“When visiting Chicago’s Symphony Center, audiences expect to experience great music from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Now, they can also experience a new piece of visual art,” writes Stephen Raskauskas on Wednesday (6/15) at Chicago classical radio station WFMT. “On Tuesday, June 14, 2016, CSO music director Riccardo Muti and CSO Association president Jeff Alexander unveiled a bust of Fritz Reiner, who served as music director from 1953 – 1962 and advisor from 1962-63. The sculpture was made by Katalin Gerő and has been installed in the lobby of Symphony Center. Over 100 people attending the unveiling ceremony, including members of the orchestra, invited guests, Hungarian Consul General Szebényi Ferentz, and the sculptor herself. Muti and Alexander spoke about Reiner and his many contributions to the orchestra, which include founding the Chicago Symphony Chorus in 1958 and earning the orchestra its first Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance for the recording Béla Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. Reiner … hired members of the orchestra during his tenure who remain active to this today.”
Posted June 20, 2016
