Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Michael Tilson Thomas

The Thomashefskys
Michael Tilson Thomas

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HAITINK AND MAHLER

In Maestro Haitink's ongoing examination of the Mahler symphonies, the Orchestra performs the composer's First Symphony, a signature piece and CSO calling card for decades. Remarkably, its premiere was coldly received, prompting Mahler to make several revisions before its final publication ten years after the first performance.

Peter Lieberson's award-winning song cycle, Neruda Songs, brings mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor back to Symphony Center, following her widely praised role in Golijov's Ainadamar in February. The songs, written for Lieberson's wife, the late Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, are based on five love poems by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. Each poem, says Lieberson, "seemed to me to reflect a different face in love's mirror." These are the first performances of the song cycle since Hunt Lieberson's death.

Thursday, May 1, 8:00
Fidelity Investments Thursdays
Friday, May 2, 8:00
Saturday, May 3, 8:00

MAHLER 1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink conductor
Kelley O'Connor mezzo-soprano

Ravel Menuet antique
Lieberson Neruda Songs
Mahler Symphony No. 1

CSO Thursday series concerts are sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

HAITINK AND SHOSTAKOVICH

The year was 1976 and local music critics were keenly awaiting the arrival of a certain guest conductor. "Bernard Haitink has finally come to town for his long overdue debut with the Chicago Symphony," exclaimed one newspaper. During those highly anticipated appearances, Haitink led a notable premiere: the CSO's first performances of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 4.

More than thirty years later, Haitink is back— now as CSO principal conductor—to lead the Orchestra in the same work. In five concerts that will be recorded for release on our in-house CSO Resound label, the CSO will perform this immensely powerful work. Using a vast arsenal of instruments, this symphony is regarded as one of Shostakovich's most gripping and chilling scores.

Thursday, May 8, 8:00
Fidelity Investments Thursdays
Friday, May 9, 8:00
Saturday, May 10, 8:00
Sunday, May 11, 3:00
Tuesday, May 13, 7:30
United Airlines Tuesdays

SHOSTAKOVICH 4
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Bernard Haitink conductor

Haydn Symphony No. 101 (The Clock)
Shostakovich Symphony No. 4

CSO Tuesday series concerts are sponsored by United Airlines.

With a long string of glowing reviews for recordings, concerts, and operas, conductor Harry Bicket is known around the world for stunning interpretations of baroque and classical repertoire. In his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut, his program features two CSO musicians — piccolo player Jennifer Gunn and Assistant Concertmaster Yuan-Qing Yu — as soloists in two marvelous Vivaldi works.

Vivaldi's Piccolo Concerto, last performed on the Orchestra Hall Stage more than 25 years ago, is a brilliant showpiece for the soloist, filled with taxing runs and virtuosic demands. The Four Seasons, Vivaldi's popular set of violin concertos, is a dazzling depiction of the seasons. "People with or without a musical background are drawn to this piece," says Yuan-Qing Yu, "because of its descriptiveness and accessibility." For those who have never heard the music, "I would say: 'You will love it!!'"

The piece has been widely performed live and recorded because of its beauty and the challenges to the performer. Because of the wide range of interpretation open to the performer, from pure authentic Baroque style to a highly romanticized style, a performer needs to select the musical journey and remain consistent throughout the piece.

CSO Thursday series concerts are sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

I actually have never performed this work in its entirety. The only season that I have performed is "Summer," while I was a student at Southern Methodist University. My professor had a chamber orchestra, and he wanted to include The Four Seasons in the repertoire. He had four students who each performed a season.

