Gazing over the 107-year-old classical music presenter CAMA’s impressive roster of world-class orchestras and classical artists ushered into Santa Barbara over the decades can’t help but invite awe. And among the more recent, renewed jewels in the CAMA legacy crown is an ongoing relationship with one of America’s greatest orchestras, the Chicago Symphony, which makes its way back to The Granada Theatre on Friday, January 23.
Founded in 1891, the Chicago Symphony takes its rightful place in what is considered the “Big Five” list of prominent American orchestras — along with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. (Arguably, the formidable and courageous Los Angeles needs to be added to the list, making it a “Big Six.”) Notably, all five on the list have passed through Santa Barbara courtesy of CAMA.
Once again, the Chicago Symphony will be led on this two-week winter tour out west by the eminent maestro Riccardo Muti. Although his tenure as music director lasted from 2010 through 2023, he returns in his current role as Music Director Emeritus for Life. Currently, the orchestra awaits the installment of 29-year-old Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä as its new music director, starting in 2027.