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.
Don't Miss a Beat
Poland’s Tomasz Ritter wins Chopin contest on period pianos
The announcement by the 11-member international jury came after each of the six finalists played a Chopin concerto accompanied by the Amsterdam-based Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century with conductor Grzegorz Nowak.
Russian orchestra hires conductor accused of sexual abuse
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russia’s oldest philharmonic orchestra says it has hired a Swiss conductor who has been the target of accusations of sexual misconduct. The St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra said in a statement Thursday that it has hired Charles Dutoit as its new principal guest conductor and he will start in May next year. Three opera singers and ...
Learn to play harpsichord repertoire on piano with Jory Vinikour
Grammy-nominated Jory Vinikour shares his advice for how to capture the magic of the harpsichord on the piano.
Hear the Symphony Mohammed Fairouz Composed as a Response to the 9/11 Attacks
When composer Mohammed Fairouz isn’t busy writing symphonies or operas, he’s likely writing about international politics for the Huffington Post, On Being, or Foreign Policy.
The Surprising True Origins of Gershwin’s Classic ‘Summertime’
“Summertime” from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess is one of the one most popular songs in the Great American Songbook. But did you know that neither the tune to “Summertime” nor the lyrics are by George Gershwin?
Hear music inspired by some of Chicago’s most extraordinary buildings
Chicago is world-renowned for its architecture. Take a walk around the city, and chances are that you’ll encounter at least a few fantastic buildings. But did you know that Chicago’s architectural legacy has inspired music, too?
How Chicago Cubs Organist Gary Pressy Made It to the Big Leagues
Gary Pressy, an organist and lifelong Cubs fan, has been a signature part of games at Wrigley Field for over 30 years.
Meet Organist Lori Moreland, One of the Chicago White Sox’s Most Valuable Players
When organist Lori Moreland grew up rooting for the White Sox, she never thought that one day she would be one of the team's most valuable players.
Poland holds 1st Chopin contest on historical instruments
Thirty pianists from the U.S., Japan, China, Russia, and across Europe will perform works by Chopin and other Polish composers of his time, as well as by Johan Sebastian Bach.
How a Bach Minuet Got a Motown Makeover
Bach’s Minuet in G major from the Notebooks for Anna Magdalena Bach is famous enough today that you may have had it as your cell phone ringtone. One arrangement, recorded by a '60s girl group called The Toys, was a #1 single in the US and reached #5 on the UK Global charts.
