Report: Dutch maestro Haitink, reported “indisposed,” will miss Chicago Symphony performances Oct. 18-29, but he’s still expected to lead Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” Oct. 25-27.

By Lawrence B. Johnson

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced Wednesday morning that conductor Bernard Haitink is “indisposed” and will be replaced on the CSO’s all-Brahms concerts Oct. 18-20 by Minnesota Orchestra music director Osmo Vänskä.

The program remains unchanged: Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 in C minor and the Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with soloists Renaud and Gautier Capuçon. CSO spokeswoman Rachelle Roe said the orchestra still expects Haitink to conduct performances of Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” as scheduled Oct. 24-27.

Haitink, 83, (at right) has a longstanding relationship with the Chicago Symphony and served in the official position of principal conductor from 2006-10. The Dutch maestro has led several recordings with the CSO — including a partial cycle of the Mahler symphonies — on the orchestra’s Resound label.

The 59-year-old Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä (above left) was appointed music director of the Minnesota Orchestra in 2003 and is contracted to remain in that post through the 2014-15 season.  He made his CSO debut in 2000 with Sibelius’ “Tapiola,” Nielsen’s Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with soloist Stephen Kovachevich. In his only other appearance with the CSO at Orchestra Hall, in 2009, Vänskä led Sibelius’ “Rakastava” and Symphony No. 5 and Beethoven’s Violin Concerto with soloist Nikojaj Znaider.

Tags: Bernard Haitink, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Gautier Capucon, Osmo Vänskä, Renaud Capucon