In addition, the orchestra will play music inspired by the project throughout the season. These include works by Asian composers, including Toru Takemitsu; works by Western composers on Eastern themes such as Bart‹k's The Miraculous Mandarin; and other works connected to the Silk Road "historically, geographically, and metaphorically."
Among the new music on the schedule this season (in addition to the trombone concerto premiered last night) is a new work by composer-in-residence Mark-Anthony Turnage — who, with Osvaldo Golijov, begins his tenure in 2006-07 — and the American premiere of conductor and harpsichordist Ton Koopman's arrangement of Bach's Concerto for Three Harpichords for flute, oboe, and violin.
Other highlights include performances of Wynton Marsalis's All Rise in collaboration with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra; season-closing performances of the Verdi Requiem and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony; and a pension fund benefit featuring mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.
Lacking a music director, the orchestra will turn its podium over to a long list of prominent guest conductors, including Christoph von Dohnšnyi, Charles Dutoit, Riccardo Muti, Kent Nagano, David Robertson and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Principal guest conductor Pierre Boulez will spend three weeks with the ensemble in Chicago and New York.
Among the guest soloists this season are pianists H_lne Grimaud (making her CSO debut), Lang Lang and Mitsuko Uchida (who will lead the CSO from the piano); violinists Gil Shaham, Hilary Hahn and Pinchas Zukerman; and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
Information on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's 2006-07 season is available at www.cso.org.
