Acclaimed conductor Roger Norrington dead at age 91
Over his five-decade career, he had leadership roles with ensembles that include Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and New York's Orchestra of St. Luke's.
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Playlist: A Big Parade of 76 Trombone Pieces
When you think of the trombone, what comes to mind? A particular classical work, or more likely, “Seventy-Six Trombones” leading a big parade? Although The Music Man brings the instrument into the spotlight in Meredith Willson’s hallmark song, the musical leaves a lot of room to explore the wide world of trombone repertoire.
David Bromberg fears huge violin collection must be split up
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — David Bromberg, a master of stringed-instrument Americana, says a deal to sell his massive collection of historic violins to the Library of Congress has fallen through. The singer-songwriter and session musician has compiled a collection of 263 historic American violins over the years, and at 73, was hoping to sell it intact for $1.7 million as ...
Violinist Aaron Rosand dies at 92
Violinist Aaron Rosand has died at the age of 92. Rosand was born in 1927 just outside of Chicago in Hammond, Indiana, and at age ten, the lauded virtuoso made his orchestral debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Best known for his interpretations of Romantic works (self-billed as the “Last Romantic”), Rosand studied with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute of Music at the beginning of what would become a more than 70-year playing career.
Playlist: Fretless and Linear — How Classical Violin Shaped Andrew Bird’s Sound
Using his violin and virtuosic whistle, Andrew Bird genre-jumps from indie rock to jazz, and from folk to classical. Born in Lake Forest, Bird began learning classical violin from the Suzuki Method at the age of four and recalls, “My mom would have WFMT on all the time… My dad listened to Merle Haggard.”
Playlist: Classical Cats, Selections Inspired by Feline Friends
While kitties are favored in contemporary popular culture (memes, viral videos, #Instagram), they have also long dominated the hearts of humans throughout history and are reflected through past art and music.
Long lost WWII-era Soviet songs brought to life in Israel
In its first performance in Israel, a Grammy-nominated concert had arrived to play the lost songs of lost Jews in a nearly lost language.
Brazilian bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto dies at 88
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — João Gilberto, a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter considered one of the fathers of the bossa nova genre that gained global popularity in the 1960s and became an iconic sound of the South American nation, died Saturday, his son said. He was 88. João Marcelo said his father had been battling health issues though no ...
Celebrate Independence Day with WFMT!
This Independence Day, WFMT will share rousing and patriotic classical works for the whole day — here are some highlights that you won't want to miss.At noon, Music in Chicago shares a recent Elgin Symphony Orchestra performance of "Hoe-Down" from Copland's Rodeo Starting at 1:00 pm, we'll share another Copland masterwork: Appalachian Spring. You'll also hear Gottschalk's The Union, "America" ...
Grant Park Music Festival Chorus Director Christopher Bell’s Top 5 Independence Day Outfits
Each year, Christopher Bell conducts the Grant Park Music Festival's Independence Day Salute, and each year, he finds a way to wow us with an extraordinary new star-spangled outfit.
Pianist Radu Lupu Retires
Pianist Radu Lupu has decided to retire from the concert stage at the end of the 2018-19 season, a statement from his agent announced.
