CSOradio
CSOradio
Joseph Fernicola, director of sales and patron experience, plans to take in as many Muti concerts as possible during the music director's final season in the post.
The 2022-23 seasons of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Symphony Center Presents are just weeks away, and members of the Sales and Patron Experience team are here to help. The box office opened for single-ticket purchases on Aug. 3 — in person, by phone and online — and subscriptions for all series are available.
Can’t decide which concerts to select? Over the next weeks, staff members will offer their own choices for the must-see performances of 2022-23.
Joseph Fernicola, director of sales and patron experience, is already summoning up — to paraphrase “The Way We Were” — “misty watercolor memories” of the Riccardo Muti tenure, as the music director begins his final season in the post. Anticipating an onslaught of emotions, Fernicola advises patrons to keep their handkerchiefs at the ready this season, as they — and he — will “need all the Muti possible.”
His top choices for 2022-23:
1. Jan. 6-7, Marin Alsop and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Wolfe: Her Story. I was looking forward to seeing this program highlighting women composers and led by Marin Alsop when it was first planned for the 2020/21 season. I’m glad to see it is finally happening!
2. Nov. 16, Berlin Philharmonic, and Feb. 14, Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I’m signing up for the SCP Orchestras series to enjoy the “two-fer” of visiting orchestras, with the Berlin Phil before Thanksgiving and the Toronto Symphony on Valentine’s Day.
3. Feb. 16-18, Klaus Mäkelä and the CSO. This concert is my FOMO pick for the upcoming season, as I did not see Klaus Mäkelä conduct last season and heard rave reviews about that performance!
4. May 28, Maria João Pires, and Oct. 18, Chucho Valdés’ The Creation. On the SCP Piano series, I am looking forward to seeing Maria João Pires and for the SCP Jazz series, I think pianist Chucho Valdés’ The Creation sounds intriguing!
5. Muti mania. Lastly, this may be “mutiny” and really breaking the rules of this exercise, but I need ALL THE MUTI possible next season, his last as music director. His retrospective performances in particular will bring back many memories for me. From being in the throngs at his inaugural concert in Millennium Park in 2010 (Pines of Rome will never be as exciting) to sitting in Orchestra Hall watching the CSO play countless masterworks (such as Pictures from an Exhibition — the piece that got me hooked on orchestral music as a kid), I know I will need to keep a handkerchief at the ready for many concerts.
Our friendly and knowledgeable Sales and Patron Experience team members are here to help. For personalized assistance with your ticket order, call 312-294-3000 or chat with us on CSO.org.
