Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Stravinsky, Strauss, and more

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, established in 1891 by Theodore Thomas, stands as a top American orchestra, renowned for precision and rich sound. It gained prominence under conductors like Fritz Reiner, who started its recording legacy, and Sir Georg Solti, substantially boosting its global acclaim and record sales. Their works with Mahler and Bruckner became iconic. Solti won the most Grammy Awards of any musician. The orchestra continuously reissues past revered recordings, maintaining its legacy. Recently, artists like Jessie Montgomery and Hilary Hahn collaborated with the ensemble.

Richard Strauss, born in Munich, Germany, was a leading late Romantic and early Modern German composer and conductor. Renowned for his tone poems, including *Also sprach Zarathustra*, and operas like *Der Rosenkavalier*, he mastered orchestral and vocal composition. Strauss collaborated notably with librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. He was also a successful conductor of orchestras and director of opera houses.

Born in Naples, Riccardo Muti is a renowned Italian conductor famed for intense, lyrical opera and orchestral performances. He's led La Scala, Chicago Symphony, Salzburg, and Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year's Concert seven times. Celebrated for Italian repertoire, collaborations with stars like José Carreras, and championing modern composers, Muti has released over 300 recordings and won global acclaim.