Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is packed with magical melodies and sparkling action, and there’s no more stylish interpreter than Hilary Hahn, one of the top violinists of our time, …

Two exhilarating symphonies launch the fall residency of Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä. Sibelius’ Seventh Symphony sweeps you along like a mighty river flowing to the sea, …

Mahler’s last completed work, the Ninth Symphony, opens with a sighing farewell, but that’s just the start. The composer takes you on a journey through the depths of …

In the 1960s, Freedom Rider activists challenged racial segregation in the Southern United States. With reverence for their courage and struggle, this groundbreaking international jazz collective features a …

Step into the opulent Babylon of Belshazzar’s Feast, Walton’s dramatic cantata depicting a king’s blasphemous revelry and divine reckoning. Captivated by the sheer theatricality of the biblical tale, Walton …

Few contemporary violin concertos have made a splash with audiences like Arturo Márquez’s Fandango, which won a 2024 Latin Grammy. Composed for Anne Akiko Meyers, this riotously colorful work …

Jazz would not sound the same today without John Coltrane. Known for dissolving the boundaries of jazz, he could “pull listeners right out of their chairs” (Jazz Review). …

In their early piano trios, the teenage Shostakovich and Debussy showed the world their youthful exuberance. By the time Dvořák wrote his Trio in F Minor, he was …

Hear chamber music at its most intimate and expressive. Haydn’s elegant Piano Trio opens the evening, showcasing the wit and warmth of the composer’s enduring works. Schubert’s luminous Notturno follows, …

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 the …

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, with its iconic four-note motif, stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Strauss’ Burlesque — written when the composer was just 21 …

Grammy-nominated violinist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Andrew Bird makes his CSO debut celebrating the 20-year anniversary of his acclaimed record The Mysterious Production of Eggs. Balancing jazz, folk and pop …

Rachmaninov’s Second Symphony is the orchestral equivalent of a binge-watch drama, with each movement drawing you into the next, bursting with yearning, nostalgia and soaring climaxes. Prokofiev’s Second …

Move over Superman, Wonder Woman and other caped crusaders! In this captivating program, you’ll discover the superhero qualities of a symphony orchestra. Alastair Willis and members of the …

Sparks fly when Serbian-French violinist Nemanja Radulović leads his chamber orchestra, Double Sens, in this beguiling program of Bach and Beethoven. Experience Radulović’s orchestral arrangement of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata, which Gramophone calls …

DreamWorks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2 is that rare sequel that’s a worthy successor to the original! When Hiccup and Toothless discover a secret ice cave with wild dragons …

For six centuries, the Vienna Boys Choir has delighted people across the globe with its purity of tone, wide repertoire and generosity of musical spirit. Comprised of boy …

Under the direction of Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti, Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony unfolds its gorgeous melodies — a consummate tribute to the bucolic landscapes and folk …

Lukas Sternath is the new sound of Vienna. A native of the Austrian capital, he absorbed its hallowed traditions from an early age — both as a pianist …

It wouldn’t be the holidays without Chanticleer at Symphony Center. The multiple Grammy Award-winning men’s chorus delights listeners “with harmonies so lush they verge on the celestial” (The Berkshire …

Nothing beats the December chill like a musical trip to old Vienna. Dance numbers evoke the city’s glittering Christmas markets, imperial architecture and steaming mugs of glühwein. Vienna …

Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, …

Celebrated worldwide for its brilliance, finesse and gleaming power, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra brass section presents its annual December spectacular. CSO trombone Michael Mulcahy conducts a showcase of …

Be part of a quintessential holiday tradition!

Heaped with uplifting messages and intimate storytelling, Handel’s Messiah never fails to inspire. While the iconic melodies — including “For Unto Us a Child …

Head to Symphony Center for a magical evening celebrating the most wonderful time of the year. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and conductor Thomas Wilkins are joined …

When Rudolf Buchbinder sits down at the piano, audiences immediately sense his passionate temperament and thirst for musical adventure. He “never takes the easy route … and his …

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, …

One of the world’s great pianistic storytellers, Mitsuko Uchida is a longtime favorite of Chicago audiences. In her first Symphony Center solo piano recital since 2018, she brings …

Carl Nielsen’s Inextinguishable Symphony is a work of volcanic energy and struggle, capped by an extraordinary timpani battle. According to the composer, this wartime score represents “everything that moves, that …

Guitarist Jeff Parker and saxophonist Isaiah Collier embody the modern Chicago sound — music shaped by rhythm, risk and a fearless tradition of innovation. With The New Breed, …

Treat yourself to a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of chamber music. Beethoven’s String Quintet in C Minor — one of his earliest Viennese successes — began as …

2026/27 CSO Artist-in-Residence Jean-Yves Thibaudet takes on Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, a beguiling blend of dark Russian Romanticism and Armenian folk music. The concerto “is a giant, Technicolor work …

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 …

How do we sum up our lives? Shostakovich confronted this question as he began his Fifteenth Symphony while confined to a hospital bed. The piece bursts with memories …

Recognized without dispute as two of the finest jazz interpreters, guitarist John Scofield and bassist Dave Holland join forces to present a new conversation. Performing as a duo, …

