Daniel Barenboim Takes Leave Of Chicago

“For all that Mr. Barenboim has changed the orchestra’s character, it is not always apparent to one who has not heard a lot of the Chicago Symphony in recent years what, precisely, the new character is. While the sound retains weight and solidity, it tends more to invite listeners in rather than overwhelm them. Perhaps it is a matter not so much of a new personality as of a new versatility.”