2026/27 Season Create Your Own Subscription Brochure
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Which moments will define your season?
Season at a Glance
ORCHESTRAL
SEP 17-19
Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn
SEP 24-26
Mäkelä Conducts Sibelius & Shostakovich
OCT 1-4
Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 9
OCT 8-9
Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast
OCT 10
Symphony Ball with Klaus Mäkelä
OCT 15-17
Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
OCT 22-25
Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto
OCT 29-31
Brahms Requiem
NOV 5-8
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
NOV 11
Yo-Yo Ma & the CSO
NOV 13-14
Andrew Bird & the CSO
NOV 19-21
Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman
DEC 3-5
Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8
DEC 10-12
Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman
DEC 17-19
Handel’s Messiah
FEB 4-7
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
FEB 11-13
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
FEB 19-21
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
FEB 25-27
Honeck Conducts Bates & Mahler 1
MAR 4-6
Bicket, Weiss & Bach
MAR 11-14
Beethoven
Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn
MAR 18-20
A Little Night Music
MAR 24
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4
MAR 26
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3
MAR 27
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven Emperor Concerto
APR 2-3
Jordan, Hadelich & Tchaikovsky 4
APR 8-10
Muti Conducts Rossini
APR 15-18
Hrůša Conducts
Shostakovich 7
APR 22-24
Glover, Chen & the CSO
APR 30-MAY 1
Hisaishi Conducts
Hisaishi
MAY 6-8
Honeck Conducts
Mahler & Bruckner 9
MAY 13-16
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
MAY 20-22
Tan Dun: Water
Concerto & Marco Polo
MAY 24
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
MAY 27-28
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Yunchan Lim
JUNE 3-6
Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
JUNE 10-12
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2
JUNE 17-20
Mäkelä Conducts Beethoven 9
Klaus Mäkelä
Lang Lang
PIANO
NOV 1
Bruce Liu
DEC 6
Lukas Sternath
JAN 10
Rudolf Buchbinder
JAN 31
Mitsuko Uchida
MAR 21
Leif Ove Andsnes
APR 11
Yuja Wang
APR 25
Evgeny Kissin
MAY 9
Piotr Anderszewski
FAMILY
Once Upon a Symphony
Perfect for ages 3-5
DEC 5 | JAN 30 | FEB 13
Stone Soup
MAR 20 | APR 10 | APR 24
The Elves and the Shoemaker
Family Matinees
Perfect for ages 5-12
NOV 21
Symphonic Superheroes
MAR 6
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
MAY 15
Einstein’s Imagination
CHAMBER MUSIC
OCT 18
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
NOV 22
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
DEC 15
Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass
MAY 18
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
MOVIES
NOV 27-29
How to Train
Your Dragon 2
DEC 11-13
Elf
JAN 29-30
West Side Story
JUNE 25-27
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
HOLIDAYS
NOV 28
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
DEC 8
A Chanticleer Christmas
DEC 18-23
Merry, Merry Chicago!
GLOBAL
FEB 12
Pink Martini
FEB 28
Kodo One Earth Tour
2027: Luminance
APR 4
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
JAZZ
OCT 2
Freedom Riders with special guests Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
OCT 16
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
FEB 5
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
FEB 19
John Scofield & Dave Holland
MAR 19
Stanley Clarke & Hiromi with PUBLIQuartet
APR 20
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
APR 23
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis: The Ever Fonky Lowdown
MAY 14
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit
JUNE 4
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Lila Downs
Moments shaping the future.
Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä
Commanding the podium with a rare blend of visceral energy and discipline, Klaus Mäkelä captivates audiences and musicians worldwide. Acclaimed for his expansive artistic curiosity, he seamlessly bridges monumental symphonic traditions with a commitment to the music of our time. Leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this season, he ignites the stage with a striking vision, shaping performances defined by their gripping intensity, nuanced textures and profound emotional depth.
Mäkelä Conducts
Sibelius & Shostakovich
SEP 24-26
Mäkelä Conducts
Mahler 9
OCT 1-4
Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast
OCT 8-9
Symphony Ball with Klaus Mäkelä
OCT 10
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
MAY 13-16
Mäkelä Conducts
Beethoven 9 *
JUNE 17-20
*Priority Access Concert. Tickets are currently only available to subscribers.
Moments of dazzling technique.