It is always an honor to stand in front of this great Orchestra. It is also very special for me to feel the support and love from my colleagues. I am truly looking forward to collaborating with Gerard McBurney, the director and narrator of the Beyond the Score® concert series, because I know he will take the audience with him to explore the historical depths of this important work.
—Yuan-Qing Yu

Thursday, May 22, 8:00
Fidelity Investments Thursdays
Friday, May 23, 8:00
Saturday, May 24, 8:00
Tuesday, May 27, 7:30
United Airlines Tuesdays

THE FOUR SEASONS
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Harry Bicket conductor
Jennifer Gunn piccolo
Yuan-Qing Yu violin

Vivaldi Piccolo Concerto in C Major
Rameau Suite from Les Boréades
Vivaldi The Four Seasons

CSO Tuesday series concerts are sponsored by United Airlines.

GO BEYOND THE SCORE ® INTO VIVALDI'S WORLD

Working in Venice in the early 18th century, Vivaldi lived in the hub of European trade and culture, a tangle of eerie beauty, excess, and luxury. Like Venice, Vivaldi's forms and works are labyrinthine. In a colorful and exciting journey, we explore the winding streets and canals of Venice, and the sumptuous interiors of the halls and churches where the extraordinary girl musicians of Vivaldi's time performed. And we will go deep into the mysteries of Vivaldi's own instrument, the violin, and the way his concertos transformed the musical language of the age.

—Gerard McBurney
Creative Director, Beyond the Score®

Visit beyondthescore.org to learn more about the CSO's Beyond the Score® series and to download the newest Beyond the Score® video performance of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27.

Sunday, May 25, 3:00

Beyond the Score®:
Natural Beauties?
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Harry Bicket conductor
Yuan-Qing Yu violin
Gerard McBurney creative director

Vivaldi The Four Seasons

As an ardent advocate of American music, conductor Michael Tilson Thomas has championed, performed, and recorded the works of Charles Ives for many years. The four movements of his New England Holidays present celebrations of four distinct holidays —Washington's Birthday, Decoration Day, the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving— from the perspective of a small New England town. The CSO has performed the complete New England Holidays only once before, and recorded it, in 1986 — both with Tilson Thomas.

Dvořák's Symphony No. 8 shows another view of one man's world: a radiant and open Czech countryside filled with optimism, delight, and sunshine.

Thursday, May 29, 8:00
Fidelity Investments Thursdays
Friday, May 30, 8:00
Saturday, May 31, 8:00

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor

Ives New England Holidays
Dvořák Symphony No. 8

Leonard Slatkin opens the final CSO concert of the season with Sacred Heart: Explosion, winner of an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award. The 15-minute work by Jefferson Friedman has an intriguing Chicago connection. It was inspired by a work of art created by Henry Darger, the reclusive janitor who spent his life on Chicago's North Side and whose hundreds of highly detailed and provocative paintings were found after he moved out of his cluttered apartment.

The multitalented Pinchas Zukerman then takes center stage to showcase two works for the viola. Hindemith's Der Schwanendreher, a concerto based on old folk tunes, is among the composer's best-known works for the instrument. Berlioz's Harold in Italy, dedicated to Paganini, is a dreamy journey through the Italian hills and mountains. Upon hearing the work performed for the first time, Paganini was dumbfounded. He fell to his knees, kissed Berlioz's hand in admiration, and later sent a huge gift of 20,000 francs that allowed Berlioz to pay off his debts.

Thursday, June 5, 8:00
Fidelity Investments Thursdays
Friday, June 6, 1:30
Saturday, June 7, 8:00
Sunday, June 8, 3:00

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin conductor
Pinchas Zukerman viola

Friedman Sacred Heart: Explosion
Hindemith Der Schwanendreher
Berlioz Harold in Italy

CSO Thursday series concerts are sponsored by Fidelity Investments.

SEASON FINALE: BERNARD HAITINK CONCLUDES HIS RESIDENCY				OTHER MAY/JUNE FEATURES ON CSO.ORG
Bernard Haitink	Yuan-Qing Yu Read more »	Michael Tilson Thomas Read more »	Pinchas Zukerman Read more »	The Thomashefskys Michael Tilson Thomas Read more »	08/09 Subscriptions on sale now! Read more »	Win a pair of tickets to see John Williams and Yo-Yo Ma! Read more »