From Riccardo Muti’s Beethoven symphonies cycle to experimental music at university campuses, a brisk fall season awaits:
J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Jane Glover, whose contract as music director of Music of the Baroque has been extended until August 2023, leads chorus and orchestra in a landmark of Western repertory. Sopranos Yulia Van Doren and Krisztina Szabo, tenor Jonas Hacker and baritone Tyler Duncan are soloists. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 in the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; $10-$85. Also 3 p.m. Sept. 15 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $39-$78 (sold out). 312-551-1414 or www.baroque.org.
Shostakovich Symphony No. 6. Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Riccardo Muti launches the ensemble’s 129th season with a varied program, including: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 6 in B Minor; Mendelssohn’s “Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage” Overture; Scriabin’s “Reverie” for Orchestra; and Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor, with soloist Leif Ove Andsnes. 8 p.m. Sept. 19; 1:30 p.m. Sept. 20; Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; ticket prices vary; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org.
Beethoven cycle. To mark next year’s 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, CSO music director Riccardo Muti launches his season-long cycle of Beethoven’s nine symphonies, which will be recorded. The journey begins with the composer’s Symphonies Nos. 1 and 3 (“Eroica”) and “Consecration of the House” Overture. 8 p.m. Sept. 26 and 28; 1:30 p.m. Sept. 27; Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; ticket prices vary; 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org.
“Dead Man Walking.” Lyric Opera presents a new-to-Chicago production of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s much admired and widely produced opera, inspired by Sister Helen Prejean’s book. Select dates Nov. 2 through 22 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr.; ticket prices vary; 312-827-5600 or www.lyricopera.org.
“Forces & Fates.” The Chicago Sinfonietta, led by music director Mei-Ann Chen, explores how our environment affects our lives through several scores, including the world premiere of Smith, Isaac & Arroyo’s “Earth Triptych,” Mendelssohn’s “Herbrides” Overture and Clarice Assad’s “Nhanderu.” Also on the program: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, plus George Walker’s “Lyric for Strings.” 8 p.m. Oct. 5 in North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Also 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $10-$62. 312-284-1554 or www.chicagosinfonietta.org.
Wu Man: “A Night in the Tang Dynasty Gardens.” A virtuoso of the pipa, an ancient Chinese instrument, Wu Man leads an ensemble staffed by Yazhi Guo, playing Chinese percussion; Kaoru Watanabe, taiko and Japanese flute; and Tim Munro, Western flute. 3 p.m. Oct. 13 at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.; $10-$38; 773-702-2787 or https://chicagopresents.uchicago.edu.
Civic Orchestra of Chicago. The training ensemble’s new principal conductor, Ken-David Masur, launches his tenure with Helen Grime’s “Near Midnight,” Britten’s Four Sea Interludes from “Peter Grimes,” and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A Minor (“Scottish”). 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. Also 8 p.m. Oct. 21 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Free. 312-294-3000 or www.cso.org.
Contemporary Music Ensemble. Ben Bolter conducts the first CME concert of the season in music of Timo Andres, Missy Mazzoli and Felipe Lara. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Northwestern University’s Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston; $6; $4 students; www.music.northwestern.edu or 847-467-4000.
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“The Dragon of Wantley.” Haymarket Opera Company, Chicago’s superb early period opera company, presents John Frederick Lampe’s satirical romp, sung in English, with English supertitles. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 27 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; $30-$95; 312-898-7446 or www.haymarketopera.org.
“Everest/Aleko.” Chicago Opera Theater opens its season with a double-bill of Chicago premieres: Joby Talbot’s “Everest” and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Aleko.” COT music director Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts a production directed by Dylan Evans. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 and 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St.; $45-$150; 312-704-8414 or 312-334-7777 or www.chicagooperatheater.org.
Grossman Ensemble. The unit begins its second season with music of Tania Leon, Grossman ensemble co-director Anthony Cheung and University of Chicago composers Will Myers and Allison Yun-Fei Jiang, conducted by Michael Lewanski. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St.; $15; students free with I.D.; 773-702-2787 or cccc.uchicago.edu.
Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.