2026/27 CSO Artist-in-Residence
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Renowned for his effortless charm and singular interpretive voice, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has earned a reputation as one of the world’s finest pianists. He is equally celebrated for his wide-ranging interests beyond the classical world, including numerous collaborations in film, fashion and visual art. This season, he brings his vision to the role of CSO Artist-in-Residence, offering performances that showcase his remarkable range and expressive power.
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
OCT 18
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
FEB 11-13
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
MAY 24
Moments that last a lifetime.
Spark curiosity and activate the imagination of your whole family with outings to Symphony Center.
Once Upon a Symphony
Perfect for ages 3-5
Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Children’s Theatre bring beloved children’s tales to life with music and storytelling.
Stone Soup
DEC 5 | JAN 30 | FEB 13
The Elves and the Shoemaker
MAR 20 | APR 10 | APR 24
Family Matinees
Perfect for ages 5-12
These 45-minute programs are led by today’s most renowned conductors and compelling guest artists and are paired with unforgettable hands-on preconcert activities.
Symphonic Superheroes
NOV 21
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
MAR 6
Einstein’s Imagination
MAY 15
Additional family-friendly programming
Watch cherished movies on the big screen with the CSO performing the score, create new holiday traditions, and delight in music from around the world.
How to Train Your Dragon 2 in Concert
NOV 27-29
Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna
NOV 28
Elf in Concert
DEC 11-13
Merry, Merry Chicago!
DEC 18-23
Kodo One Earth Tour
2027: Luminance
FEB 28
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
APR 4
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
JUNE 25-27
Moments that stir the soul.
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
Bruce Liu
NOV 5-8
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
NOV 22
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
JAN 10
Rudolf Buchbinder
FEB 4-7
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
FEB 19-21
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
MAR 11-14
Beethoven Violin
Concerto & Mendelssohn
MAR 21
Leif Ove Andsnes
MAR 24-27
Lang Lang Plays the Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos*
APR 25
Evgeny Kissin
MAY 18
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
JUNE 17-20
Mäkelä Conducts
Beethoven 9*
*Priority Access Concerts. Tickets are currently only available to subscribers.
Season Calendar
September
Petr Popelka & Hilary Hahn
SEP 17 | THURSDAY 7:30
SEP 18 | FRIDAY 1:30
SEP 19 | SATURDAY 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
SEP 24 | THURSDAY 7:30
SEP 25 | FRIDAY 1:30
SEP 26 | SATURDAY 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
OCT 1 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 2 | FRIDAY 1:30
OCT 3 | SATURDAY 7:30
OCT 4 | SUNDAY 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
Freedom Riders with special guests Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
OCT 2 | FRIDAY 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
This groundbreaking international jazz collective continues in the tradition of providing a soundtrack to the global civil rights movement.
Mäkelä, Petrushka & Belshazzar’s Feast
OCT 8 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 9 | FRIDAY 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
OCT 10 | SATURDAY 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.
Kurt Elling
Lizz Wright
Thomas Hampson
Donald Palumbo
October Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
OCT 15 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 16 | FRIDAY 1:30
OCT 17 | SATURDAY 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.
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
OCT 16 | FRIDAY 8:00
Branford Marsalis saxophones
Dianne Reeves vocals
The Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves celebrate John Coltrane’s centennial with a one-ofa-kind program that highlights selections from their upcoming album revisiting Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with Johnny Hartman.
Thibaudet, Batiashvili & Capuçon
OCT 18 | SUNDAY 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.
Branford Marsalis
Dianne Reeves
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Lisa Batiashvili
Gautier Capuçon
Sleeping Beauty & Dvořák Cello Concerto
OCT 22 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 23 | FRIDAY 7:30 Wheaton College
OCT 24 | SATURDAY 7:30
OCT 25 | SUNDAY 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
OCT 29 | THURSDAY 7:30
OCT 30 | FRIDAY 1:30
OCT 31 | SATURDAY 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.
November
Bruce Liu
NOV 1 | SUNDAY 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.
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
Jian Wang
Louise Alder
Bruce Liu
November
Beethoven 5 & Mao Fujita
NOV 5 | THURSDAY 7:30
NOV 6 | FRIDAY 1:30
NOV 7 | SATURDAY 7:30
NOV 8 | SUNDAY 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.
SOLD OUT
Yo-Yo Ma & the CSO
NOV 11 | WEDNESDAY 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.
