September | 2025 | from the archives
Theodore Thomas in the 1860s| from the archives
Throughout his career, Theodore Thomas introduced hundreds of works to the American public as a conductor and music director of his own Theodore Thomas Orchestra, the New York and Brooklyn philharmonics, and ultimately the Chicago Orchestra, which he founded in 1891. In fact, the first orchestral concert under his own direction—given on May 13, 1862, in New York’s … … Continue reading →| from the archives
Theodore Thomas’ score to Dvořák’s Violin Concerto, likely used for the U.S. premiere in October 1891 On October 30, 1891, founder and first music director Theodore Thomas led the Chicago Orc…| from the archives
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the international music community in mourning the death of celebrated German conductor Christoph von Dohnányi. He died on September 6, 2025, in Munich at the age of ninety-five. Over the course of five decades, Dohnányi was a frequent guest conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, both in Orchestra Hall and […]| from the archives
Wishing a very happy eightieth birthday to legendary Israeli-American violinist, conductor, and teacher Itzhak Perlman! Perlman made his Chicago debut as soloist with the Grant Park Symphony Orches…| from the archives
José van Dam in January 1979 (Santi Visalli photo via Getty Images)| from the archives
José van Dam in January 1979 (Santi Visalli photo via Getty Images) Wishing a very happy eighty-fifth birthday to the legendary Belgian bass-baritone José van Dam! Van Dam has appeared with the Chi…| from the archives
We have just received word that Rubén D’Artagnan González, a concertmaster with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1986 until 1996, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 13, 2018, after a long illness. He was 79.| from the archives
Cleo Laine in April 1974. Photo by David Redfern (Getty Images) The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the music world in mourning the loss of English singer and actress Dame Cleo Laine. She d…| from the archives
Fehling in 1979 (Robert M. Lightfoot III photo) The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family mourns the loss of Fox Fehling, who served as a member of the violin section from 1979 until 2022. She died on …| from the archives
Alfred Brendel at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in Scotland in August 2003 (Shutterstock) The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family joins the music world in mourning the loss of Austrian pi…| from the archives
Frederica von Stade in 2005 (2005 Robert Millard) Wishing a very happy eightieth birthday to the fabulous American mezzo-soprano, Frederica von Stade! Von Stade has appeared with the Chicago Sympho…| from the archives
Early edition piano/vocal score (Theodore Thomas collection) There is no evidence that Theodore Thomas, our founder and first music director, conducted Verdi’s Requiem with the Chicago Orchestra. P…| from the archives
We have just received word that Rubén D’Artagnan González, a concertmaster with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1986 until 1996, died in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on August 13, 2018, after…| from the archives
