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Although no foolproof analytical method exists to measure the greatness of a classical-music performer, strong indicators of achievement are the artist-of-the-year awards bestowed by two of the most respected publications in the field: Musical America and Gramophone.
A look at the list of winners from past decades emphasizes the elevated caliber of musicians who have been honored, such as conductor Leonard Bernstein, soprano Leontyne Price, pianist Vladimir Horowitz and violinist Yehudi Menuhin, just to name a few.
It is a testament to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s standing in the classical world that it regularly attracts many of these artists of the year, and 2023-24 is no exception.
Indeed, this season’s lineup includes five conductors and instrumentalists who have won artist-of-the-year honors from Musical America and Gramophone, sure evidence of stature in the field:
Hilary Hahn (Musical America, 2023, and Gramophone, 2008): Now in her third season as CSO Artist-in-Residence, Hahn performs Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the CSO under Mikko Franck on Dec. 7-9. In the spring, she returns for a SCP Chamber Music concert titled Hilary Hahn & Friends on June 9.
Yo-Yo Ma (Musical America, 2009, and Gramophone, 1997): Arguably the world’s most famous living classical musician, the cellist served as the CSO’s Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant in 2010-19. He is back for two programs as part of the Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music series: Feb. 3, with pianist Emanuel Ax and violinist Leonidas Kavakos, and April 7, with pianist Kathryn Stott.
Simon Rattle (Musical America, 2002, and Gramophone, 1993): The celebrated British maestro was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic in 2002-18 and now serves as music director of the London Symphony Orchestra. He will lead the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany in a Symphony Center Presents Orchestras series concert April 28.
Michael Tilson Thomas (Musical America, 1971, and Gramophone, 2005): One of the most prominent of Leonard Bernstein’s protégés, Tilson Thomas stepped down as music director of the San Francisco Symphony in 2022 after 25 years in the position. He returns to Orchestra Hall to lead the CSO in concerts Nov. 30, Dec. 1-2 and 5.
Daniil Trifonov (Musical America, 2019, and Gramophone, 2016): The Russian pianist has quickly gained renown for his technically secure and unusually insightful playing. He will serve as soloist for the CSO’s first performances, under Lahav Shani, of Mason Bates’ Piano Concerto on June 20-23.
An artist of the year with a particularly close relationship to the CSO is Riccardo Muti, who was named in June as Music Director Emeritus for Life. He won the Musical America title in 2010. He is leading the orchestra’s two opening sets of concerts, including performances Sept. 28-30, as well as two concerts at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 4-5 and a European tour this winter.
Another notable honoree is composer Philip Glass, winner of the Musical America award in 1985. The CSO performed the minimalist pioneer’s Symphony No. 11 in February 2022 — the first time any Chicago ensemble presented a Glass symphony and also the first time that Muti conducted one of the composer’s works. Those performances led Muti and the CSO to commission a 10-minute opener from Glass titled The Triumph of the Octagon, which will receive its world premiere Sept. 28-30.
Here are the other artist-of-the-year winners featured this season:
Musical America Artists of the Year
Wynton Marsalis (2004): The trumpeter, composer and bandleader and his Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra return for their annual residency, this time appearing with conductor Giancarlo Guerrero for CSO concerts April 25-27, as well as a Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra concert April 24 for the SCP Jazz series concert.
Esa-Pekka Salonen (2006): The Finnish-born conductor-composer, currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, will lead the CSO in concerts May 23-25.
Mitsuko Uchida (2022): The pianist-conductor returns with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra for a Symphony Center Presents Orchestras series concert March 26.
Yuja Wang (2017): The pianist joins the CSO, under Klaus Mäkelä, for concerts April 4-6.
Gramophone Artists of the Year
Paavo Järvi (2015): The Estonian-American conductor leads the CSO in concerts Feb. 15 and 17-18.
Leonidas Kavakos (2014): After taking a star turn at the annual Symphony Ball, the violinist returns for CSO concerts Nov. 16-19 under Philippe Jordan and again in the winter for a SCP Chamber Music recital Feb. 3 with pianist Emanuel Ax and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Maxim Vengerov (2002): Making his first Symphony Center appearance since, the Russian-born violinist appears with pianist Polina Osetinskaya in a Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music recital on Nov. 10.
