Patron Services associate Gabriela Lammers suggests Saint-Saëns and Sibelius staples

The 2024/25 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. Tickets and subscriptions for all series are now on sale and can be ordered online or over the phone. 

Can’t decide which concerts to select? Over the next weeks, staff members will offer their own choices for the must-see performances of 2024/25. 

Gabriela Lammers, Patron Services associate, is ready to hear some of her favorite classical masterworks performed live in Orchestra Hall — including Camille Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto and violin concertos by Jean Sibelius and Max Bruch. 

Here are her top concert picks for 2024/25: 

Lang Lang & The Firebird, Sep. 21: Lang Lang is legendary, and I adore the Saint-Saëns piano concerto that he will perform on the program. The Firebird is such a great way to start the season and I’m excited to see everyone dress up for Symphony Ball. 

Kodo, Feb. 23: I’ve heard awesome things about the Kodo drummers and I’m glad they’re coming back to Symphony Center! I have a friend who is currently living in Japan, and I cannot wait to tell her about this performance. 

Tetzlaff Plays Sibelius, Feb. 14-16: I love the Sibelius Violin Concerto. The second movement is one of my favorite tidbits of music of all time – it really makes your heart soar. I’ve listened to recordings but I’m especially excited to hear it live at Symphony Center! 

Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 with Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, March 27-29: I am really interested to see how Szeps-Znaider conducts and performs since I wasn’t able to see him this past season. The Bruch is another violin concerto that is near and dear to my heart, mainly because I’ve played it for a lot of auditions! 

Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 3, Apr. 24-26: I just started getting into Mahler’s music, and I’m really looking forward to Klaus Mäkelä’s first concert of the season after his directorship announcement! And the chorus is involved too – what more could you ask for?! 

Symphony Center’s 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 them on CSO.org.