
Riccardo Muti revisited old musical friends last week as he opened the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-24 season by returning to three works, including two giants of the classical repertoire, that he had led previously with the orchestra.
Back in action Thursday evening, the orchestra’s music director emeritus for life took a different but equally rewarding tack, overseeing a group of works by non-Italian composers of different eras who were all inspired by Muti’s magical native country.