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Musicians approach the National Concert Hall for their first rehearsal in Taipei. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Heidi Lukas, director of operations, greets musicians, including Emma Gerstein, at the stage door and provides them with backstage passes. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO bass Stephen Lester surveys the hall as he warms up before the rehearsal. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO trombone Michael Mulcahy, warming up in the seating area, appears in silhouette. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO violin Gina DiBello flashes a smile before the rehearsal begins. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Stephanie Jeong, associate concertmaster, warms up in the seating area. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson (left), principal flute, laughs with oboists William Welter (principal) and Lora Schaefer. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO viola Max Raimi talks with guest musician Erina Laraby Goldwasser. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO cello Gary Stucka (left) and guest musician Linc Smelser chat before the rehearsal. |©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Music Director Riccardo Muti hugs Robert Chen as he shares remarks with the first violins. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The CSO horns, joined by guest Anna Spina (foreground), swing into action during the rehearsal. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Mark Ridenour, assistant principal trumpet, moves into focus during the rehearsal. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Esteban Batallán, guest trumpet, surveys the hall during a rehearsal break. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Jay Friedman, principal trombone, and wife Gail share some quality time. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Youming Chen (from left), Wei-Ting Kuo and Cynthia Yeh participate in an interview with local press. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO violins Blair Milton and So Young Bae, who share a birthday, pause backstage. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO bass Joe DiBello listens intently during a rehearsal break. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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David Herbert, principal timpani, and violin Joyce Noh take in comments from Maestro Muti. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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An avid woodworker, Oto Carrillo presents Youming Chen's brother Jubel (right) with a thank-you gift (a beverage holder). | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Cynthia Yeh, principal percussion, conducts a master class at the Taipei National University for the Arts. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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As concert time approaches, musicians head to the bus for the short trip to the hall. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The CSO bus negotiates crowded streets during the journey to the concert hall. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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William Buchman, assistant principal bassoon, talks with local oboist Wan-Chen Hsieh after the bus arrives. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Tapei's National Concert Hall glistens at night as patrons approach the venue. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO trumpet John Hagstrom warms up ahead of the concert. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Mark Ridenour, assistant principal trumpet, flashes a smile before the concert begins. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO cello David Sanders is seen from backstage as the crowd files into hall. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO cello Katinka Kleijn smiles as she heads to the stage for the concert. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Music Director Riccardo Muti leads the orchestra in the first movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 1. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Riccardo Muti and the CSO perform the fourth movement of Brahms' First Symphony. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Concertmaster Robert Chen takes a solo bow and shakes hands with Riccardo Muti. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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CSO viola Lawrence Neuman (left) and John Sharp, principal cello, enjoy some dumplings backstage. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The CSO bass section performs the first movement of Brahms' Second Symphony. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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The CSO's low brass section stands for a bow after Brahms' Second Symphony. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Riccardo Muti holds a congratulatory bouquet as the orchestra stands for its bows. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Yuan-Qing Yu, assistant concertmaster, holding Maestro Muti's flowers, talks with John Sharp, principal cello. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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After the concert, Maestro Muti greets patrons and autographs CDs. | ©Todd Rosenberg 2019
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Before their initial rehearsal in Taipei, Music Director Riccardo Muti greeted Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians for the first time on the Asia Tour 2019. (The maestro flew in from Europe while his musicians traveled west from Chicago to Taipei.) The first of two concerts at Taipei’s National Concert Hall showcased music by Brahms: the composer’s First and Second Symphonies.
Meanwhile, three CSO musicians from Taiwan — Cynthia Yeh, Youming Chen and Wei-Ting Kuo — sat for an interview with the local press — conducted against the lush green backdrop of the National Concert Hall’s lobby. Yeh, the CSO’s principal percussion, also took time to lead a master class at the Taipei National University of the Arts.
After a rapturous ovation, Muti and the CSO granted the audience an encore. Then Maestro Muti greeted fans at a post-concert CD signing in the lobby.
For more coverage, go to the tour page on cso.org and be sure to check for updates on Sounds & Stories, the CSO’s Facebook page and other social media outlets, including Twitter and Instagram.