Jakub Hrusa with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn, and more

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, established in 1891 by Theodore Thomas, stands as a top American orchestra, renowned for precision and rich sound. It gained prominence under conductors like Fritz Reiner, who started its recording legacy, and Sir Georg Solti, substantially boosting its global acclaim and record sales. Their works with Mahler and Bruckner became iconic. Solti won the most Grammy Awards of any musician. The orchestra continuously reissues past revered recordings, maintaining its legacy. Recently, artists like Jessie Montgomery and Hilary Hahn collaborated with the ensemble.

Violinist Gil Shaham, born in Illinois, raised in Israel, rose to fame in the 1990s with Grammy-winning works like Barber's Violin Concerto. He collaborated with André Previn, Eric Jacobsen, played a Stradivarius, and founded Canary Classics. Shaham was Avery Fisher Prize winner, and Instrumentalist of the Year (2012).