CSO Announces 2024-25 Season and New Artist-In-Residence

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has announced its 2024-2025 season, a full year of concerts in its mainstage subscription series, as well as chamber, solo, family, and other programming.

A Chicago Symphony Chorus Spotlight

Maestros Barenboim, Boulez, and Solti conduct the CSO with the Chicago Symphony Chorus under the direction of chorus founder Margaret Hillis.

Handel Messiah & Tchaikovsky Nutcracker

Holiday music conducted by Sir Georg Solti and Fritz Reiner.

Orozco-Estrada & Hahn

Hilary Hahn — the CSO’s first artist-in-residence — performs Dvořák’s Violin Concerto.

Celebrating Frederick Stock

This broadcast celebrates the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s second music director Frederick Stock!

Cheryl Frazes Hill on Margaret Hillis

Hillis was the first woman to regularly conduct a major symphony orchestra, she was the founder of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and served for thirty-seven years as its first director, winning nine Grammy Awards.

Carmina burana

This week, Osmo Vänskä leads the CSO in Orff’s Carmina burana featuring Joélle Harvey, Reginald Mobley, and Hugh Russell. Included in the program is Montgomery’s Banner and Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus, as well as Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Live from Ravinia

Opening night of CSO’s annual summer residency at Ravinia features Marin Alsop leading the chorus and orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Cheryl Frazes Hill on Margaret Hillis

Hillis was the first woman to regularly conduct a major symphony orchestra, she was the founder of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and served for thirty-seven years as its first director, winning nine Grammy Awards.

CSO 2023-24 Season Announced: Myriad Guest Conductors as Muti Era Closes

The season will be the first following the departure of Riccardo Muti as music director. But the maestro will be close at hand as he continues his association with the CSO.

After 28 Years, Chicago Symphony Chorus Director Duain Wolfe Gives a ‘Joyous Farewell’

“I’ve been very lucky. Not only did I get the world’s best job, but I also got to work closely with the world’s best conductors: Barenboim, Muti, Boulez, Haitink, you name it!”

Alsop In at Ravinia Through 2025; Will Curate New Breaking Barriers Festival This Year

In her role as chief conductor, Alsop curates and conducts a three-week stretch of programs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Embedded within that residency will be the Breaking Barriers Festival.

CSO Announces Winter/Spring 2022 Concerts

Music director Riccardo Muti will conduct music by Beethoven, Price, Glass, and Montgomery while welcoming guest artists like Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Mitsuko Uchida.

Prokofiev, Hahn, Lang Lang Headline CSO’s 2021-22 Return To Stage

The CSO announces an array of concerts from September to January.

Duain Wolfe of Chicago Symphony Chorus to Retire; WFMT GM Reflects on 25+ Years of Excellence

WFMT general manager George Preston shares his thoughts on the announcement that Duain Wolfe will retire as director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.

CSO to Premiere Video of Beethoven’s 9th for Facebook Streaming

This Sunday, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will host a Facebook premiere for a video recording of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 from its archives, in part because it is “widely recognized as one of music’s most powerful and inspiring works.”

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Announces 2020-2021 Season

The CSO’s 130th season begins on September 17 with a free concert for Chicago at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Video: Deck the Halls with Merry, Merry Chicago!

Chicago Symphony Chorus members and pianist Sharon Peterson visited WFMT to spread some cheer and share this short and sweet rendition of a Christmas classic.

Finding the Details in Grand Opera: Muti, CSO, and CSO Chorus Present Verdi’s ‘Aida’

Verdi’s Aida is the apotheosis of grant opera, but the true beauty of Verdi lies not only in its grandeur but also in its details.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Announces 2018/19 Season, Muti Extends Contract Through 2022

Today, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association announced programming for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Center Presents 2018/19 season.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Announces 2017-2018 Season

Riccardo Muti will conduct ten weeks of subscription programs at Symphony Center and lead the orchestra on two U.S. tours, to the West Coast in October and to the East Coast in February 2018.