Preview: Chicago Symphony Orchestra/Beethoven Fives

lisitsa_valentina_cred_iran_issa-khan And now for something completely different: a hot young female pianist who contracts to play the Beethoven Fifth Piano Concerto, the “Emperor,” as in like, the most popular piano concerto in the world that even bad pianists know how to play, and which said pianist has even recorded, but who now claims that there was a miscommunication with her management as to which concerto she was going to play, and so one week is not enough time for hot-shot pianist to prepare the Beethoven to her satisfaction. Okay, then. Geez, I could have given the piece a bat myself, lady, but like, whatever. Enter another female hotshot pianist who happens to be in town because she just accompanied hotshot female violinist in recital, and who actually feels she could play the most popular piano concerto in the world with little notice, like uh, perhaps a professional pianist should be expected to do, especially if she contracted to do so, but like, whatever. And so, this unusual pairing of the Beethoven Fifth Symphony—heard here less than a month ago with the same rather dull conductor, James Gaffigan—and the Beethoven Fifth Piano Concerto—with replacement pianist Valentina Lisitsa—will take place as scheduled, just in case you were worried. (Dennis Polkow)