(Photo: Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)
Monday, July 20 — Pablo Sáinz Villegas
Pablo Sáinz Villegas is hailed by critics as one of the world’s leading classical guitarists and celebrated as an ambassador of Spanish culture. Born and raised in La Rioja, Spain – the country uniquely and deeply linked to his chosen instrument – Villegas is praised for performances as charismatic as they are intimate. He performed in 2016 during the Chicago Latino Music Festival.
Music
Suite from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein
Tuesday, July 21 — Chicago Gargoyle Brass and Organ Ensemble
This album by the Chicago Gargoyle Brass and Organ Ensemble follows the development of the hymn Ein’ feste Burg ist under Gott through the music of Heinrich Schütz, Johann Sebastian Bach, Otto Nicolai, Felix Mendelssohn, and into the 21st century with James Curnow. An additional seven hymns by Martin Luther set by these great composers round out the album.
Music
Ecclesiastical Festival Overture by Otto Nicolai
Tara Lynn Ramsey
Wednesday, July 22 — Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert: From the Archives
Tara Lynn Ramsey enjoys a varied career, performing as violinist and violist with the Chicago-based contemporary music ensemble Dal Niente and as a violin Fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida. Daniel Pesca, pianist and composer, is both a passionate advocate for contemporary music and a committed performer of the classical repertoire.
Music
Music of Mozart, Brahms, and Gershwin
(Photo: Jiyang Chen)
Thursday, July 23 — Matthew Lipman
Violist Matthew Lipman has been praised by the New York Times for his “rich tone and elegant phrasing.” He has come to be relied on as one of the leading players of his generation, frequently appearing as both a soloist and chamber music performer. With pianist Shirley Trissell, he visited WFMT in May 2019 for a Facebook Live performance.
Music
Viola Sonata (Movements I & II) by Rebecca Clarke
(Photo: Simon Fowler)
Friday, July 24 – Impromptu Encore: George Li
Pianist George Li possesses brilliant virtuosity and effortless grace far beyond his years. He captured the Silver Medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition and was the recipient of the 2016 Avery Fisher Career Grant. Li performed on WFMT’s Impromptu series in 2018.
Music
Music of Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Horowitz