Muti Extends Season as Chicago Symphony Music Director

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced today that the 10-year contract of Music Director Riccardo Muti - which was about to expire -- has been extended for one year. The orchestra opens their season Thursday, playing in public for the first time in 19 months. We sat in on a rehearsal at Symphony Center, and arts critic Hedy Weiss sat down with a special guest, Riccardo Muti.
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[@frankpoole6478]

The city of Chicago - I hope you appreciate how extremely fortunate you are to have maestro Muti at the podium before your orchestra. I still feel so privelaged to have had the opportunity - the absolute honor of seeing and hearing the maestro as he conducted the fabulous Philadelphia Orchestra for a number of years while a student at the University Of Pennsylvania. I will NEVER, ever forget the hours of pleasure and joy I experienced hearing the music produced under his baton.

[@reamartin6458]

They didn’t, and now they hired a fraud to replace him.

[@JohnAckerman93]

Riccardo Muti is just unbelievable. I have seen him a few times, and he does such an amazing job conducting the orchestra, and making the orchestra sound the way it does

[@ellenflanagan2220]

He is the greatest living conductor!

[@papagen00]

Muti should go to the Chicago Lyric Opera they need a good Italian conductor. Even while conducting a symphony orchestra, Muti never forgets his operatic roots. On tour in L.A. last February, Muti encored intermezzo from "Manon Lescaut" in tribute to Monterey Park, Calif mass shooting victims. It was very sad and beautiful.

[@samueljaramillo4221]

Beautifully said Maestro Muti.👏👏👏👏

[@Evinrudeeee]

Can he extend the contract once more? Please

[@reamartin6458]

Sorry, the Ken-doll took his place 🤢