Andrew Bird & the CSO
NOV 13 | FRIDAY 7:30 NOV 14 | SATURDAY 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.
Marek Janowski
Mao Fujita
Carlos Miguel Prieto
Yo-Yo Ma
Andrew Bird
Jaap van Zweden & Vadim Gluzman
NOV 19 | THURSDAY 7:30
NOV 20 | FRIDAY 7:30
NOV 21 | SATURDAY 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.
Perfect for ages 5-12
Symphonic Superheroes
NOV 21 | SATURDAY 11:00 AM & 12:45 PM
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.
Nemanja Radulović & Double Sens
NOV 22 | SUNDAY 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.
Christmas in Vienna spotlights the illustrious Vienna Boys Choir in Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs and holiday carols.
December
Muti, Welter & Dvořák 8
DEC 3 | THURSDAY 7:30
DEC 4 | FRIDAY 7:30
DEC 5 | SATURDAY 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.
Perfect for ages 3-5
Once Upon a Symphony: Stone Soup
DEC 5 | SATURDAY 10:00 & 11:45 AM
Buntrock Hall
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.
Vienna Boys Choir
Riccardo Muti
William Welter
Lukas Sternath
DEC 6 | SUNDAY 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.
A Chanticleer Christmas
DEC 8 | TUESDAY 7:30
It wouldn’t be the holidays without Chanticleer at Orchestra Hall. The multiple Grammy Award-winning men’s chorus presents an evening of timeless carols, popular Christmas songs and festive spirituals.
Postcard from Vienna: Muti & Bronfman
DEC 10 | THURSDAY 7:30
DEC 11 | FRIDAY 1:30
DEC 12 | SATURDAY 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.
Elf in Concert
DEC 11 | FRIDAY 7:30
DEC 12 | SATURDAY 1:30
DEC 13 | SUNDAY 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.
Presented in collaboration with the Midwest Clinic, International Band and Orchestra Conference
Handel’s Messiah
DEC 17 | THURSDAY 7:30
DEC 18 | FRIDAY 1:30
DEC 19 | SATURDAY 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.
Merry, Merry Chicago!
DEC 18 | FRIDAY 7:30
DEC 19 | SATURDAY 1:00
DEC 20 | SUNDAY 1:00 & 4:30
DEC 21 | MONDAY 7:30
DEC 22 | TUESDAY 7:30
DEC 23 | WEDNESDAY 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.
Masaaki Suzuki
Michael Mulcahy
Thomas Wilkins
Mandy Gonzalez
January
Rudolf Buchbinder
JAN 10 | SUNDAY 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.
West Side Story Film with Orchestra
JAN 29 | FRIDAY 7:30
JAN 30 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra David Newman conductor
Celebrate the 65th anniversary of this iconic film, winner of 10 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra plays Leonard Bernstein’s electrifying score, while the original, remastered film is shown in glorious high definition on the big screen with the vocals and dialogue intact.
Perfect for ages 3-5
Once Upon a Symphony:
Stone Soup
JAN 30 | SATURDAY 10:00 & 11:45 AM
Buntrock Hall
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.
Mitsuko Uchida
JAN 31 | SUNDAY 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.
Rudolf Buchbinder
West Side Story
Once Upon a Symphony
Mitsuko Uchida
February
Rana Plays Tchaikovsky
FEB 4 | THURSDAY 7:30
FEB 5 | FRIDAY 7:30 Wheaton College
FEB 6 | SATURDAY 7:30
FEB 7 | SUNDAY 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.”
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
FEB 5 | FRIDAY 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.
Thibaudet & The Mermaid
FEB 11 | THURSDAY 7:30
FEB 12 | FRIDAY 1:30
FEB 13 | SATURDAY 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 JeanYves 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.
Pink Martini
FEB 12 | FRIDAY 8:00
Storm Large vocals
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.
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
FEB 19 | FRIDAY 1:30
FEB 20 | SATURDAY 7:30
FEB 21 | SUNDAY 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.
John Scofield & Dave Holland
FEB 19 | FRIDAY 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.
Honeck Conducts
Bates & Mahler 1
FEB 25 | THURSDAY 7:30
FEB 26 | FRIDAY 1:30
FEB 27 | SATURDAY 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.
