Conductor James Gaffigan Returns to Lead CSO in Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 and U.S. Premiere of Eternal Rhythm 

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently announced in a news release that famed conductor James Gaffigan will be returning to CSO to lead a series of subscription concerts, which are set to perform Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 8 as well as the U.S. premiere of Avner Dorman’s Eternal Rhythm. 

The performances, set for Thursday, October 3, at 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 4, at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 5, at 8:00 p.m., offers patrons a range of ticket options, beginning at $32.   

James Gaffigan, Chief Conductor of the Lucerne Symphony Orchestra and Principal Guest Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, has proudly collaborated with some of the finest orchestras in the world, including a brief period with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the London Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and more. 

Featured in his subscription series is CSO Principal Percussionist Cynthia Yeh as the soloist, who, in addition to her role as CSO’s Principal Percussionist, also has served as a performer on CSO’s MusicNOW series as well as alongside many of Chicago-based chamber ensembles. Further, she’s appeared as the featured soloist several times with the CSO, including her acclaimed performance in 2014 in James MacMillan’s Veni, Veni Emmanuel.

The subscription program will open with Israeli composer Avner Dorman’s five-movement percussion concerto entitled Eternal Rhythm, which, was created to evoke beautiful changes in mood and requires a great deal of technical virtuosity from the selected soloist. 

In his composer’s note for the piece, Dorman says, “To the best of our knowledge, the universe began with a large impulse, and the resulting oscillations, pulses and beats (sic), are what we still experience—an Eternal Rhythm that stretches from the beginning of time in perpetuity.” It is thought that this understanding unfolds throughout the work that also includes a songlike fourth movement inspired by an 11th century, according to the press release.

For more information on the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, composer James Gaffigan, percussionist Cynthia Yeh, or the subscription concert series, please visit cso.org.