Your experience begins long before the first note. Find your perfect seat and explore information about parking, dining, accessibility and shopping to make your visit seamless and memorable.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Close Encounters of the Third Kind in Concert
May 3-5, 2024
Overview
Immerse yourself in Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi masterpiece with John Williams’ pioneering score performed by the CSO. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss as an Indiana utility worker who experiences a close encounter with a UFO. Nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Original Score, Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains as powerful and engrossing today as it did at its 1977 premiere.
Program
Williams
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Performers
Extras
Enhance your concert experience.
Preconcert Dining
Enhance your concert experience by dining at Forte featuring contemporary Mediterranean cuisine or the Thomas Club featuring traditional American fare. Learn more »
Close Encounters special menu items at Forte
On May 3-5, Forte will be offering a special menu, showcasing items inspired by the movie, including a Devil's Tower of Mashed Potatoes. View menu | Make a reservation.
Close Encounters special cocktail
Enjoy a Kodály Method cocktail, made with Vodka, Midori, Lime, Lemon and Grenadine. An eye catching bright green due to the Japanese melon liqueur, this specialty cocktail will be available at all concert bars, and drinks ordered with a Symphony Center souvenir cup will be permitted in the hall during the performance.
Preconcert Conversation
On Friday, May 3, explore the music and the science of extraterrestrial life in a free preconcert conversation featuring Richard Kaufman and astronomer Andrew Johnston from the Adler Planetarium. The conversation will take place in Orchestra Hall 75 minutes before the performance. The talk will last approximately 30 minutes. No additional tickets are needed.
Sponsors & Partners
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
This concert is part of the CSO at the Movies series, which is generously sponsored by Megan and Steve Shebik.
The appearance of the Chicago Symphony Chorus has been made possible by a generous gift from The Grainger Foundation.
Discover more on Experience CSO
The genius of John Williams, says Richard Kaufman says, is that he "really appreciates great storytelling, and his music truly accompanies the story and only calls attention to itself when he means for it to call attention to itself.”
Explore more