At the heart of every great performance at The Soraya is a great artist. Some appear on the stage, and some are composers, choreographers, or others who act as inspiration across generations and geography. Please meet some of those creative powerhouses who elevate the 2025-26 Season.
With a career spanning a half-century, conductor Riccardo Muti is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail and deep commitment to musical integrity. Born in Naples, Italy, in 1941, he studied piano at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella before pursuing conducting at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory in Milan. Muti first gained international recognition in the 1970s as the principal conductor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London.
His career flourished with leadership roles at some of the world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Philadelphia Orchestra (1980-1992) and Milan’s La Scala (1986-2005), solidifying his reputation in both operatic and symphonic repertoire. In 2010, he became the music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He retired from that position in 2023, assuming the role of Music Director Emeritus for Life.
Muti is particularly celebrated for his interpretations of Verdi, Mozart, and Beethoven, emphasizing clarity, precision, and interpretative range. His strict yet passionate approach to music has earned many awards and accolades, but it is audiences who adore him most. To see him on the podium is to witness a master at work, leading with artistry, authority, and emotional depth.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Riccardo Muti, conductor
Thu Jan 22 | 7:30 PM
STRAUSS JR. Overture to The Gypsy Baron
HINDEMITH Mathis der Maler
BRAHMS Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98
“On rare occasions has The Soraya’s Great Hall resounded with Brahms, the Romantic composer often grouped with Bach and Beethoven as the most important composers of two centuries of music, encompassing the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.
Brahms’ Symphony No. 4 directly alludes to both Bach and Beethoven. Capping the most prolific period of his career, the 1885 masterpiece has been called his greatest. Just weeks before his death of cancer in 1897, Brahms made his final public appearance at a concert of this composition, greeted with multiple prolonged ovations. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is known for its mastery of Brahms, including recordings by notable conductors Georg Solti, James Levine, and Daniel Barenboim. Riccardo Muti, Music Director Emeritus for Life, leads the CSO’s debut at The Soraya.”
2025–26 SEASON JUST ANNOUNCED
The spotlight’s on our boldest season yet! From a reimagined Fiddler on the Roof, to a star-studded Tribute to Quincy Jones, and the electrifying return of Veronica Swift with the Pacific Jazz Orchestra, the stage is set for unforgettable moments.