Twenty-two distinguished artists will make their debuts with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra during the 2015/16 season:

Marin Alsop, Nov. 27-29: The music director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra appears in her CSO subscription debut in a program opening with the first CSO performances of current CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Anna Clyne’s Masquerade. Also featured are Dvořák’s Symphony No. 7, as well as works by Barber and Gershwin.

Daniela Barcellona, April 21, 23 and 26, 2016: The mezzo-soprano makes her subscription debut as Mistress Quickly in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Luca Dall’Amico, April 21, 23 and 26: After collaborating with Muti several times at the Rome Opera and in Ravenna, the Italian bass appears in his CSO subscription concert debut in the role of Pistola in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Okka von der Damerau, June 23-25: The German mezzo-soprano will make her CSO debut in a work that was first performed by the CSO in its inaugural season, Bruckner’s Te Deum.

James Feddeck, Oct. 17 and 20: After leading the CSO in two concerts in June 2015 at the Morton Arboretum, the conductor will make his subscription debut in a program that features music by Rachmaninov and Haydn, with CSO Principal Trumpet Christopher Martin as soloist.

Saverio Fiore, April 21, 23 and 26: A frequent collaborator with Muti at Rome, Ravenna and Tokyo in recent years, the Italian tenor will make his CSO debut in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Christof Fischesser, June 23-25: Currently based at the Opernhaus in Zürich, the German bass will make his CSO debut with Muti conducting Bruckner’s Te Deum.

Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, April 21, 23 and 26: The Italian tenor, who has worked with Riccardo Muti in recent years in productions in Salzburg, Madrid and Buenos Aires, will make his CSO debut in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Paul Groves, April 7-9: The American tenor, who first worked with Muti at La Scala nearly two decades ago, makes his CSO debut with Muti leading Berlioz’s Romeo and Juliet.

Augustin Hadelich, Nov. 12-14: The violinist will make his CSO debut performing Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 (Turkish) under Edo de Waart.

Martin Helmchen, June 9-11: The German pianist will make his CSO debut under guest conductor Christoph von Dohnányi, with whom he has performed multiple times, in Beethoven’s Second Piano Concerto.

Daniela Mack, May 12 and 14: The American mezzo-soprano will make her CSO debut with conductor Charles Dutoit in Manuel de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat.

Ambrogio Maestri, April 21, 23 and 26: The Italian baritone, who has performed the title role in Verdi’s Falstaff to great acclaim worldwide, makes his CSO debut with Muti leading concert performances of the composer’s final opera. Widely considered today’s leading interpreter of the role, Maestri sang his first Falstaff at La Scala in Milan nearly 15 years ago, where he was coached by Riccardo Muti himself.

Xavier de Maistre, Sept. 24, 25, 26 and 29: The first French member of the Vienna Philharmonic and a renowned performer and teacher worldwide, the harpist will make his CSO debut with Muti conducting Ginastera’s Concerto for Harp and Orchestra.

Denis Matsuev, March 24-26: After appearing in recital via the Symphony Center Presents Piano series and as soloist with the orchestra at Ravinia in recent years, the Russian pianist will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with Yuri Temirkanov conducting the CSO. 

Allyson McHardy, Dec. 10-20: The Canadian mezzo-soprano will appear in five performances of Handel’s Messiah, led by guest conductor Bernard Labadie.

Jeremy Ovenden, Dec. 10-20: The English tenor will make his CSO debut under Bernard Labadie in five performances of Handel’s Messiah.

Jon Kimura Parker, Nov. 27-29: The pianist will be the featured soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with guest conductor Marin Alsop, also making her CSO subscription debut.

Javier Perianes, May 12-15: The 2012 recipient of the National Music Prize awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Spain, the Spanish pianist debuts with the CSO under guest conductor Charles Dutoit in Manuel de Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain, as well as in the Beyond the Score explorations of the work.

Laura Polverelli, April 21, 23 and 26: The Italian mezzo, who has appeared at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including Vienna, Milan, Naples and Madrid, will make CSO debut as Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Philippe Sly, Dec. 10-20: A grand prize winner of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the French-Canadian bass-baritone makes his CSO debut in Handel’s Messiah.

Lydia Teuscher, Dec. 10-20: The German soprano, who has collaborated extensively with conductor Bernard Labadie on tour in Canada and with other orchestras, makes her CSO debut with Labadie conducting Handel’s Messiah.

