with Joel Ross: Good Vibes and a starstudded Vibraphone Summit led by Warren Wolf.
Curated Package Prices:
June
Chucho Valdés with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
4 FRI SCP JAZZ A|A1 8:00 Chucho Valdés piano
Joe Lovano tenor saxophone Etienne Charles trumpet
Celebrate the 85th birthday and remarkable 60-year career of Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés.
Tuesday and Fridays at 8:00
SCP JAZZ A 8-Concert Package Includes A1+A2
Guarantee your seats for a stage where history breathes, bold ideas take shape in real time and icons stand alongside artists reshaping the future of jazz.
A1-2 4-Concert Package
10/16 A1 Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
2/5 A1 Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
3/19 A1 Stanley Clarke & Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet
6/4 A1 Chucho Valdés with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
10/2 A2 Freedom Riders with special guests Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
2/19 A2 John Scofield & Dave Holland
4/20 A2 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
5/14 A2 Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit
Subscription orders are subject to a $25 fee.
Featured Concerts & Events
Add any concert to your subscription and save 15%
October
Symphony Ball with Klaus Mäkelä
10 SAT 6:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Klaus Mäkelä conductor
Thomas Hampson baritone
Chicago Symphony Chorus
Donald Palumbo chorus director
STRAVINSKY Petrushka
WALTON Belshazzar’s Feast
Celebrate the 2026/27 Season in grand fashion, with a voyage to the opulent Babylon of Walton’s dramatic cantata, Belshazzar’s Feast. The musical celebration begins with Stravinsky’s dazzling tale of puppets springing to life.
See page 8 for details.
November
Yo-Yo Ma & the CSO
11 WED 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Carlos Miguel Prieto conductor
Yo-Yo Ma cello
GINASTERA Four Dances from Estancia
SHOSTAKOVICH Cello Concerto No. 1
RACHMANINOV Symphonic Dances
For all the rich dimensions of Yo-Yo Ma’s storied career, Shostakovich’s concerto holds a special place. Experience the work’s searing emotional canvas, along with Rachmaninov’s plush and glittering dance suite.
Klaus Mäkelä
Thomas Hampson
Yo-Yo Ma
Andrew Bird & the CSO
13 FRI 7:30
14 SAT 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andrew Bird violin and vocals
Jacomo Bairos conductor
Grammy-nominated violinist, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist Andrew Bird makes his CSO debut with his acclaimed record The Mysterious Production of Eggs Featuring a full album performance with orchestral arrangements, the concert caps off with a suite of fan-favorite tunes from his near 30-year repertoire
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
28 SAT 1:30
Christmas in Vienna spotlights the illustrious Vienna Boys Choir in Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs and holiday carols.
December
A Chanticleer Christmas
8 TUE 7:30
It wouldn’t be the holidays without Chanticleer at Symphony Center. The multiple Grammy Award-winning men’s chorus presents an evening of timeless carols, popular Christmas songs and festive spirituals.
Elf in Concert
11 FRI 7:30
12 SAT 1:30 13 SUN 3:00
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Justin Freer conductor
Buddy the elf travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. Now experience this holiday adventure and John Debney’s delightful score live with members of the CSO.
Celebrated worldwide for its brilliance, finesse and gleaming power, the CSO brass section offers a showcase of sparkling arrangements and original works for brass.
Vienna Boys Choir
Chanticleer
Michael Mulcahy
February
Pink Martini
12 FRI 8:00
Storm Large vocals
December
Merry, Merry Chicago!
18 FRI 7:30
19 SAT 1:00
20 SUN 1:00 & 4:30
21 MON 7:30
22 TUE 7:30
23 WED 1:00
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Thomas Wilkins conductor Mandy Gonzalez vocals
Thomas Wilkins leads members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Broadway favorite Mandy Gonzalez in beloved carols, seasonal songs and festive surprises — all in the lavishly decorated Orchestra Hall.
Pink Martini returns with its joyously freewheeling blend of classic pop, big band and Latin music. Joined by powerhouse vocalist Storm Large, the 12-member ensemble captivates listeners with its multilingual array of French, Cuban and Brazilian styles, as well as symphonic music, lounge-y ballads and old Hollywood glamour.
Kodo One Earth Tour 2027: Luminance
28 SUN 3:00
Kodo returns with electrifying taiko drumming in Luminance, honoring Japanese composer Maki Ishii’s Monochrome and featuring new works inspired by the ensemble’s global journeys.
Thomas Wilkins
Pink Martini Kodo
Mandy Gonzalez
March
Lang Lang Plays the Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Lang Lang piano
Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4
24 WED 7:30
BEETHOVEN Overture to Fidelio
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERTS*
One of classical music’s most celebrated ambassadors, Lang Lang kicks off this thrilling trio of programs with the First Piano Concerto — the daring twists of which pushed the limits of Classical convention — and the searching and sublime Fourth Piano Concerto.
Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3
26 FRI 1:30
BEETHOVEN Consecration of the House Overture
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3
The second installment treats listeners to the delightfully droll Second Piano Concerto, which Beethoven wrote for his public debut concert in Vienna, and the stormy and rapturous Third, with its nods to revolutionary-era marches.
