From the CSO’s Archives: The First 130 Years

World's Columbian Exposition in 1893

May 04, 2021 — 1 hr 45 min listen

Detail of program page from the inaugural concert of the World's Columbian Exposition on May 2, 1893

Rosenthal Archives of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association

On May 2, 1893, Theodore Thomas—our founder and first music director—led the Exposition Orchestra (the Chicago Orchestra expanded to 114 players) in the World’s Columbian Exposition’s inaugural concert, which included Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony. The following day, the second concert opened with Beethoven’s Third Symphony, followed by Polish pianist Ignace Paderewski as soloist in Schumann’s Piano Concerto.

Tune in to WFMT 98.7 or stream online at wfmt.com
Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 8:00 p.m. CDT

Schumann Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54
Carlo Maria Giulini conductor
Artur Rubinstein piano
March 1967 (RCA)

Schubert Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 (Unfinished)
Seiji Ozawa conductor
August 1968 (RCA)

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 (Eroica)
Sir Georg Solti conductor
May 1989 (London)

From the CSO’s Archives: The First 130 Years—featuring recordings from the CSO’s vast discography, including releases on CSO Resound—is a cultural and community partnership between the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and WFMT, Chicago’s Classical Music Station.

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