RICCARDO MUTI LEADS THREE CSO PROGRAMS TO OPEN 2023/24 SEASON IN SEPTEMBER AND TWO PROGRAMS WITH THE CSO AT NEW YORK’S CARNEGIE HALL IN OCTOBER
SEPTEMBER 21–OCTOBER 5, 2023
CHICAGO — Riccardo Muti returns to Chicago in September to open the 2023/24 Season, which marks the 133rd Season for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO). He continues his artistic collaboration with the CSO in his new role as Music Director Emeritus for Life, following 13 years of celebrated partnership with the Orchestra as music director. His three-week residency in September and October features three concert programs in Chicago, including the annual Symphony Ball concert, and two concerts at New York’s Carnegie Hall, marking the opening of the historic venue’s 2023/24 season programming and the first appearance there for Muti and the CSO since 2019.
In his first CSO subscription program, Muti and the CSO perform the 1919 Suite from Stravinsky’s colorful ballet score for The Firebird on a program that also highlights the beauty of the natural world in Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 (September 21, 22 & 26). Renowned violinist Leonidas Kavakos joins Muti and the CSO for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto at the festive Symphony Ball concert that also features Italian opera selections by Puccini, Leoncavallo, Giordano and Verdi (September 23). Muti and the CSO cap their time together in Chicago with a subscription program inspired by Muti’s native Italy featuring Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 (Italian), Strauss’ symphonic fantasy Aus Italien and opening with the world premiere of The Triumph of the Octagon, a CSO-commissioned work by American composer Philip Glass (September 28-30). Following the September 30 performance, Muti participates in a postconcert book and CD signing at Symphony Center. Muti’s residency with the CSO continues with two concerts at Carnegie Hall — an October 4 concert with Leonidas Kavakos as soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition followed by an October 5 concert with the Italian-inspired program including works by Glass, Mendelssohn and Strauss. For program, ticket and patron information, visit cso.org.