In Tuesday’s (1/8) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein writes, “Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director [Riccardo Muti] has come down with a case of the flu that has forced him to withdraw from this week’s CSO subscription concerts at Symphony Center. Muti, 71, arrived in town Monday afternoon on a flight from Rome, less than a day ahead of the orchestra’s first rehearsal of the new year Tuesday morning. But upon arrival he told CSO Association President Deborah Rutter he felt unwell and wouldn’t be able to direct the scheduled concerts Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, Friday afternoon, and the night of Jan. 15. … Directing the all-Beethoven program in his stead will be Dutch conductor Edo de Waart, music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and an artistic partner with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. … Muti is scheduled to lead the orchestra on its first joint tour of the Far East Jan. 25-Feb. 7, and the January subscription weeks are given over, in part, to preparing repertory for that tour. [CSO spokesperson Rachelle] Roe said time had been allotted in the tour schedule to rehearse the music, whether or not Muti is able to prepare and conduct tour repertory this month in Chicago.”
Posted January 8, 2013
