

Breaking Barriers
“Italian” Mendelssohn & Elgar’s Enigma
CSO + Marin Alsop, conductor / Stephen Williamson, clarinet
-
DateJuly 27, 2025
-
VenuePavilion
-
Donor Gates2:30 PM
-
Public Gates3:00 PM
-
Ticket Prices$15–$95
An order processing fee will be added to your cart at checkout.
3:00–4:30 p.m. at the KidsLawn space on the North Lawn
Join Reach Teach Play® for additional activities before today’s performance!
- Artistic craft activity: Masquerade masks
- Instrument coloring pages
KidsLawn also features interactive, large-scale percussion instruments to bring out the kids’ creative energy!
Reserved Seat Ticket: $35–$95
Reserved Block Ticket: $35
Price per person; must reserve full block of 2, 4, or 6
General Admission Ticket: $15
Special pricing for guests ages 15 and under: More Info
Wintrust Chair & Table Rental Reservation
About the Performance
Concluding her three weeks with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor Marin Alsop leads CSO in a program that traverses continents, cultures, and a rich spectrum of emotions.
The evening begins with Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Symphony, a brilliant reflection of the composer’s travels. Full of lively rhythms, soaring melodies, and radiant orchestral color, the work serves as a musical diary, capturing the essence of the country’s sun-drenched skies, vibrant city piazzas, and spirited dances.
Next, the spotlight turns to the CSO’s principal clarinetist, Stephen Williamson, who brings flair and virtuosity to Copland’s Clarinet Concerto. A quintessentially American work, this concerto blends jazz, folk, and classical influences, taking listeners on a vibrant pan-American journey. Williamson’s powerful and nuanced performance guides audiences through diverse landscapes, weaving the energetic rhythms of jazz with the lyrical, expansive sounds of Copland’s signature style.
The program culminates with Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a deeply personal and emotionally rich work. Through a series of musical portraits, Elgar paints vivid depictions of his closest friends, each variation a unique expression of their personalities.
Performers
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Marin Alsop, conductor
Stephen Williamson, clarinet
Program
Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, op. 90 (“Italian”)
Aaron Copland: Clarinet Concerto
Edward Elgar: Variations on an Original Theme, op. 36 (“Enigma”)
–No Intermission–
Related Events
1812 Overture with cannons