Whois & Analysis for cso.org

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), based in Chicago, was formed by Theodore Thomas in 1891.

The Symphony makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival.

The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure in 2010.

The CSO is one of five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five".

The Ravinia Festival is the oldest outdoor music festival in the United States, with a series of outdoor concerts and performances held every summer from June to September.

In Ravinia Park's first summer of 1905, it hosted the New York Philharmonic, and the prairie style Martin Theater dates from this time period.

It has been the summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) since 1936.

Located in Highland Park, Illinois, the festival operates on the grounds of the 36 acre (150,000 m²) Ravinia Park, with a variety of outdoor and indoor performing arts facilities.

Symphony Center is a music complex located at 220 South Michigan Avenue in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois.

Home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Institute for Learning, Access, and Training, Symphony Center includes the 2,522-seat Orchestra Hall, which dates from 1904; Buntrock Hall, a rehearsal and performance space; Grainger Ballroom, an event space overlooking Michigan Avenue and the Art Institute of Chicago; a public multi-story rotunda; tesori restaurant; and administrative offices.

In June 1993, plans to significantly renovate and expand Orchestra Hall were approved and the $110 million project resulting in Symphony Center being completed from 1995 to 1997.

Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center was designated a National Historic Landmark on April 19, 1994.

It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978.

Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert.

The primary duties of the conductor are to interpret the score created by a composer in a manner which is reflective of those specific indications within that score, set the tempo, ensure correct entries by various members of the ensemble, and to "shape" the phrasing where appropriate.

To convey their ideas and interpretation, a conductor communicates with their musicians primarily through hand gestures, typically though not invariably with the aid of a baton, and may use other gestures or signals, such as eye contact with relevant performers.

A conductor's directions will almost invariably be supplemented or reinforced by verbal instructions or suggestions to their musicians in rehearsal prior to a performance.

The North Shore consists of many affluent suburbs north of Chicago, Illinois, bordering the shores of Lake Michigan.

These communities fall within suburban Cook County and Lake County.

The North Shore's membership is often a topic of debate, and is sometimes expanded to include other affluent Chicago suburbs which do not border Lake Michigan.

However, Evanston, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, and Lake Bluff are generally considered to be the core members of the North Shore, as all are affluent communities that border the lake just north of Chicago.

Other suburbs such as Glenview, Northbrook, Deerfield, Highwood, Skokie, and Northfield are often considered to be a part of the North Shore, but do not border Lake Michigan.