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Baird Dodge, principal second violin, participates in a wadaiko drumming class at the Taiko Lab in Tokyo. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Vadim Karpinos, assistant principal timpani, is a natural at the Taiko Lab. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO musicians participate in an outreach concert in Tokyo. l
©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO violin Mihaela Ionescu interacts with members of the audience. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The distinctive wood decoration of Tokyo's Bunka Kaikan concert hall frames CSO violin Ronald Satkiewicz. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Daniel Gingrich, acting principal horn, takes a break amid the hall's vibrantly hued seats. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Riccardo Muti greets CSO bassoon Dennis Michel, who joined the tour in Tokyo. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Before the rehearsal begins, CSO bass Stephen Lester checks his messages. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Maestro Muti conducts an afternoon rehearsal. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO cello David Sanders smiles during a conversation with the Maestro. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO trumpet Tage Larsen stands beside one of the autographed backstage pillars. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Cynthia Yeh, principal percussion, checks out the wares of a store in the Ginza shopping district. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The Tokyo skyline glitters at night. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Before the concert begins, violin Paul Phillips Jr. warms up onstage. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO musicians have signed a poster that will be displayed backstage. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO cello Karen Basrak upholds the tradition of signing the hall's backstage walls. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO stage technician Paul Christopher holds a ladder to facilitate the signing. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Using travel trunks for support, clarinet Gregory Smith gets in a little rest. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Basses Joe DiBello and Stephen Lester and cello Gary Stucka convene for a backstage summit. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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In the lobby area, the latest CSO Resound release, "Riccardo Muti Conducts Italian Masterworks," sells briskly. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Maestro Muti wears a lapel pin denoting his latest honor, Japan's Praemium Imperiale. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The concert begins with Maestro Muti leading the orchestra in Brahms' Symphony No. 1. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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From backstage, CSO horn Oto Carrillo listens to the concert. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Maestro Muti and the orchestra stand for bows after Brahms' First Symphony. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The second half begins with Brahms' Symphony No. 2. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Maestro Muti leads the orchestra in an encore. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The Bunka Kaikan audience applauds vigorously for the CSO and Maestro Muti. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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After the concert, Maestro Muti greets patrons and signs autographs. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Maestro Muti stands with members of his Tokyo fan club, La Camerata Muti. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Patrons, including Shelley Ochab, Women's Board member, and CSO musicians enjoy a post-concert dinner.| ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Now in the second leg of their Asia Tour 2019, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Riccardo Muti prepared for two concerts in Tokyo’s storied Bunka Kaikan: the first featuring Brahms’ First and Second Symphonies, and the second, Verdi’s Requiem, with soloists Vittoria Yeo, Francisco Meli, Daniella Barcellona and Dmitry Belosselskiy.
Before the Brahms program, musicians conducted an outreach performance, sampled the stores of the famous Ginza district and participated in a drumming class at the Taiko Lab.
Click on the red VIEW GALLERY tab above to see additional photos. For more coverage, go to the tour page on cso.org and be sure to check for updates on Sounds and Stories, the CSO’s Facebook page and other social media outlets, including Twitter and Instagram.