Cliff Colnot Leads Civic Orchestra of Chicago for the Last Time

Civic Orchestra of Chicago's Principal Conductor for the last 20-years, Cliff Colnot, who concludes his tenure with the Orchestra at the end of the 2015/16 season, marks his final podium appearance with the Civic in concert this Monday, February 29, at 8 p.m. The farewell concert will feature Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 and EOS (Goddess of a Dawn), a 2014 work by Chicago Symphony Orchestra's former Mead Composer-in-Residence Augusta Read Thomas.

Opening the program is Augusta Read Thomas' EOS (Goddess of a Dawn), which she calls a "Ballet for Orchestra." Written in 2014 and premiered in February 2015 by the Utah Symphony under the direction of Thierry Fischer, the work is inspired by the myth of the Greek goddess Eos and is divided into seven rhythmically colorful movements.

Thomas wrote this work in honor of the CSO's former Helen Regenstein Conductor Emeritus Pierre Boulez, who passed away in January 2016. While serving as Mead Composer-in-Residence during the tenure of Music Director Daniel Barenboim, three of Thomas' works were premiered by the CSO's then Principal Guest Conductor Pierre Boulez, who was a long-time champion of her music.

The program will continue with Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9, which was originally expected to be a commemoration of the Soviet victory in WWII praising Russia's greatness and instead displays a very different quality from his so-called "war" symphonies. The work is abstract and witty, exposing the composer's growing discontent with Stalinist Russia.

To conclude the concert, members of the Civic will perform an encore of Stravinsky's Concerto in D for string orchestra in honor of Cliff Colnot's exceptional contribution to the Civic Orchestra.

All of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago performances at Symphony Center are free, but tickets are required. Seating is general admission and there is a nonrefundable $5 per ticket service for all performance.

Ticket reservations for Civic Orchestra of Chicago performances at Symphony Center can be made online at the CSO's official website, in person at their box office at 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL or by phone at (312) 294-3000.