Upcoming Events
Jean-Yves Thibaudet combines his “unfaltering control of texture and sonority” (Classical Voice) with his consummate flair and sense of style. In a single performance, the French pianist elegantly …
Cool School & Hard Bop
Featuring iconic works from Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Max Roach and more, the always-swinging Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and its leader Wynton Marsalis …
Revel in the sonic splendor of the CSO with two of its signature works: Strauss’ brash symphonic portrait of the infamous libertine Don Juan and Bartók’s exhilarating Concerto for Orchestra, …
A cat, dog and mouse all turn down the Little Red Hen’s requests for help planting wheat, grinding flour and baking bread — and are disappointed when the …
Experience the passion of Alexandre Kantorow, “a fire-breathing virtuoso with a poetic charm and innate stylistic mastery” (Gramophone). Winner of the prestigious 2024 Gilmore Artist Award and the …
A taut and gripping thriller, Bartók’s one-act opera follows Duke Bluebeard and his newest wife Judith as she opens the seven doors of his castle and discovers increasingly …
Composed under the gathering war clouds of 1914, Ravel’s Piano Trio melds Parisian refinement with the teeming rhythms of France’s Basque region. In his Civic Orchestra debut, Alexander …
The rugged, windswept beauty of Sibelius’ Violin Concerto is a perfect showcase for Christian Tetzlaff, whose “fiery and compelling” 2022 CSO performance was named one of the year’s …
Mixing ceremonial pomp with pastoral splendor, this survey of British classics features Haydn’s last and grandest symphonic statement, the London Symphony; exquisite gems by Elgar and Britten, and the soaring …
Revealing the connections between vaudeville, blues, jazz, baroque and traditional folk music, singer and composer Cécile McLorin Salvant bridges the gap between our musical past and contemporary world. …
Feel the power of the taiko drum! The master drummers of Kodo explore the boundless possibilities of this traditional Japanese instrument as they combine elegant music with striking …
Join Sphinx Virtuosi, the trailblazing 18-member string orchestra from the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, in its Symphony Center debut. The group performs masterpieces by prominent Black and Latino composers …
The cool of the Arctic meets the warmth of Italy. The brooding, majestic themes of Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony evoke the remote landscapes of conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali’s native Finland. …
Celebrating 30 years, Pink Martini has taken audiences around the world, sashaying between French café music, Brazilian sambas, Cuban rumbas and a dash of jazz. Featuring the multilingual …
Hear why Ravel is a classical music master, whether capturing the sensuous allure of Spain in Rapsodie espagnole or summoning “the Greece of [his] dreams” in his ravishing suite from Daphnis …
Discover how music can help us understand and share our feelings. Born of a life filled with joy and sorrow, love and pain, the music of Tchaikovsky pulses …
A pair of superstars shares the Symphony Center stage. Leonidas Kavakos, “a commanding presence onstage” (The New York Times), teams up with CSO Artist-in-Residence Daniil Trifonov, “one of …
Composed as Napoleon’s forces were threatening Austria, Haydn’s Mass in Time of War features an extraordinarily ominous use of timpani and ends with a plea for peace. Beethoven’s spirited First …
Furthering the worldwide legacy of their renowned uncle and tutor, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, brothers Rizwan and Muazzam Mujahid Ali Khan are leading torchbearers of qawwali, a centuries-old …
Don’t miss this chance to hear one of today’s fastest-rising stars, as Japanese pianist Mao Fujita celebrates the music of Mozart — whose complete sonatas he recorded — …
Shostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony unfolds with the immediacy of a newsreel as it depicts the harrowing events of the 1905 Russian Revolution. Brimming with rebellious anthems and prisoners’ songs, …
“Well-crafted songs and a fierce commitment to authentic performance” (The New Yorker)
Pianist Bill Charlap and his trio — known for its masterful interpretations of the Great American Songbook …
Experience an eclectic fusion of contemporary compositions, curated by Jimmy López Bellido, “one of the hottest contemporary musical forces around” (Arts Atlanta). Delve into two of his works …
Journey up the Rhine River, as lovingly portrayed in Robert Schumann’s Rhenish Symphony. Listen for the flowing water and contemplate the majesty of the Cologne Cathedral. To begin, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider …
Internationally acclaimed violinist Julia Fischer, who dazzled CSO audiences in 2023 with the “gorgeous singing tone” of her playing (Chicago Classical Voice), teams up with piano sensation Jan …
