The Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently announced programming for the 125th Anniversary Season, including a fresh look at many of the works the CSO has premiered over its 125-year history. The 2015-16 season will also include a renewed focus on repertoire that has long been a strength of the CSO: the Austro-German orchestral repertoire, ranging from Handel's Messiah to Mahler's Symphony No. 1.

One of the showpieces of this coming season will be a concert performance of Verdi's Falstaff, the final opera in the CSO's cycle of Verdi operas inspired by the works of Shakespeare. More highlights include special one-night-only appearances by pianists Lang Lang and Evgeny Kissin.

The CSO will present another free Concert for Chicago in Millennium Park on September 18, 2015, featuring music of Beethoven and Mahler. This concert is one of the 125 community events the CSO has pledged to present in greater Chicago during its 125th season.

Information about the complete 125th Anniversary Season is available at cso.org.

The CSO's World and U.S. Premieres

During a collegial meeting in the Symphony Center Club earlier this week, Music Director Riccardo Muti and Program Annotator Phillip Huscher talked about the decision to revisit the many premieres the CSO has given in its 125-year history. Huscher said that the orchestra was deeply involved in planning the new season when Martha Gilmer, vice president of artistic planning, left the Orchestra to become the CEO of the San Diego Symphony.

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