Stratospheric Music

Jakub Hrusa conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in this performance of Richard Strauss' incredible 1896 tone poem. With its unforgettable opening fanfare and heart-stopping movements, it has since become synonymous with space exploration and the cosmos after Stanley Kubrick chose it as the theme for his seminal 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The program also offers some further earthly musical treats in the form of Martinu's exquisite Violin Concerto No. 1 with violinist Josef Spacek masterfully taking the lead, as well as Bela Bartok's splendidly ethereal ballet The Miraculous Mandarin. A joyful offering from the CSO!