Earth, in all its marvelous vitality and fragility, has inspired generations of composers. In The Oceanides, Sibelius conjures the water nymphs of Greek mythology and the broad majesty of …
“A maximal sound that brings crowds to their feet” (The Guardian)
With her new quartet, Japanese pianist and composer Hiromi taps into her funky side, exploring the avant-garde worlds …
In this South African folktale adapted by singer-songwriter Pete Seeger, a boy and his father are banished from their town for making mischief. They are welcomed back when …
Dancers from Chicago’s world-renowned Joffrey Ballet join the CSO with newly commissioned choreographies. Symphonies by Haydn and the Chevalier de Saint-Georges abound in witty and joyful melodies while …
Boleros de Noche aims to preserve, uplift and celebrate bolero music, often considered the most romantic genre of Latin American music. Tres Souls “enchants audiences and transports them …
The rock-star strummers of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain have won legions of fans with their quicksilver arrangements (spanning pop to classical) and dry British humor. Now …
Experience an exclusive Chicago preview of this program before the CSO appears at the Mahler Festival in Amsterdam as one of only five international orchestras on the lineup. …
Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain is one of India’s reigning cultural ambassadors, renowned for his joyful and captivating virtuosity. He returns with his long-running Masters of Percussion program, a …
In his Third Symphony, Mahler portrays the whole of earthly existence. Its six movements — written for a massive orchestra, two choruses and a contralto soloist — explore …
Emanuel Ax, praised for “his seemingly effortless dexterity and the unnerving clarity of his artistic vision” (San Francisco Chronicle), navigates the intricate melodies of timeless compositions. Delve into …
CSO Artist-in-Residence Daniil Trifonov, “without question the most astounding pianist of our age” (The Times of London), takes on Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto, as remarkable for its rich orchestral …
A community is a group of individuals working toward a common goal — just like an orchestra! Separately, each instrument is unique, but together they create a harmonious …
Anne-Sophie Mutter, the “undisputed queen of violin-playing” (The Times of London), joins her protégé, cellist Pablo Ferrández, and Yefim Bronfman, “famous not only for his spectacular technique but also …
The CSO brings the soaring emotional peaks and valleys of Mahler’s Sixth Symphony to Chicago audiences before performing it on Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw stage. The “hammer blows of fate” …
Evgeny Kissin’s recitals “evoke an earlier era of great Romantic pianism” (Boston Globe) with their “formidable blend of technical prowess and exploratory fervor” (San Francisco Chronicle). Mixing grandeur …
Distinguished Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires, hailed as “an elegant technician and probing interpreter” by The New York Times, returns to Symphony Center. Pires, whose “keyboard touch is a …
Haunted by a mysterious voice he can’t ignore, Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) confounds his neighbors by transforming his cornfield into a place where dreams can come …
Dvořák’s radiant salute to the New World kicks off an American road trip with James Gaffigan at the wheel. Take in poignant selections from Gershwin’s landmark opera — …
In Randall Goosby, the pioneering American composer Florence Price “has her ideal champion,” writes The Guardian, “his playing full of old-school warmth and breadth but never schmaltzy.” Price’s beguiling …
Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson has won legions of fans for his thoughtfully constructed, sublimely played recordings and videos. They have drawn accolades including Gramophone’s Artist of the Year and BBC …
Esteban Batallán, the CSO’s principal trumpet since 2019, makes his much-anticipated debut as a soloist with the Orchestra in a pair of brilliant, high-flying concertos. Riccardo Muti frames …
Honoring the legacies of Oscar Peterson and Nelson Mandela
In a rare live performance, Oscar Peterson’s Africa Suite is presented by an all-star ensemble including his protégé Benny Green and led …
No work delivers such dizzying pleasures while going to hell — and back — as Berlioz’s dramatic opera. Riccardo Muti conducts this kaleidoscopic work, with its timeless themes …
Great Scott! Join Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox), Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) and a time-traveling DeLorean for the adventure of a lifetime as they navigate the past to …
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