Manfred Honeck leads a program of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25, featuring pianist Till Fellner, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. Sunday at 8:00 pm.
An unparalleled rendition of Verdi's Aida performed at the Metropolitan Opera in 1967. Sunday at 10:00 pm.
They're classics for a reason! We found the top 30 most popular operas worldwide since 2004. Can you name them?
VIDEO | Award-winning Russian Renaissance shares music for balalaika, domra, and accordion in a WFMT Facebook Live
On Saturday, March 23, 2019, WFMT hosted Russian Renaissance in a Facebook Live from Wheaton College’s Edman Chapel. The versatile quartet, which won the $100,000 Grand Prize at the 2017 M-Prize competition at the University of Michigan, shared music by Zequinha de Abreu, Monti, and Tchaikovsky arranged for balalaika, domra, and accordion.
Renée Fleming celebrates 25 years with Lyric Opera of Chicago
On Saturday, March 23, 2019, Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold a concert and gala to celebrate Renée Fleming, honoring the 25th anniversary of her debut at Lyric. The “People’s Diva” delighted Chicago audiences as she performed the title role in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah in 1993. Since this first appearance, Fleming has gone on to star in nine more productions ...
Earth’s Greatest Hits — producer Timothy Ferris recalls assembling humanity’s definitive playlist for the Voyager Golden Record
If given the task to assemble a collection of music that reflects humanity, what would you choose? This assignment was given to a group of astronomers, science writers, designers, and engineers. Their solution? The Voyager Golden Record: a collection of images, sounds, greetings, and a diverse array of music. Astrophysicist and Cornell University professor Carl Sagan led the Voyager Golden ...
This musical discovery will make you Smile
One of film’s first superstars, Charlie Chaplin was an innovator in virtually every aspect of filmmaking. With his iconic character the Tramp, he created an ‘everyman’ who remains loved by audiences around the world to this day. Chaplin also wrote and directed most of his movies, and, even though he wasn’t always credited, he composed nearly all of the music as well. ...
On his birthday, Google invites you to compose like Johann Sebastian Bach!
Today’s Google Doodle pays homage to Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born on March 21, 1685. To celebrate the illustrious Baroque composer, Google gives you the opportunity to do your best Bach impression. The interactive doodle invites you to build the soprano line of your own composition, and then the program creates complementary harmonies to emulate Bach’s music. Google says ...
Happy Birthday, Bach!
All day on Thursday, WFMT will be celebrating Johann Sebastian Bach, who was born on March 21, 1685. Tune in throughout the day to hear works composed by Bach, including these highlights that you won’t want to miss: In the 9:00 am hour, hear Bach’s Orchestral Suite in G minor, BWV 1070 In the 11:00 am hour, tune in to ...
Now in its second week, the CSO musicians’ strike continues
Little progress has been made in resolving the work stoppage at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, CSO management said Monday during a conference call. The strike has now endured for a week, since 11:59 p.m. on March 10. Since the strike began, various artists and public figures have appeared on the picket line to voice their support for the CSO musicians. ...
La Scala returns $3.4 million to Saudi Arabia in debacle
MILAN (AP) — Italy’s famed La Scala opera house will immediately return 3 million euros ($3.4 million) sent to an escrow account by Saudi Arabia in what Milan’s mayor on Monday termed a badly handled fundraising deal. But he did not rule out future dealings with the kingdom despite concerns raised over its human rights record. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala ...
Meet John Field, the Irish composer who invented the nocturne
Frédéric Chopin’s collection of 21 nocturnes might be the best-known example of the musical form, but did you know the inventor of the nocturne was an Irish composer named John Field? Field was born into a musical family in Dublin in 1782, and quickly excelled at the piano. In 1792, the young pianist gave his first public performance to rave reviews. An ...
Spend St. Patrick’s Day with WFMT!
Celebrate the musical Luck O’ The Irish with an actual Irishwoman! Maggie Clennon Reberg shares music evoking the Emerald Isle all morning, beginning with Sir Hamilton Harty’s Irish Symphony. Then at 9:00 am, tune in for John Cameron’s Missa Celtica, based upon the ancient Book of Kells. Buxton Orr’s Celtic Suite at 11:00 am rounds out the morning, and who ...
