In Thursday’s (2/7) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein writes, “With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra heading home this week from its tour of the Far East, the CSO Association is wasting no time releasing the programs and artists to be presented during the fall season at Symphony Center. The orchestra’s 2013-14 concert schedule, which was announced along with related programming on Wednesday, will mark Riccardo Muti’s fourth season as music director. Much of the Italian maestro’s time in Chicago will find him concentrating on music by two composers close to his heart, Giuseppe Verdi and Franz Schubert. Muti, today’s greatest Verdi conductor, will wrap up the CSO’s observance of his countryman’s bicentennial with four programs, including a concert version of the opera ‘Macbeth’ in late September and early October, and a performance of the Verdi Requiem to be given on the composer’s 200th birthday, Oct. 10. In January, Muti will embark on a Schubert symphony cycle that will extend through the end of the season in June and include other orchestral and choral works. … Another major anniversary to be honored is the Benjamin Britten centennial, which the CSO and Chicago Symphony Chorus will mark with performances under Charles Dutoit’s direction of the English composer’s landmark ‘War Requiem.’ … New music next season will include the world premieres of two CSO commissions from Italian composer and cellist Giovanni Sollima and French composer Guillaume Connesson.
Posted February 7, 2013