Come along on two heroic journeys. The concert opens with the world premiere of The Escapist Symphony by former Mead Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates, presented by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This …

Feel the power of Japanese taiko drumming as Kodo returns to Symphony Center. This legendary ensemble of master percussionists brings a centuries-old tradition to electrifying life through physical …

Bach’s concertos represent the summit of Baroque ingenuity, packed with emotional depth and melodic splendor. Hear two of the finest examples in performances by Orion Weiss. Mozart offers …

Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra is the ultimate introduction to the instruments of an orchestra. Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser leads the CSO in this iconic and delightful piece, joined …

Vast and noble, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto set a bold precedent for the concertos of the 19th century. Isabelle Faust, a “stylish, subtle violinist” (The New York Times), brings …

Prokofiev’s Symphony-Concerto is a fantastical ride, full of primitive energy and sardonic humor. Alisa Weilerstein shows why The New York Times called her a “profound champion” of this demanding work, who …

Stanley Clarke & Hiromi along with PUBLIQuartet Celebrate the Music of Chick Corea & Beyond

NEA Jazz Master and four-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Stanley Clarke teams up with frequent …

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. Together, the …

More than 25 years after his dramatic career breakthrough with the CSO at Ravinia, Lang Lang is one of classical music’s most celebrated ambassadors. In this thrilling trio …

Piano megastar Lang Lang, Paavo Järvi and the CSO continue their not-to-be missed survey of Beethoven’s five piano concertos. The second installment is a special chance to experience …

Lang Lang, Paavo Järvi and the CSO conclude their Beethoven piano concerto cycle with the Emperor Concerto. Considered one of the greatest piano concertos ever written, this commanding work combines …

Following his spellbinding appearance last season, Augustin Hadelich returns for Korngold’s Violin Concerto — a brilliant showcase for Hadelich’s artistry steeped in the golden-age glow of the composer’s …

Lila Downs is a magnetic force in Mexican music. Her dusky, soulful voice shines in richly layered songs about yearning, identity, justice and folklore. Born in Oaxaca and …

A longstanding specialty of Riccardo Muti, Rossini’s Stabat mater combines the dramatic intensity of opera with the majesty and eloquence of devotional choral music. The CSO’s 2018 performances of the …

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 …

Composed during the 872-day siege of Leningrad, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony vividly captures the spirit of resistance to oppression. Named 2026 Conductor of the Year by Musical America, Jakub Hrůša …

Nearly 40 years after founding the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Wynton Marsalis leads his final season as music director, concluding a transformative tenure that elevated jazz nationwide. …

Join Dame Jane Glover and the CSO for two playfully themed works: Michael Abels’ clever spin on Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Haydn’s Symphony No. 83, affectionately nicknamed The Hen for its …

Wynton Marsalis combines the rhythmic language of New Orleans funk, the melodic influence of unsung Crescent City genius James Black and a trio of soulful sirens to satirize …

Get ready as Evgeny Kissin, one of the world’s most electrifying pianists, returns with a program of seminal works by Beethoven. Kissin is among Symphony Center’s most sought-after …

Joe Hisaishi’s acclaimed body of work spans the concert hall and contemporary symphonic repertoire, as well as a true mastery of Japanese cinema scoring. In this program of …

After a lifetime of writing towering, panoramic symphonies, Anton Bruckner had one more cosmic masterpiece in store. The Ninth Symphony, dedicated “to God,” creates a world of serenity, …

Piotr Anderszewski’s interpretations may challenge your expectations, but they’ll never leave you unmoved. The Polish pianist doesn’t shy away from bold ideas, and “when there is a chance …

For generations, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s brass section has been celebrated for its power, precision and brilliance. Featuring music by J.S. Bach, Alvin Etler, Don La Fosse and …

Zell Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä charts a musical journey through his native Finland, underscoring his commitment to today’s composers with two works by Magnus Lindberg: a United …

Joel Ross: Good Vibes / The Vibraphone Summit with Warren Wolf, Joe Locke, Stefon Harris & Chien Chien Lu

The modern vibraphone was born in Chicago, when J. C. …

Discover the imaginative world of Albert Einstein and find out how the principles of physics determine a musical performance. Conductor Tania Miller and members of the CSO explore …

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 and …

Explore the kaleidoscopic musical world of Tan Dun, who leads the CSO in three of his inventive works that bridge Asian and Western traditions. His utterly distinct Water Concerto harnesses …

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. In …

When Yunchan Lim won the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition, he dazzled judges with a formidable all-Liszt recital. The pianist “displayed mind-boggling virtuosity and interpretive depth scarcely imaginable in …

No composer of our day captures the wonders of science like Philip Glass, whose The Light draws inspiration from a landmark experiment involving the speed of light. No less imaginative …

Chucho Valdés 85th Birthday Celebration with special guests Joe Lovano & Etienne Charles

Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and NEA Jazz Master Chucho Valdés — winner of seven Grammy and …

With his “poetic and masterly” approach (The Guardian), British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor embraces both the romance and the danger of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto — from the stormy …

Two hundred years ago, Beethoven shook the world with his final symphony, and especially its Ode to Joy finale, one of the most celebrated melodies ever written. A declaration of …

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 …