Moments where The Beatles meet classical
Classic Encounter with Terri Hemmert
Bicket, Weiss & Bach
MAR 4 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 5 | FRIDAY 7:30
Start your Thursday night at Symphony Center with Chicago’s favorite radio DJ, WXRT’s Terri Hemmert, and a CSO musician in a multimedia discussion on the evening’s concert. From rock to classical, The Beatles to Haydn, learn more about the works programmed and their influence on popular music. Enjoy four evenings of Classic Encounter® — the perfect pairing with your CSO Classical concerts.
Visit cso.org/classicencounter to learn more and subscribe.
Brahms Requiem
OCT 29 Page 13
Honeck Conducts
Bates & Mahler 1
FEB 25 Page 21
A Little Night Music
MAR 18 Page 23
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
MAY 13 Page 29
February Kodo One Earth Tour
2027: Luminance
FEB 28 | SUNDAY 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.
March
Bicket, Weiss & Bach
MAR 4 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 5 | FRIDAY 7:30
MAR 6 | SATURDAY 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 of Haydn.
Perfect for ages 5-12
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
MAR 6 | SATURDAY 11:00 AM & 12:45 PM
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser conductor
The Second City guest artists
BRITTEN The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
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, with special guest artists from The Second City adding their signature wit and spontaneity to this imaginative musical adventure.
Orion Weiss
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
Kodo
Harry Bicket
Beethoven Violin Concerto & Mendelssohn
MAR 11 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 12 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAR 13 | SATURDAY 7:30
MAR 14 | SUNDAY 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
MAR 18 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAR 19 | FRIDAY 7:30 Wheaton College
MAR 20 | SATURDAY 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.
Stanley Clarke & Hiromi along with PUBLIQuartet
Celebrate the Music of Chick Corea & Beyond
MAR 19 | FRIDAY 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.
James Gaffigan
Alisa Weilerstein
Maxim Emelyanychev
Isabelle Faust
March
Once Upon a Symphony: The Elves and the Shoemaker
MAR 20 | SATURDAY 10:00 & 11:45 AM
Buntrock Hall
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.
Leif Ove Andsnes
MAR 21 | SUNDAY 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.
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT
Lang Lang Plays
Beethoven Piano Concertos 1 & 4
MAR 24 | WEDNESDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Lang Lang piano
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.
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven Piano Concertos 2 & 3
MAR 26 | FRIDAY 1:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Lang Lang piano
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.
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT
Lang Lang Plays Beethoven
Emperor Concerto
MAR 27 | SATURDAY 7:30
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Paavo Järvi conductor
Lang Lang piano
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.
April
Jordan, Hadelich & Tchaikovsky 4
APR 2 | FRIDAY 7:30
APR 3 | SATURDAY 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.
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
APR 4 | SUNDAY 7:00
A magnetic force in Mexican music, Lila Downs brings her dusky, soulful voice to richly layered songs on yearning, identity, justice and folklore.
Moments of cultura y comunidad.
Latino Alliance: Nuestras noches
The CSO Latino Alliance invites you to celebrate Latino artists, conductors and composers. Through concerts, receptions and educational events, Nuestras noches connects the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to Chicago’s diverse audiences, bringing families and music lovers together to experience the power of live performance.
Visit cso.org/latinoalliance to learn more and subscribe.
Guerrero Leads Fandangos & Enigma Variations
OCT 15 Page 12
Merry, Merry Chicago!
DEC 19 Page 18
West Side Story Film with Orchestra
JAN 30 Page 19
Lila Downs: Cambias mi Mundo
APR 4 Page 25
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
JUNE 4 Page 32
April
Muti Conducts Rossini
APR 8 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 9 | FRIDAY 7:30
APR 10 | SATURDAY 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.
Perfect for ages 3-5
Once Upon a Symphony: The Elves and the Shoemaker
APR 10 | SATURDAY 10:00 & 11:45 AM Buntrock Hall
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.
Yuja Wang
APR 11 | SUNDAY 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.
Hrůša Conducts Shostakovich 7
APR 15 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 16 | FRIDAY 7:30
APR 17 | SATURDAY 7:30
APR 18 | SUNDAY 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.
Eleonora Buratto
Elizabeth DeShong
Yuja Wang
Jakub Hrůša
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
APR 20 | TUESDAY 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.
