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Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Lincoln Portrait & Ellington Harlem
June 18-21, 2026
Overview
Aaron Copland’s timeless tribute to the nation’s 16th president anchors a powerful program spanning multiple generations of American composers. Chicago native and Tony Award-nominee Harry Lennix — most recently seen in The Goodman’s production of Inherit the Wind and also known for roles in The Blacklist, The Matrix franchise and the DC Universe — lends his commanding voice and presence to the piece as the narrator. Works by Ellington and former Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery reflect on the ideals of freedom and equality, Ives salutes his beloved New England, and Martinů honors Plymouth Rock, symbolizing the opportunities America offered him.
Program
Montgomery
Banner
Martinů
The Rock
Copland
Lincoln Portrait
Ives
Three Places in New England
Ellington (orch. Henderson & Mauceri)
Harlem
Performers
Extras
Enhance your concert experience.
Preconcert Dining
Explore Symphony Center’s on-site dining options for a seamless preconcert experience. Preorder a Sound Bites meal to enjoy in the Rotunda before the concert — or make a reservation to dine at the Thomas Club, offering a prix fixe menu featuring traditional American fare and a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. View menus and learn more »
Preconcert Conversation
Explore the music in a free preconcert conversation featuring LaRob K. Rafael in Orchestra Hall 75 minutes before the performance. The talk will last approximately 30 minutes. No additional tickets are needed.
Sponsors & Partners
This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
These concerts are generously sponsored by an anonymous donor.
Discover more on Experience CSO
Conductor Joshua Weilerstein says, “I love bringing unfamiliar pieces to audiences,. That's the most fulfilling thing ... to be able to share music that you love with somebody and convince them to enjoy it themselves.”
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Of his role as the narrator in Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait," Harry Lennix says, “The music does a lot of the work for me. I think of myself as an instrument — in my case, maybe the tuba.”
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Jessie Montgomery, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Mead Composer-in-Residence from 2021 to 2024, calls her "Banner" a rhapsody on "The Star-Spangled Banner," the U.S. National Anthem.
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