The world-famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra held a year-long centennial celebration in 2004 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of Chicago Symphony Hall. In the grand performance held at the centenary celebrations, Leonard Slatkin was the conductor and Valerie Solti was the concert narration. The theme of the concert is to reproduce the repertoire designed by Theodore Thomas, the founder and conductor of the orchestra, and to commemorate the elegant Georgian architectural style of famous architect Daniel Burnham.
Chicago Symphony Hall created a glorious history:
1.1902: Leroy Payne’s land was purchased as the future home of the Chicago Orchestra. The next year, 8,000 people donated $750,000. , laying a solid foundation for the development of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
2.1904: The Symphony Hall held its first concert on December 14, with Theodore Thomas as conductor, and the door of the concert hall was opened. Ten days later, Theodore Thomas conducted his orchestra for the last time and gave his last concert. On January 4, 1905, Theodore Thomas died of pneumonia.
3.1909: The famous Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninov served as the guest conductor and soloist of the orchestra and held several concerts.
4.1917: Violinist Jascha Heifetz premiered Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto as a soloist with the orchestra.
5.1918: Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev collaborated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to hold the premiere of two works in the United States. He not only personally conducted the composition " "Scythian Suite", and also performed as a soloist the "First Piano Concerto".
6.1920: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Affiliated Orchestra, founded by music director Frederick Stock, held its first concert at Chicago Symphony Hall.
7.1925: Russian composer Igor Stravinsky conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the first time and performed his own works, including "Firebird."
8.1928: French composer Maurice Ravel conducted his only collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducting performances of his works "Daphnis and Chloe" and "Mother Goose". In the same year, pianist Vladimir Horowitz performed Rachmaninov's "Piano Concerto No. 3" with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra during his first tour in the United States.
9.1934: Composer Arnold Schoenberg collaborated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to conduct his work "Verklarte Nacht" at Symphony Hall.
10.1940: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra premiered Stravinsky's "Symphony in C" specially composed for the orchestra.
11.1941: To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the only collaboration was conducted with conductor Toscanini. In the same year, Hungarian composer Bartók performed his "Piano Concerto No. 2" as a soloist.
12.1950: Three years before becoming music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Fritz Reiner made his Symphony Hall debut as guest conductor.
13.1951: Music director Rafael Kubelik conducted the orchestra’s first live television performance through WENR television station.
14.1958: Daniel Barenboim, a 15-year-old piano player and current music director of Chicago, made his solo debut at Symphony Hall.
15.1960: Two years after winning the grand prize at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Competition, American pianist Van Cliburn made his first collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with Reiner as conductor.
16.1965: Conductor Georg Solti and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich gave their first concert at Chicago Symphony Hall.
17.1966: Chicago architect Harry Weese oversees the first major repair project since the concert hall opened.
18.1969: Pierre Boulez conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the first time. In the same year, Barenboim once again performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a soloist, playing Bartok's " Piano Concerto" (Opus 1).
19.1981: The Symphony Hall undergoes a second renovation, including the installation of equipment for disabled people and the installation of a new Moeller organ.
20.1986: Solti conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chorus to cheer for Cubs games.
21.1990: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra held a grand performance to celebrate the centenary of its founding. The orchestra’s predecessors, then and current conductors Kubelik, Solti and Barenboy*** also conducted the orchestra. show.
22.1995: The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Symphony Center was held in May. The renovation cost of the concert hall reached US$120 million. In the summer, the expansion project of the concert hall was officially launched.
23.1997: On March 29, Solti conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the last time, performing Shostakovich's last symphony - "Symphony No. 15". On October 4, Barenboy directed the symphony orchestra to hold a grand performance for the re-opening of the Symphony Hall, with Placido Domingo as the tenor soloist.