[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E910-E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING RICCARDO MUTI AS NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR OF CHICAGO SYMPHONY 
                               ORCHESTRA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2008

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Maestro 
Riccardo Muti on being named the next music director of the Chicago 
Symphony Orchestra (CSO). Maestro Muti will become the 10th music 
director to take the baton in that capacity for the CSO.
  Maestro Muti will succeed Daniel Barenboim, who held the position of 
music director at the CSO for fifteen years when he left in 2006.
  I am proud that Chicago will have a world-class maestro to follow in 
the footsteps of legends like Sir Georg Solti as music director.

[[Page E911]]

Maestro Muti's background is impressive and commands immense respect in 
the musical community. He has conducted many important orchestras 
around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestre 
National de France, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Bavarian Radio 
Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, and more.
  Maestro Muti already has some familiarity with our City's outstanding 
orchestra, having conducted the CSO at Ravinia in 1973 and returning to 
Symphony Center in 1975 as well as three decades later in 2007. When he 
begins his tenure as music director in 2010, I know that he and the CSO 
will continue to excel in the years to come.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Riccardo Muti in his new position as 
music director at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and wish him the best 
of luck as Chicago's new maestro.

                          ____________________