Chicago Symphony Orchestra

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra in Chicago, Illinois. It is considered one of the great symphony orchestras of the United States (Big Five) and is considered one of the best in the world.

The causative Music Director Theodore Thomas worked as chief conductor from 1891 to 1905; after a long period came under Friedrich August Stock, 1905-1942, but from which there is little sound recordings. Towards the end of the term of stock came in 1936 Hans Lange ( as pour from Germany to arise and for many years assistant to Arturo Toscanini ) to the CSO, where he initially worked as an assistant floor and later to 1946 as " associate conductor". Shorter times under Désiré Defauw ( 1943-47 ), Artur Rodzinski ( 1947-48 ) and Rafael Kubelik ( 1950-53 ) followed. But only the precision- owned and orchestral musicians dreaded Fritz Reiner established the worldwide reputation of the orchestra 1953-1963. According to Jean Martinon ( 1963-69 ) took over Sir Georg Solti, who was able to continue until 1991, the heyday Reiners, albeit with a different, schneidigeren and less sonorous style. 1991 Daniel Barenboim was chosen by the orchestra as his successor. He held his office until the end of the season 2005/06. The orchestra chose Riccardo Muti as the new chief conductor from the season 2010/11. Until then, Bernard Haitink and Pierre Boulez took over the management of the orchestra.

The orchestra performs in the Chicago Orchestra Hall (sometimes called Theodore Thomas Orchestra Hall after the founder of the orchestra called ). The complex was built in 1904 in 1966 drastically altered, so that the very round sound was lost. Because of the now dry and tight sound image sound recordings found in the sequence usually held elsewhere, especially in the Medinah Temple.

1997 ended a re- conversion phase, among other things, had the aim of restoring the old sound. The sound actually won audible in breadth and beauty, just now complained the musicians that they could no longer hear each other. Through various improvements become a more bearable state to have been reached.

Known members (selection)

• Hans Lange - Conductor 1936-1946
• Adolph Herseth - Principal Trumpet 1948-2001
• Wendell Hoss - solo horn
• Max Pottag - third or second horn around 1907-1953
• Philip Farkas - Principal Horn 1936-1941, 1947-1960
• Helen Kotas Hirsch - principal horn 1941-1947
• Dale Clevenger - principal horn since 1966
• Arnold Jacobs - Tuba 1944-1988