Glover, Chen & the CSO
APR 22 | THURSDAY 7:30
APR 23 | FRIDAY 1:30
APR 24 | SATURDAY 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.
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).
Perfect for ages 3-5
Once Upon a Symphony: The Elves and the Shoemaker
APR 24 | SATURDAY 10:00 & 11:45 AM
Buntrock Hall
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.
Wynton Marsalis
Dame Jane Glover
Robert Chen
Wendell Pierce
April
Evgeny Kissin
APR 25 | SUNDAY 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.
Hisaishi Conducts Hisaishi
APR 30 | FRIDAY 7:30
MAY 1 | SATURDAY 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.
May
Honeck Conducts Mahler & Bruckner 9
MAY 6 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 7 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 8 | SATURDAY 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.
Manfred Honeck
Marianne Crebassa
Joe Hisaishi
Emmanuel Ceysson
Piotr Anderszewski
MAY 9 | SUNDAY 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.
Mäkelä, Batiashvili & Sibelius 1
MAY 13 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 15 | SATURDAY 7:30
MAY 16 | SUNDAY 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.
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit with Warren Wolf, Joe Locke, Stefon Harris & Chien Chien Lu
MAY 14 | FRIDAY 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.
Piotr Anderszewski
Lisa Batiashvili
Joel Ross
Warren Wolf
May
Perfect for ages 5-12
Einstein’s Imagination
MAY 15 | SATURDAY 11:00 AM & 12:45 PM
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.
Moments that celebrate excellence
African American Network
Celebrate Black composers, conductors and performers across genres including classical, jazz and new music. Throughout the season, join the African American Network for celebrations, artist meet-and-greets and networking events.
Visit cso.org/aan to learn more and subscribe.
Freedom Riders with special guests
Kurt Elling & Lizz Wright
OCT 2 Page 11
Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves
Celebrate John Coltrane
OCT 16 Page 12
Jeff Parker & The New Breed / Isaiah Collier & The Defiance
FEB 5 Page 20
Karina Canellakis & Randall Goosby
FEB 20 Page 20
Glover, Chen & the CSO
APR 22 Page 27
Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit with Warren Wolf, Joe Locke, Stefon Harris & Chien Chien Lu
MAY 14 Page 29
Tania Miller
Kissin, Vengerov & Capuçon
MAY 18 | TUESDAY 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.
Tan Dun: Water Concerto & Marco Polo
MAY 20 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 21 | FRIDAY 1:30
MAY 22 | SATURDAY 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.
Two Pianos: Who Could Ask for Anything More?
MAY 24 | MONDAY 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.
This performance is part of a fundraising event presented in partnership by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the League of the CSOA. Proceeds benefit the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s artistic, educational and community engagement programs in Chicago and around the globe.
Evgeny Kissin
Maxim Vengerov
Tan Dun
Michael Feinstein
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
May
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT
Esa-Pekka Salonen & Yunchan Lim
MAY 27 | THURSDAY 7:30
MAY 28 | FRIDAY 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
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
June
Concerto for Two Pianos with Lucas & Arthur Jussen
JUNE 3 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 4 | FRIDAY 1:30
JUNE 5 | SATURDAY 7:30
JUNE 6 | SUNDAY 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.
Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration with special guests
Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles
JUNE 4 | FRIDAY 8:00
Celebrate the 85th birthday and remarkable 60-year career of Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés.
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Yunchan Lim
Chucho Valdés
Lucas & Arthur Jussen
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto
No. 2
JUNE 10 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 11 | FRIDAY 1:30
JUNE 12 | SATURDAY 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.
PRIORITY ACCESS CONCERT
Mäkelä Conducts
Beethoven 9
JUNE 17 | THURSDAY 7:30
JUNE 18 | FRIDAY 7:30
JUNE 19 | SATURDAY 7:30
JUNE 20 | SUNDAY 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.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in Concert
JUNE 25 | FRIDAY 7:30
JUNE 26 | SATURDAY 7:30
JUNE 27 | SUNDAY 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’ Grammy-winning score live to the film.
Sir Mark Elder
Benjamin Grosvenor
Klaus Mäkelä
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When you make a tax-deductible gift with your subscription, you ensure the success and longevity of:
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Thank you for your support of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association.
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William R. Jentes
Margot and Josef Lakonishok
Ling Z. and Michael C. Markovitz
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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
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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.
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Shop in Store or Online
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