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Concertgoers arrive at the Mesa Arts Center before the CSO’s first appearance in the Tom & Janet Ikeda Theater.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
After much anticipation, Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra launched their seven-city, eight-concert North American tour, with their first-ever concert in Mesa, Arizona.
The event was especially memorable for CSO viola Catherine Brubaker, who grew up in Tucson and began her music education in Arizona. Joining the cheering section in Mesa were family members (including Molly, daughter of John Bruce Yeh), former CSO musicians (Paul Phillips Jr.), past mentors and teachers, and CSO Governing Members, such as John and Megan Anderson.
Along with Mesa, the tour features CSO debuts in Stanford, California, and Stillwater, Oklahoma. The first leg culminates with two concerts in Toronto, marking the orchestra’s first appearances there since 1914. The programs consist of Beethoven’s Seventh and Eighth symphonies and Coriolan Overture, Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake and Ravel’s arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition.
After the CSO returns to Symphony Center for a few weeks, Muti joins them Feb. 23-25 in Chicago and then in Kansas City for a concert Feb. 26 with Julia Fischer in Schumann’s Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony. They wrap up their winter tour by traveling to Florida for four concerts from Feb. 28 to March 4.
The sun sets over Mesa while CSO musicians walk from their hotel to the concert hall.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Before the concert in Mesa, CSO horn Susanna Gaunt gives her aunt a little master class on proper horn etiquette.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
In the lobby, Assistant Principal Clarinet John Bruce Yeh meets up with his daughter Molly, now a cooking show host.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Bassoon Keith Buncke takes a solo bow after a performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
At intermission, Principal Bass Alexander Hanna takes a moment to reconnect with his first music teacher, Kay Moore, who started working with him when he was just 4 years old.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
A Tucson native, violist Catherine Brubaker performs Liadov’s "The Enchanted Lake" during the concert in Mesa, Arizona.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, flanked by trumpet John Hagstrom and Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny, takes the lead in Mussorgsky’s "Pictures from an Exhibition."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
The mighty CSO brass section reaches full power during Mussorgsky’s "Pictures from an Exhibition."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Riccardo Muti leads the CSO in "The Great Gate of Kiev," the finale of Mussorgsky's "Pictures."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Riccardo Muti gestures to Michael Mulcahy, usually a trombonist, after his solo on tenor tuba in Mussorgsky’s "Pictures."
For an encore, Riccardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in the Intermezzo from Giordano’s opera "Fedora."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Paul Phillips, who retired from the CSO violin section in June 2020, enjoys the performance from a great seat in the hall.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Violinist Qing Hou smiles in response to the audience's enthusiastic applause after the concert in Mesa.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
And just like that, Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny joins the orchestra in packing up for the next stop, Costa Mesa, California.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Stagehand Todd Snick prepares to roll the big brass bell, specially made for the CSO, to its traveling case.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
A dog named Hugo is in the driver's seat and ready to take the tour cargo straight to Costa Mesa.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO musicians Loren Brown, Kenneth Olsen, and Simon and Matous Michal pose with CSO retiree Paul Phillips.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
