CSO to launch new radio series to fill concert void

Thu Apr 02, 2020 at 2:48 pm

By Lawrence A. Johnson

Riccardo Muti and Yo-Yo Ma acknowledge applause following the 2018 CSO performance of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2. Photo: Todd Rosenberg

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and WFMT-98.7 FM are launching a six-week radio series to fill the live-performance void due to the Covid-19 pandemic and ensuing shutdown and quarantine.

“From the CSO’s Archives: Maestro’s Choice—For All Music Lovers in These Difficult Times” will air 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights, beginning April 7 and running through May 12. Reflecting the series’ tortuous title, five of the six programs will spotlight performances or recordings conducted by music director Riccardo Muti.

The opening program will feature a 2018 concert with Muti leading Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 3 and Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and Cello Concerto No. 2 with Yo-Yo Ma. The program will be filled out with excerpts from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet. taken from the 2013 Muti/CSO recording.

The April 21 program is devoted to Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, conducted by Bernard Haitink and taken from the 2006 CSO Resound recording.

Two archive performances will feature Fritz Reiner leading Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 and Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra, both from RCA recordings.

In addition to the WFMT radio broadcasts, the series will also be streamed on wfmt.com. For more information go to csosoundsandstories.org

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One Response to “CSO to launch new radio series to fill concert void”

  1. Posted Apr 02, 2020 at 5:47 pm by Ann Raven

    These programs sound super! Thank you. I miss the CSO and Maestro Muti very much. Can’t wait to hear them.
    Ann Raven

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