CSO chamber music programming details announced for 2024-25

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has announced programming details for the 2024-25 Season of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music series at Symphony Center and in community venues. This season, the six CSO Chamber Music concerts will be presented in three performances in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center (220 S. Michigan), and three performances at community venues throughout Chicago: Northeastern Illinois University, Senn High School and South Shore Cultural Center.

As a new offering in the 2024/25 Season, pay-what-you wish-tickets, starting at $15, are available for all CSO Chamber Music concerts at Symphony Center. Tickets to CSO Chamber Music concerts in community venues are free, but advance reservations are required and open to the public two weeks before concert dates.

More information is available at cso.org.

CSO Chamber Music at Symphony Center

Winter Quartet, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m.: The Winter Quartet (Ni Mei, violin; Danny Lai, viola; Katinka Kleijn, cello; and Spencer Myer, piano) performs Mahler’s unfinished and rarely heard Piano Quartet. Saariaho’s Cloud Trio, which evokes shifting textures with its fluid passages. and Fauré’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in C Minor, complete the program.

Civitas Ensemble, March 4, 6:30 p.m.: The Civitas Ensemble (Yuan-Qing Yu, CSO assistant concermaster; Ni Mei, violin; Teng Li, CSO principal viola; Kenneth Olsen, CSO assistant principal cello, and Winston Choi, piano) performs two masterpieces of Romantic expression. Bonis’ Piano Quartet No. 1 in B-flat Major opens the program, followed by Dvořák’s Piano Quintet in A Major, which blends Bohemian folk themes and lyricism.

Chicago Symphony Chamber Players, June 10, 6:30 p.m.: The Chicago Symphony Chamber Players (Robert Chen, CSO Concertmaster; Teng Li, principal viola; Kenneth Olsen, assistant principal cello, and William Welter, CSO principal oboe) perform Britten’s Phantasy for Oboe and String Trio in F Minor, which weaves enchanting dialogues between instruments. Mozart’s Divertimento in E-flat Major for String Trio showcases his mastery with intimate and inventive movements.

CSO Chamber Music in the Community

Lincoln String Quartet, Nov. 17, 3 p.m., the Recital Hall at Northeastern Illinois University (5500 N. St. Louis): The Lincoln String Quartet (Qing Hou, violin; Lei Hou, violin; Lawrence Neuman, viola, and Kenneth Olsen, assistant principal cello) performs Mozart’s String Quartet in F Major. The program closes with Debussy’s revolutionary String Quartet in G Minor.

Wabash Avenue Music Collective, March 23, 3 p.m., at Senn High School (5900 N. Glenwood): The Wabash Avenue Music Collective (Max Raimi, viola; Emma Gerstein, flute; Eleanor Kirk, harp, and Sara Dailey, mezzo-soprano) performs Saint-Saëns’ Fantaisie, followed by Jan Bach’s Eisteddfod, which offers a poignant reflection of one of Wales’ oldest cultural traditions. The program includes the world premiere of If I Had As Many Hands as Vishnu, set to Stephen Ackerman’s poem, by CSO violist and composer Max Raimi. The program concludes with Debussy’s Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp.

South Loop Quintet, April 27, 3 p.m., South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore Dr.): The South Loop Quintet (So Young Bae, violin; Danny Yehun Jin, violin; Wei-Ting Kuo, viola; Sunghee Choi, viola, and Karen Basrak, cello) performs Anton Reicha’s String Quintet in F Major, Op. 92, No. 1. The program concludes with Antonín Dvořák’s folk-inspired String Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 97 (American), reflecting Dvořák’s deep appreciation for the tapestry of America and its diverse musical influences.

CSO Chamber Music at University of Chicago

CSO Chamber Music returns to the University of Chicago for three Sunday matinees examining the theme of “Music in Times of Crisis." The programs will take place Oct. 27, Feb. 2 and April 6; all concerts begin at 3 p.m. Information regarding series subscriptions and more is available at UChicago Presents.

Tickets and Patron Information

Tickets for CSO Chamber Music concerts at Symphony Center are available now for $15 each as part of a Create Your Own series subscription package of three or more programs across the 2024/25 Season.

Individual tickets for the CSO Chamber Music concerts at Symphony Center went on sale Aug. 7, offered on a pay-what-you-wish basis, starting at $15. Free tickets for CSO Chamber Music programs at the three community venues can be reserved two weeks before the concert dates at cso.org.

Representatives are available to assist with ticket packages by web chat at cso.org, by calling (312) 94-3000 (Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), or by emailing patronservices@cso.org.

All artists and programs are subject to change.