Leonidas Kavakos & Daniil Trifonov

Mar 9, 2025

Overview

Audience FavoriteA pair of superstars shares the Symphony Center stage. Leonidas Kavakos, “a commanding presence onstage” (The New York Times), teams up with CSO Artist-in-Residence Daniil Trifonov, “one of the most spectacularly virtuosic pianists of the day” (The New York Times), for a program that spans the restless outpourings of Beethoven and Brahms to the 20th-century fireworks of Poulenc and Bartók.


Three reasons why you should get your tickets today
  • A Masterful Duo: Experience the extraordinary musical chemistry between two of today’s most celebrated musicians, both known for their profound technical ability and fresh interpretive insights. “There’s an old-school sensibility to Kavakos’ playing, a sense that the violin is an instrument that should both beguile and impress us,” (The Guardian) making it a perfect match for Trifonov’s “ringing sound … high velocity and smooth phrasing” (New York Classical Review).
  • A Diverse and Dynamic Program: Delight in a program that journeys through the full spectrum of expression, from Beethoven’s classical elegance and Brahms’ lyrical beauty to Poulenc’s daring harmonies and Bartók’s rhythmic intensity. Each piece offers a unique mood, creating a vivid and unforgettable listening experience.
  • An Exclusive Postconcert Discussion: After this matinee performance, enjoy an engaging Q&A session with Trifonov and Kavakos. Hear their thoughts on the program’s repertoire, their artistic collaboration and their personal connections to the music.
Schedule
Program
Beethoven

Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Minor, Op. 23

Poulenc

Violin Sonata

Brahms

Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 78

Bartók

Rhapsody No. 1 for Violin and Piano

Schubert

Andantino from Violin Sonata No. 4 in A Major (Grand Duo) [Mar 9 Encore]

Performers
Piano
2024/25 CSO Artist-in-Residence

Extras

Enhance your concert experience.

Postconcert Q&A

Following the concert, enjoy an engaging Q&A session with both artists in Orchestra Hall. Hear their thoughts on the program’s repertoire, their artistic collaboration and their personal connections to the music. Open to all ticketholders.

Sponsors & Partners

The Artist in Residence at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is made possible through a generous gift from James and Brenda Grusecki.


Discover more on Experience CSO
Violinist Leonidas Kavakos admits that he loves “playing chamber music," he says. "For two hours you develop, with the audience, an atmosphere that is really unique. I love that."
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In November 1941, Béla Bartók was soloist in his Second Piano Concerto with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Frederick Stock conducted.
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Daniil Trifonov, the CSO’s Artist-in-Residence for the 2024/25 Season, launches the first of his three Chicago residencies with a Nov. 17 recital.
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