Twenty-three years after its world premiere, Witold Lutoslawski’s “Symphony No. 3” was once again performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, to whom the work was dedicated along with then Artistic Director Sir Georg Solti. The performance was conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, who himself knew the composer well and has conducted much of his music (pictured at right).
The concert opened with Beethoven’s Overture to “King Stephen” preceding Lutoslawski’s composition. Salonen’s own orchestral work Foreign Bodies, which featured exceptional cellist Yo-Yo Ma, was performed during the second half of the program, along with Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. The performance took place at the Orchestra Hall on February 25 and was repeated on February 26, 27, and March 1.