classic

Herbert Blomstedt speaks on conducting and recounts two entertaining episodes from the life and career of Fritz Reiner.

Herbert Blomstedt: On Conducting and Fritz Reiner

Performers: Civic Orchestra of Chicago (Christy Kim – flute, Gordon Daole-Wellman – bass clarinet, Wai Chi Tang – Percussion, Pei-yeh Tsai – piano, Maria Arrua – violin, and Nicky Swett – cello)

Program Notes:
Kindling is a reflection on the spontaneous, yet repetitive motion of fire. From the outset of the piece, the ricochet bowing of the cello and the steady pulse of the kick drum stoke the flame, while the violin flickers and flares in response. As the piece builds, a flurry of tremolos and natural harmonics are used to express motion that is both active and static. Eventually, the ensemble, led by the piano and strings, conjures a steady orange glow with a series of phrases that quickly appear and dissipate. The rapid alternations between these distinct phrases coalesce to form a continuous, burning texture.

Kindling for pierrot plus percussion

Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado leads a program of Russian masterworks including Tchaikovsky's First Symphony, which showcases the composer's sense of drama, orchestral color and melody. Simon Trpčeski brings his “electrifying virtuosity” (The London Times) to Rachmaninov’s formidable Third Piano Concerto.

CSO Program Notes: Rachmaninov Tchaikovsky

David Afkham makes his highly anticipated return to conduct the CSO in Beethoven’s noble Emperor Concerto and Dvořák’s dramatic Seventh Symphony. “Afkham rocked Orchestra Hall with an exciting debut. The audience was up on its feet in an instant, roaring for more” (Chicago Tribune).

CSO Program Notes: Beethoven Emperor Concerto

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, conductor
Till Fellner, piano

Mozart Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major K. 503 (January 2018)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Manfred Honeck, conductor

Mahler Symphony No. 5 (January 2018)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Andres Orozco-Estrada, conductor
Kelley O'Connor, soprano
Women of the Chicago Symphony Chorus
Duain Wolfe, director
Anima Youth Singers of Greater Chicago
Charles Sundquist, director

Andres Orozco-Estrada conducts Mahler 3 - Broadcast

Mahler Symphony No 3 in D Minor (October 2018)

Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. In collaboration with the best conductors and guest artists on the international music scene, the CSO performs well over one hundred concerts each year at its downtown home, Symphony Center, and at the Ravinia Festival on Chicago’s North Shore, where it is in residency each summer. Music lovers outside Chicago enjoy the sounds of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through best-selling recordings and frequent sold-out tour performances in the United States and around the globe.

Visit cso.org for tickets and information.

Andres Orozco-Estrada conducts Mahler 3 - Broadcast

ChicagoSymphony

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