Beethoven Emperor Concerto
27 SAT 7:30
BEETHOVEN Overture to The Creatures of Prometheus
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor)
Lang Lang, Paavo Järvi and the CSO conclude their Beethoven cycle with the Emperor Concerto, considered one of the greatest piano concertos ever written. The Orchestra shines in Beethoven’s irrepressible Fourth Symphony.
Hear all five Beethoven piano concertos with the LANG LANG package to enjoy the best savings and seating priority.
* Tickets to priority access concerts are currently only available to subscribers.
Lang Lang
Paavo Järvi
April
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
4 SUN 7:00
Lila Downs vocals and guitar
A magnetic force in Mexican music, Lila Downs brings her dusky, soulful voice to richly layered songs on yearning, identity, justice and folklore.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Narrator Wendell Pierce, Wynton Marsalis, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and a trio of soulful sirens satirize the public’s descent into supporting a con-man leader called Mr. Game (Wendell Pierce).
May
Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
APR 30 FRI 7:30
MAY 1 SAT 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Joe Hisaishi conductor
Emmanuel Ceysson harp
HISAISHI Encounter
HISAISHI Harp Concerto
HISAISHI Concerto for Orchestra
Joe Hisaishi — a true master of contemporary symphonic repertoire, as well as Japanese cinema scoring — leads a program of his own works, culminating in his dynamic Concerto for Orchestra, a bold showcase for his distinctive musical voice.
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
24 MON 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Keith Lockhart conductor
Michael Feinstein piano and vocals
Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano
CSO Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet teams up with pianist, singer and American songbook expert
Michael Feinstein in an extraordinary evening that celebrates George Gershwin and his musical universe.
Joe Hisaishi
Wendell Pierce
Lila Downs
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Michael Feinstein
Get Involved with the CSO
Discover vibrant communities of music lovers and build meaningful connections through special events, volunteer opportunities and cultural initiatives.
African American Network Latino Alliance: Nuestras noches
OCT 2 JAZZ
Freedom Riders with special guests
Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
OCT 16 JAZZ
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
FEB 5 JAZZ
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
FEB 20 ORCHESTRAL
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
APR 22 ORCHESTRAL
Glover, Chen & the CSO
MAY 14 JAZZ
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit
OCT 15 ORCHESTRAL Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
DEC 19 HOLIDAY
Merry, Merry Chicago!
JAN 30 MOVIE
West Side Story
Film with Orchestra
APR 4 GLOBAL
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
JUNE 4 JAZZ
Chucho Valdés with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
Join your peers today
There are many ways to celebrate the joy of music, share your passion, and join a network that brings people together in inspiring ways, all at Symphony Center. Support the music you love at cso.org/getinvolved.
Seating Charts
Classical, Chamber Music & Merry, Merry Chicago!
CLASSICAL
Box Level seats are now numbered and assigned.
Piano
Family, Jazz, Pop & Global
Seating is subject to availability at the time of sale. Box Level seating will transition to assigned seating during the 2026/27 Season, and multiple price points are now available.
Terrace subscription seats may be relocated if a concert involves a screen or chorus. All artists, dates and times are subject to change. Published on August 4, 2026.
Make an Impact
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association is a non-profit organization that relies on donor support to fulfill its mission of enriching, inspiring and transforming lives through music, community engagement and education — locally, nationally and internationally.
Ticket sales only go so far; your support makes a crucial difference and connects you to meaningful experiences curated specifically for donors.
When you make a tax-deductible gift with your subscription, you ensure the success and longevity of:
• The concerts and activities of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Hosting guest artists and ensembles of all kinds through the Symphony Center Presents series
• The music education and community engagement initiatives of the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO, including CSO for Kids and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago
• And so much more!
Gifts of all levels are essential in maintaining the high-quality work we do both in and outside Symphony Center.
Our Sponsors
Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund William R. Jentes
Margot and Josef Lakonishok Ling Z. and Michael C. Markovitz
Major artistic support for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 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
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
Media Partners
Your Symphony Center
Dine at the Thomas Club
Located on the ninth floor of Symphony Center, The Richard & Helen Thomas Club provides an enchanting dining experience with spectacular views of Lake Michigan. Open on select concert dates, the club invites ticket holders to enjoy a seasonal prix fixe menu in an elegant, tranquil setting before performances.
Sound Bites: preorder meals for pickup
Preorder a meal to enjoy before your concert with Sound Bites. Select from a menu of handcrafted sandwiches, salads and various snacks, and your order will be ready for pickup at the Bass Bar in the Rotunda of Symphony Center.
View menus, make a reservation and learn more at cso.org/dining.
Shop at the Symphony Store
Located at the Adams Street entrance of Symphony Center, the Symphony Store offers an inspiring selection of gifts for music lovers of all ages. Explore a curated collection of classical music merchandise from around the world, kid-friendly books and toys, stylish apparel and the world’s most comprehensive inventory of Chicago Symphony Orchestra recordings.
Every purchase supports the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, helping fund concerts, education programs and performances by renowned artists from jazz, world and folk traditions.
Subscriber & Donor Rewards
Subscribers and donors to the CSOA enjoy 15% savings on eligible purchases year-round.
Shop in Store or Online
Open for all CSO and select Symphony Center Presents performances. Can’t visit in person? Shop online at symphonystore.com.
