Chicago Symphony Orchestra

“…  a stand-alone performance of outstanding quality, delivered by a world-class Orchestra at the inception of a great era, fully in transition with a new Music Director Designate whose fit is organic … Mäkelä has found a way to lead these expert players with an expansive confidence. His impressive control stokes their response, and seemingly vice versa – a trust has developed that can be seen, felt, and most dynamically heard.”

Splash Magazine, Debra Davy, 2 October 2026



“This was a most impressive performance, giving us Mäkelä’s most successful and individual Mahler outing to date (in Chicago). At times one may have wanted a greater degree of mystery—as with the dialogue between solo flute and horn near the end of the first movement—or a more penetrating gaze into the bleaker pages of the abyss. But for only his third time out with this challenging score, Mäkelä’s interpretation is already a considerable achievement, and one looks forward to even deeper and more rewarding performances in the years to come. The CSO musicians delivered extraordinary playing across every section and nearly every desk for their incoming chief. The strings were especially eloquent with violist Teng Li and concertmaster Chen, especially, delivering hyper-sensitive playing in the finale.”

Chicago Classical Review, Lawrence A. Johnson, 2 October 2026



“Thursday’s performance showed what Mäkelä and the CSO are building together … The result was a reading marked by clarity and careful shaping rather than imposed, inauthentic drama. One where the principal players -from string to brass – met the demands of the piece and Mäkelä’s exacting conception.”

Third Coast Review, Zach Carstensen, 2 October 2026



PROGRAMME:
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 9