Daniel Burnham

2009 marks the centenary of the Burnham Plan.  The splendid organization known as Chicago Metropolis 2020 which is doing so much to look ahead and have visions for the future of this great city, has an offshoot in the form of the Burnham Plan Centennial.  Their work was today explained to the "classical music community"  at a working lunch organized by chicagoclassicalmusic.org.  There may be some interesting opportunities for COT to participate in the celebration during the Fall of next year.  There are so many splendid Daniel Burnham buildings in Chicago with really nice spaces where performances can take place.  And the Burnham period was a rich one for music.  Dvorak was here in Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 (also a grand design by Burnham).  The recently formed Chicago Symphony Orchestra was a vital force in American musical life under its founding music director Theodore Thomas.  And Orchestra Hall is a Burnham building. 

So we ought to be able to put together some attractive programs in such buildings as the Rookery.  That will be exciting.