‘The Phantom of the Opera’ closes on Broadway after 35 years
It was show No. 13,981 at the Majestic Theatre and it ended with a reprise of "The Music of the Night" performed by the current cast, previous actors in the show.
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Mahler manuscript sells for record $5.6 million in London
Sotheby’s said comparable music manuscripts to have been sold at auction include nine Mozart symphonies, which sold for 2.5 million pounds in London in 1987.
Chicago Public Schools Reports Increased Access to Arts Education, Despite Statewide Budget Crisis
Ingenuity Inc., an organization that works to improve and expand arts education in Chicago, released its annual progress report surveying arts education in Chicago Public Schools. Considering that earlier this year, Illinois’ public school districts were $20 billion in debt, Ingenuity’s findings may surprise you. In 2013, CPS announced its Arts Education Plan, which states: “Through a comprehensive and sequential ...
North Shore Guitarist Adam Levin Brings Music to Mexican Community Founded Atop Former Landfill
When Levin and his colleague, guitarist Matthew Rodhe, began conversations about how to give back to the community several years ago, they decided they wanted to make a contribution to the people of Yuguelito.
This Black MIDI Version of “Let It Go” Is More Terrifyingly Difficult Than Any Liszt Piece
You’ve likely heard the song “Let It Go” from Disney’s Frozen at least once since it was released in 2013. Not only did “Let It Go” win Best Original Song at the 2014 Academy Awards and Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 2015 Grammy Awards, it’s also been recorded in dozens of languages from Cantonese to Croatian. Even ...
Watch WFMT Listener Favorite, Pianist Vera Gornostaeva, Play 12 Chopin Mazurkas
One of Russia’s greatest pianists, Vera Gornostaeva, was virtually unknown outside of her native country for most of her career. She taught at the Moscow Conservatory, earned the title of Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, had a popular television program, Open Piano, and trained dozens of prize-winning pianists. Yet for most of her life, she was never permitted to ...
How Choreographer Martha Graham Named Aaron Copland’s American Classic, “Appalachian Spring”
Martha Graham Dance Company's Lloyd Mayor and Mariya Dashkina Maddux in "Appalachian Spring." (Hibbard Nash Photography) When you think of Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring, do you think of iconic American landscapes? Would it surprise you to know that one of America’s most iconic musical works got its name after it was composed? Appalachian Spring, though perhaps known best as an orchestral suite, was ...
Playlist: Classical Music to Enjoy During the Supermoon
Tonight’s full moon will be the biggest in 68 years since it will be at its closest point in relation to Earth’s orbit – 221,524 miles away. Why is it closer to Earth now? NASA’s website explains: “The moon’s orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical so sometimes it is closer and sometimes it’s farther away. When the moon is full as ...
VIDEO: “A Shot of Malört” Is the Song Every Chicagoan Needs to Hear
Two of the most famous songs about the Windy City have been recorded by Frank Sinatra: “Chicago” and “My Kind of Town.” WFMT host Robbie Ellis has composed his own Chicago song, “A Shot of Malört,” that he shared during the station’s first Classical Cabaret, hosted at the Uptown Underground nightclub and broadcast live. For those who aren’t familiar, Jeppson’s ...
Pianist Mary Sauer Retires from Chicago Symphony Orchestra After 57 Years of Service
Sauer began her long tenure with the CSO in 1959 when Music Director Fritz Reiner invited her to perform with the orchestra. During the 1967-68 season, Music Director Jean Martinon officially added her to the roster. She was named principal piano at the start of the 2000-01 season.
6 Times Orchestras Scored at Major Sporting Events
Memorable performances by orchestras at recent sporting events.
