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Palm trees festooned with rainbow-colored lights add to the sense of occasion at the McCallum Theatre.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
On its West Coast Tour 2026, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra returned to the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California, where it last performed in 2017.
Led by Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life, the CSO offered a program on Jan. 21 of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony, Stravinsky’s Divertimento, Suite from The Fairy’s Kiss and Ravel’s Boléro. The concert was presented by Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic.
Musicians rehearsed during the day at the McCallum, named for a prominent local Coachella Valley family, and then performed an evening concert in the theater, which opened in 1988.
Next up: a venue debut in Northridge, at the Soraya, on Jan. 22.
Jiwon Sun, director of tour and media operations, in an optical illusion, as a bouquet creates the appearance of a hat.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Timothy Higgins, principal trombone, warms up amid the maroon-colored seats of McCallum Hall.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Paolo Dara, appointed to the CSO's viola section in the fall, warms up before the rehearsal.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO violin Ni Mei (center) is all smiles at the afternoon rehearsal.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
John Deverman, the CSO's director of orchestra personnel, greets the musicians.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Riccardo Muti, CSO Music Director Emeritus for Life, makes a point during rehearsal.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
A view from the rear of McCallum Theatre during rehearsal: the hall opened January 1988.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Here's a very meta moment: a CSO musician shoots photographer Todd Rosenberg as he shoots him.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
During the afternoon rehearsal, the camera finds Danny Lai, who joined the CSO's viola section in 2014.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO flute/piccolo Jenn Gunn pets a pooch, who belongs to Guido Frackers of Trav-Tours, which oversees the complex transit logistics for the CSO's tours.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Backstage at the McCallum, Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny unpacks a cimbasso, a trombone-like instrument often used in Italian opera. The cimbasso will be heard in the program's encore.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Riccardo Muti bonds with a new friend — a standard poodle — as the CSO's Cristina Rocca and Mónica Lugo watch.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Before the concert, Lincoln Smelser (left), a guest cellist, and violin Cornelius Chiu relax on a comfy couch.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
William Welter, principal oboe, inspects a reed that he's chosen for the concert.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO Stage Manager Chris Lewis and CSO tech Paul Christopher adjust Muti's music stand.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Before the concert stars, CSO violin Sandro Shia asks a fellow musician to take her photo as a souvenir.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Pietro Fiumara, the CSO's artists' assistant, watches from the stage wings.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
CSO violin So Young Bae appears in deep focus.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
The 1,127-seat McCallum Theatre, which opened on Jan. 2, 1988, is known for its warm acoustics.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
"Boléro" calls at times for strings to be plucked, adding to the work's percussive effect.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Kenneth Olsen (left), assistant principal cello, and John Sharp, principal cello, come into view.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
The CSO's percussion section receives a star turn in Maurice Ravel's "Boléro."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
Principal Percussion Cynthia Yeh takes a bow for her snare drum performance in Ravel's "Boléro."
Todd Rosenberg Photography
With the concert over, CSO stage technician Chris Grannen flashes the heavy-metal equivalent of two thumbs up.
Todd Rosenberg Photography