GUEST CONDUCTORS

Guest conductors returning to the CSO podium in 2015/16 are:

Semyon Bychkov, Oct, 8-9 and 13: A regular CSO guest conductor, he returns for a week of subscription programs centered on music by and inspired by Brahms, featuring the U.S. premiere of Glanert’s Brahms-Fantasie.  Bychkov also leads this program in a one-night only performance Oct. 10 at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

James Conlon, Dec. 17-19: A familiar podium presence at Ravinia, the American conductor will lead a varied program featuring the CSO’s first performance of Czech composer Vanhal’s Double Bass Concerto in D Major, with CSO Principal Bass Alexander Hanna in his CSO solo debut. Mozart’s Overture to Lucio Silla opens this program, with two Dvořák works, The Wild Dove and The Golden Spinning Wheel.

Sir Andrew Davis, Oct. 15: Lyric Opera’s music director leads a special one-night only special performance with the CSO and pianist Evgeny Kissin performing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. Also on the program are Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, arranged by Davis, and Stravinsky’s Divertimento, Suite from The Fairy’s Kiss.

Christoph von Dohnányi, June 2-11, 2016: Returning for two weeks of programs featuring works from the Classical era, he conducts music by Mozart and Beethoven with two soloists. CSO Acting Principal Horn Daniel Gingrich performs Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 3, and Martin Helmchen is soloist the following week in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Charles Dutoit, May 12-15 and May 20: The CSO favorite will conduct two weeks of French-inspired repertoire, as well as a one-night only special concert May 20 of Stravinsky’s Fireworks and The Firebird, along with Lang Lang in Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3. The first week’s program features Ravel’s Alborada del gracioso, Falla’s Nights in the Gardens of Spain and The Three-Cornered Hat, and Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The Three-Cornered Hat will be featured in a Beyond the Score presentation. Dutoit’s second program features Stravinsky’s Fireworks, Symphony in C and The Firebird.

Sir Mark Elder, March 3-15: The British conductor leads two weeks of programs, one of English repertoire and one of Slavic works. The first week features two works by Vaughan Williams, the Overture to The Wasps and Five Variants of “Dives and Lazarus.” The program closes with Elgar’s Symphony No. 1. Elder’s second week features pianist Jeremy Denk as soloist in Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto, along with Dvořák’s Scherzo capriccioso, Janáček’s Suite from The Cunning Little Vixen and Taras Bulba. Taras Bulba also will be the subject of a Beyond the Score exploration on March 13 and 15.

Bernard Haitink, April 28-30: The former CSO Principal Conductor leads Strauss’ An Alpine Symphony and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 22 with soloist Till Fellner.

Bernard Labadie, Dec. 10-20; A specialist in Baroque and Classical repertoire, he will lead the CSO, Chorus and vocal soloists in five performances of Handel’s Messiah.

Cristian Măcelaru, May 26-31: The Romanian-born conductor will lead the world premiere of Pascal Dusapin’s CSO-commissioned Cello Concerto, with Alisa Weilerstein as soloist. Also on the program are Ibert’s Bacchanale and Holst’s The Planets.

Susanna Mälkki, March 30-31 and April 1-2: The Finnish conductor will lead Debussy’s Gigues from Images for Orchestra No. 1, Bartók’s Violin Concerto No. 2, with Gil Shaham as soloist, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Sheherazade.

Jonathan Nott, Jan. 6-7 and 9: The conductor returns to lead the CSO in one of its signature works, Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major (with Johannes Moser as soloist) and Berg’s Lyric Suite.

Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Feb. 5-6: Returning to the CSO podium for the first time since 1999, the Russian conductor will lead two symphonies by Shostakovich, Nos. 1 and 15, the composer’s first and last, composed nearly 50 years apart.

Donald Runnicles, May 5, 7 and 10: After appearing as a last-minute substitute with the CSO during the 2014/15 season, he will lead Britten’s Sinfonia da requiem, Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration and Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Feb. 25-27 and March 1: Making his annual CSO appearance, the composer-conductor will lead Lutosławski’s Symphony No. 3, Beethoven’s Overture to King Stephen, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1 (with Yo-Yo Ma as soloist) and the CSO’s first performances of Salonen’s own Foreign Bodies.

Yuri Temirkanov, March 24-26: Appearing in CSO subscription concerts for the first time since 1999, the Russian conductor will lead Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (with Denis Matsuev as soloist) and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2.

Michael Tilson Thomas, May 17-19: The music director of the San Francisco Symphony will lead the CSO in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 (with Emanuel Ax as soloist), Stravinsky’s Scherzo à la russe and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2.

Edo de Waart, Nov. 12-14: The music director of the Milwaukee Symphony will lead the CSO in Strauss’ Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 and John Adams’ Harmonielehre.

Pinchas Zukerman, Nov. 19-21 and 24: He will appear as conductor, violin soloist and viola soloist in Mozart’s overture to The Magic Flute, followed by Respighi’s arrangement of Tartini’s Pastorale, Telemann’s Concerto in G Major for Viola and Orchestra, Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor with CSO Associate Concertmaster Stephanie Jeong and Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, K. 543.