Chicago Symphony at Artis—Naples for three seasons; Royal Concertgebouw coming

Chicago is known for its powerhouse Chicago Symphony Orchestra, considered one of the  "Big Five" major orchestras in the U.S.

Amsterdam is known for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, on many lists as the No. 1 orchestra in the  world.

Naples is about to be known as perhaps the only city that will host them both in one season.

And in an embarrassment of riches, its third visitor will be The Cleveland Orchestra, another member of the "Big Five."

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All three are coming to Artis—Naples next year, and Chicago's appearance will be the first in a three-year residency here. Artis—Naples announced its visiting orchestra season and the three-year Chicago Symphony Orchestra residency Thursday.

"This is a new relationship for both us and the Chicago Symphony. Obviously our successful entry into a multi-year relationship with the Vienna Philharmonic made us anxious to continue such a relationship with a world-class orchestra as Chicago certainly is," said Kathleen van Bergen, president and CEO of Artis—Naples.

The Chicago Symphony is regularly on the list of the top 10 orchestras in the world, holding 62 Grammys and performing with music directors whose names are legends — Fritz Reiner, Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim and, now, Riccardo Muti. It performs in residence but generally only in single-year increments, apart from its performances in its summer home at suburban Ravinia for an annual music festival.

The CSO has performed in 29 countries on five continents. Weekly radio broadcasts of CSO concerts and recordings on the WFMT radio network and online take it around the world.

It has performed in Naples at least twice before and is here in concert with the Brahms Symphony No  2 on Feb. 12. The residency will be a separate three-year visit, however, beginning with two concerts Feb. 28 and March 2, 2019. 

"Those evening performances are clearly the highlight of why the orchestra is where it  is and what it does," van Bergen said of residencies. But the side events, such as those coming with the Vienna Philharmonic this month, are what make a residency so important. 

"Just like the details that have occurred with the Vienna Philharmonic, the activities  —lectures, chamber music, master classes, in-school events — all those possibilitiies are being discussed for Chicago."

The Vienna Philharmonic, which finishes its three-year residency this month, has expanded its relationship each year. This year, representatives of the orchestra will also talk about its history in Nazi Germany, during World War II, which has brought it a good deal of controversy; it also will discuss its relationship with the late composer-conductor Leonard Bernstein, whose centennial is being celebrated this year. Members of the orchestra will work with Naples music student ensembles in local schools.

And there is an invitation-only amber concert with musicians from the Naples Philharmonic and the Philharmonic. (For details on public events see artisnaples.org.)

Sharing visiting orchestra honors in the coming year will be the first visit by the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, known for its distinctive sound and quality of musicianship. It is regularly listed at the top of the list of the world's best orchestras, sometimes bested only by the orchestra currently in residence here: the Vienna Philharmonic.

Its 120 players come from more than 20 countries. In addition to some 90 concerts performed at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra gives 40 concerts at concert halls throughout the world each year. This is only its second visit to Florida, and its first to Naples. 

Its music director, Daniele Gatti, has been here before. He created a local controversy by lecturing the audience about its behavior after his performance here. That was in 2004, with a different orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic. 

The Cleveland Orchestra, a familiar presence as a visitor, will also appear here next season, on Jan. 27, with Music Director Franz Welser-Möst. This year’s engagement features a debut in Naples for the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, which will come to perform in the Mahler Symphony No. 2. 

The Cleveland Orchestra, also a "Big Five" member as a major U.S. orchestra, is frequently counted among the top 10 orchestras in the world, as is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

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