Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony have been playing footsie for years now, and despite multiple denials from both sides, it’s clear that the CSO would like to at least consider the fiery maestro as a candidate for music director. Now, following a successful European tour together, Muti is sounding less reticent. “There must be a reason that this great orchestra and I have come together at this moment in our histories. And I am really thinking hard about what this should mean.”