New Releases May 12: Unconquered
Marta Aznavoorian tackles a concerto inspired by "Invictus"; Giancarlo Guerrero commissions two new works from rock star Kip Winger; and more powerful music.
Don't Miss a Beat
Announcing: WFMT’s Live Grant Park Music Festival 2025 Concerts
Join us throughout the summer as we share some of Chicago's most exciting and inspiring music making!
CSO Names New Chorus Director
Donald Palumbo has been appointed the director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus. He represents just the third director in the ensemble’s 67-year history, following Margaret Hillis and Duain Wolfe.
New Releases Jun. 3: Organ, Mandolin, Hungarian Sounds, Tchaikovsky
Solo albums for two sometimes overlooked instruments: the organ and the mandolin. Plus piano concertos by Prokofiev and Shor, a Tchaikovsky compendium, an exploration of Hungarian composers, and a debut from a Brooklyn-based Baroque outfit.
Guarneri Hall’s 2025-26 Season Mixes Beethoven, Jazz, and Buster Keaton
Highlights include the Borromeo String Quartet performing Beethoven, a celestial-themed vocal program, and a WWII commemoration concert showcasing 1940s compositions.
Giancarlo Guerrero’s Grant Park: A New Maestro Takes the Baton
"Now that I am artistic director, I get to find excuses to make music with these amazing colleagues. They inspire not only our orchestra, but our audiences."
New Releases May 27: Harp, Oboe, Rachmaninoff
Releases this week cast light on an unheralded English woman composer (Madeleine Dring) in works for oboe, selections for harp by Marcel Tournier, plus a tribute to a great 20th century singer, mixed cello repertoire, and albums exploring the musical ranges of Rachmaninoff and Mendelssohn.
Strauss’ ‘Blue Danube’ waltz is launching into space to mark his 200th birthday
The radio signals will hurtle away at the speed of light, or a mind-blowing 670 million mph.
Chicago Summer Music Guide
Summertime is upon us! Make the most of Chicago's most exciting season with this eclectic sampling of concerts, exhibitions, and events!
New Releases May 20: French Horn, Shostakovich, Siblings
Horn player Felix Klieser shares selections hailing from Scandinavia. Two albums explore the music of Shostakovich. We hear siblings collaborating: Lucas and Arthur Jussen in Cantus and Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason in Shostakovich & Britten. Plus, Baroque deep dives, a tribute to Maurice Ravel, and a lesser-known ballet.
The Evolution of the Orchestra: Woodwinds
As we continue our series on the history of the orchestra, let's turn our focus to the woodwind section.
