Chicago Music and Arts Events for Summer 2024
Summer arts riches — from open air concerts to music legends passing through our great city.
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Quiz: Are You Secretly French? You Might Be If Get More Than 14/20 On This Music Quiz
Think you know French music? From the salon to the symphony hall, from the opera to the ballet, the French have given us some great music. But, how much French music do YOU know? Allons-y!
“Gopher Tuna” — What ‘Carmina Burana’ Really Sounds Like
Carl Orff’s famous Carmina Burana, a scenic cantata based on medieval poems, is one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music. We’ve all heard it countless times. But, do you know what the text says? The poetry muses on life, death, fortune, and of course, drinking, gluttony, gambling, and sex. Since the text is in Latin, you may not ...
15 Queer Composers You Should Know
Can you imagine a world without the music of Handel, Tchaikovsky, or Britten? These great composers of the past are just a few of many important musical figures who did not identify as heterosexual.
Signifyin’ in Song: How the Sounds of Slavery Changed Music Forever
Music and dance provided an outlet for enslaved people to express their sorrow, though often their cries of pain sounded quite the opposite to slave owners.
9 Living Black Composers You Need To Know
If you’re not familiar with these 9 composers, we’ve got 2 things to say: 1. You’re missing out on a lot of great music. 2. Now’s your chance to catch up! June is African-American Music Appreciation Month, and while you shouldn’t limit your appreciation of music by African-American composers to the month of June, it’s a nice excuse to explore ...
How One Chord Changed the World: “Tristan” at 150
If you’re a music lover, you may have heard of the so-called “Tristan chord” from Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde. Audiences were stunned to hear this infamous harmony when the opera premiered on June 10, 1865 in Munich, Germany. As Tristan turns 150, let’s take a look at what makes the Tristan chord so unique. The “Vorspiel,” or Prelude, to Tristan begins with with a “dissonant” chord. The terms “consonance” ...
What If Nina Simone Had Been a Classical Pianist?
Before Nina Simone became one of America’s most iconic jazz musicians, she wanted to have a career as a classical pianist.
Minnesota Orchestra To Perform Historic Concerts in Cuba
WFMT will join American Public Media for a live broadcast from the Teatro Nacional in Havana, Cuba, featuring the Minnesota Orchestra.
Listen: Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Piece of Music that Changed His Life
A conversation with Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Finnish composer-conductor widely considered to be one of the most important in his field.
Star Soprano Kate Royal on the Joys and Difficulties of Singing Rare French Works
Soprano Kate Royal has made her name singing in some of the oldest and most beloved operas in the repertoire by Monteverdi and Mozart, but the London native is also drawn to and sought-after to perform in more modern operas.
