Bernard Haitink, former principal conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, has achieved many milestones. He led his first professional concert in 1954, and in 1961, was named principal conductor of the famed Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He has won two Grammy Awards, among many honors. And during his CSO tenure, he recorded eight discs with the orchestra on CSO Resound.

On March 4, he marks another milestone: he turns 89. The CSOA family sends him a bounty of birthday wishes and anticipates his return to the podium next season, when he will conduct the CSO in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 (with Paul Lewis) and Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 on Oct. 25, 27 and 30.

Many happy returns!