The new season of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra kicks off this weekend with a focus on Russians. And it will be the last one with Music Director Alastair Willis. Audiences and board members have said they are happy with the work. Willis, though, asked to be let out of the final year of his five year contract. Although no one expected the ISO to be Willis's last stop GLT's Charlie Schlenker asked him why he wanted to move on.
The first concert of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra Season is Friday night at the BCPA. Earlier you heard soloist Alexander Toradze with the Orchestra of the Marinsky Theater. You're currently listening to the Chicago Symphony conducted by Daniel Barenboim.