Chicago Philharmonic 2019-2020

WELCOME From Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Scott Speck Dear Friends, It’s hard to believe that three decades have passed since the Chicago Phil was born. We began with an idea, nearly unique in the music industry — that a world-class professional orchestra run by its own members could thrive with unusual harmony. Out of this idea sprang a new kind of musical household, imbued with mutual respect and driven by the adoration of our art. We started our family with hope and courage, without knowing what the future would bring. As we look back on the past 30 years, we see how our region has grown up with us. The love of music is alive and well, but in three decades our ways of enjoying it have dramatically changed. The standard repertoire has expanded well beyond our old neighborhood to become infinitely more vibrant and diverse. The stilted formality of past centuries has given way to a rich, inclusive concert experience, and our mode of cooperation has become a shining example for musicians everywhere. To our delight, the Chicago Phil is now more relevant than we could have imagined. And so our 2019-2020 season represents the best that our family has to offer, in beautiful acoustical environments. Beloved masterpieces by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Shostakovich. Enticing and tantalizing sounds from Anna Clyne, Arvo Pärt, Grażyna Bacewicz, and Li Huanzhi. And world premiere fanfares composed on the occasion of our 30 years together. We’ve invited some marvelous collaborators to the celebration: Philippe Quint in Korngold’s Violin Concerto; our own Jeremy Moeller in Ferdinand David’s Trombone Concertino; the astonishing Amjad Ali Khan, the world’s foremost sarod player, in his own composition. And jazz legend Marcus Roberts plays Gershwin’s Concerto in F as you’ve never heard it before (and never will again). Most importantly of all, we are thrilled to welcome you to the table for this most joyous family reunion. Welcome! Sincerely, Scott Speck From Board Chair, Thomas Manning Dear Chicago Philharmonic Family, It’s amazing to realize that we have been making beautiful music together now for 30 seasons! When our original founders set out to launch the “Orchestral Society of Illinois,” did they know that they would become pioneers? While we’ve certainly had our challenges across the years, we’ve also witnessed tremendous growth across all aspects of the Society, including musician members, the range and scope of performances, and the number of people we serve across the greater Chicago community. We have added more concerts to our programming this year than ever before - with seven concerts across three venues. Plus, for the first time, we proudly performed a concert this summer in collaboration with Lincoln Park Zoo, bringing gorgeous classics to new audiences in a unique environment. To celebrate our milestone, we’re excited to present a special anniversary concert featuring a reunion between Chicago Phil’s original Music Director and Conductor, Larry Rachleff, and violin virtuoso David Perry. We’ll also be returning to City Winery in the West Loop for the wildly popular Chicago Phil Chamber series. This coming year, our partnerships with other artists and organizations include Weird Al Yankovich and Sarah McLachlan at Ravinia Festival, The Joffrey Ballet and Disney in concert at Auditorium Theatre, Salute to Vienna at Symphony Center, and Brian Stokes Mitchell at Aurora University at Lake Geneva. Keep an eye out for more still to be announced. Thanks to the U.S. Bank Community Possible TM grant, we’re also excited to announce that we will be able to bring our Chi Phil AMP mentorship program to three additional schools in under-served areas. Through this program, as well as Families to the Phil and Side by Side with the Chicago Philharmonic, we are continuing to share the beauty and power of great music with many more students. None of this would have been achievable without the ongoing support of our extended family . Our supporters, sponsors, patrons, donors, and audience members. All of you are a part of the fabric of this community. Thank you for embracing us in our milestone year, and we look forward to spending this year - and many more to come - with you. Sincerely, Thomas J. Manning Photo by Elliot Mandel 2 2019-2020 SEASON | THE CHICAGO PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY