Daniel Barenboim

MUSIC DIRECTOR (1991–2006)

Daniel Barenboim, ninth music director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, established himself as one of the finest concert pianists, conductors and chamber musicians in the world. He first conducted the CSO in 1970 and has appeared frequently in Chicago as conductor, orchestral soloist and recitalist.

Barenboim was appointed as music director designate of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1989 and began his tenure as music director in 1991. His music directorship was distinguished by the opening of Chicago's new Symphony Center in 1997, highly praised operatic productions at Orchestra Hall, numerous virtuoso appearance with the Orchestra in the dual role of pianist and conductor, twenty-one international tours and an ongoing series of composer perspectives woven into the Orchestra's subscription series.

His extensive discography with the CSO on the Teldec label includes the Grammy® Award–winning recording of Richard Strauss' wind concertos (featuring CSO principals as soloists); multiple collections of overtures, preludes and scenes from Wagner’s operas; Tchaikovsky’s Symphonies Nos. 4–6; Mahler’s Symphony No. 5; and piano concertos by Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn with pianist Lang Lang, released by Deutsche Grammophon.