PJ in Chicago

British pianist Wayne Marshall joins Paavo and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra this week for three concerts, dubbed The Art of the Concerto by the CSO. Designed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for African American audiences and featuring American musical elements, these concerts, part of the "Classical Tapestry" series, will offer a special performance at Symphony Center, Thursday, November 17 at 8 pm. Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 18 at 8 pm, conductor Jarvi will again accompany Marshall in Gershwin's "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra". These two evenings officially kick off CSO's "Classical Tapestry" subscription series that showcases contemporary music written and performed by African American musicians. Also on the program: Erkki-Sven Tüür's Zeitraum (U.S. premiere); Kodály's Concerto for Orchestra; and Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra. From the CSO's website:

The concerto for orchestra was a characteristic 20th-century idea, a way to showcase the unprecedented virtuosity of the modern orchestra. Kodály’s concerto was written to celebrate the CSO’s 50th anniversary and Lutoslawski’s concerto was inspired by Bartók’s great work of the same name. Pianist Wayne Marshall, who was named Artist of the Year by BBC Music Magazine in 1998, is featured in Gershwin’s Piano Concerto.

Read the Program Notes before you go.

Recommended recordings:

Paavo Jarvi and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra: Searching for Roots, includes Erkki-Sven Tuur's Insula Deserta, Zeitraum and Searching for Roots (Tribute to Sibelius).

Paavo Jarvi and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra: Bartok and Lutoslawski: Concertos for Orchestra

Wayne Marshall: Gershwin