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Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Glover, Chen & the CSO
Apr 22-24, 2027
Overview
Join Dame Jane Glover and the CSO for two playfully themed works: Michael Abels’ clever spin on Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Haydn’s Symphony No. 83, affectionately nicknamed The Hen for its musical barnyard of clucking and pecking poultry. Also enjoy Richard Strauss’ Violin Concerto, a youthful, mercurial piece, here featuring Concertmaster Robert Chen, and Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin, a Baroque-style dance suite that pays tender homage to his friends who died in World War I.
Three reasons why you should get your tickets today
- From Concertmaster to Soloist: For over 25 years, Robert Chen has been the concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and has premiered works by composers including György Ligeti, Elliott Carter and Augusta Read Thomas. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear him take center stage in the Strauss’ Violin Concerto.
- Vivaldi Reimagined: Composer Michael Abels puts a playful spin on Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons in More Seasons, blending Baroque themes with jazz, blues and funk.
- Discover Different Sides of the Orchestra: Michael Abels has written film scores for Jordan Peele’s Get Out, Us and Nope. His music is inventive and approachable, blending classical forms with jazz, gospel, hip-hop and world music. Experience the orchestra in unexpected ways during this concert.
Program
Abels
More Seasons
R. Strauss
Violin Concerto
Ravel
Le tombeau de Couperin
Haydn
Symphony No. 83 (The Hen)
Performers
Enhance your experience
Preconcert Conversation
Explore the music in a free preconcert conversation featuring Carl Grapentine in Orchestra Hall 75 minutes before the performance. The talk will last approximately 30 minutes. No additional tickets are needed.
Preconcert Dining
Explore Chicago 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.
Inside the Music
About the music
Composer Michael Abels calls "More Seasons," his playful deconstruction of the famous string concertos, as “Vivaldi in a Mixmaster," as it fuses Baroque themes with jazz, blues and funk idioms in a "Mixmaster” style.
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Guest conductors
For her upcoming CSO engagement, Dame Jane Glover draws on a specialty — English music. “I do a lot of English repertoire,” she said. “Benjamin Britten is incredibly close to my heart. I conduct his music as often as I can.”
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Musician training
Robert Chen, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, explains the intricacies of the violin solo in Richard Strauss' "Ein Heldenleben."
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