The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is being led into its second century by music director Daniel Barenboim, and it remains among the best in the world -- a legacy of the late maestro Sir Georg Solti, who captured a record-breaking 31 Grammy awards for his CSO recordings and showcased the orchestra at other major musical capitals during frequent international tours. Barenboim has proven a worthy successor to the baton, a talented conductor and pianist prodigy whom the CSO recruited from the Orchestre de Paris after Solti's death in 1997. Staking out his own legacy in the renovated and expanded Symphony Center complex (see the description of this complex above), he has steadily introduced more modern works by 20th-century composers into the orchestra's repertoire. But you will certainly not be disappointed by the CSO's treatment of crowd-pleasing Beethoven or Brahms.

Classical is far from the only kind of music on tap here, however. The "Symphony Center Presents" series has included some of the top jazz, world beat, Latin, and cabaret artists in the world in recent years.

Although in high demand, good seats for all concerts often become available on concert days. Call Symphony Center or stop by the box office to check availability.

Summertime visitors have an opportunity to hear a CSO performance at the delightful Ravinia Festival(tel. 847/266-5100) in suburban Highland Park, led by music director Christoph Eschenbach.

The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony since 1919, is also highly regarded and presents free programs at Orchestra Hall. The Chicago Symphony Chorus also performs there.