The Hidden Gems of Maurice Ravel
Among the composer's lesser known works are pieces inspired by ticking clocks, talking animals, and Madagascar folk songs!
Don't Miss a Beat
High Kicks and High Notes in Lyric’s ‘Merry Widow’
Though dance has been an important part of opera production since the genre was born in the late 16th century, dance is not incorporated into modern opera productions as often, perhaps, as it could be or should be.
Itzhak Perlman’s 5 Most Memorable Moments at 70 Years Old
Violinist Itzhak Perlman is one of the most famous names in classical music. The Israeli-American, now 70 years old, has collaborated with some of the greatest musicians of our time in his long and illustrious career. Here, he reflects on five of the most memorable moments in his career.
The Many Colors of American Indian Music
"But for some reason, people are surprised to learn that American Indians compose 'classical' music."
How ‘Wozzeck’ Changed Opera Forever
Alban Berg’s opera Wozzeck revolutionized the art form when it premiered in 1925. When Berg saw Georg Büchner’s play Woyzeck, he knew that he wanted to compose an opera based upon it. But an opera based upon this revolutionary expressionist play “demanded a new kind of operatic language as well,” according to The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Recorded Opera. Sir Andrew Davis, music director and principal ...
Masaaki Suzuki’s 8 Tips to Better Your Bach
"There are all kinds of ways to play Bach, and that depends on your personality and how you want to deal with Bach's music."
Natya Dance Brings the Ancient Art of Bharatanatyam to Modern Audiences
Thousands of years before European ballet was born, Bharatanatyam flourished in India. The ancient art of Bharatanatyam seems to be having a bit of a moment in modern times. Months after appearing in Chicago, dancer Aparna Ramaswamy recently made her debut at the Joyce Theater in New York: one small step for a Bharatanatyam dancer, one giant, dazzling leap for Bharatanatyam ...
Inside the Beautiful, Bizarre World of Butoh
One of the most unique styles of dance today is undoubtedly butoh. I spoke with dancer and choreographer Ushio Amagatsu as he tours across North America with his company, Sankai Juku. The New York Times called Sankai Juku, “One of the most original and startling dance theater groups to be seen.” Read our conversation to learn more about butoh, Amagatsu’s ...
10 Times Joshua Bell Tore It Up on the Violin
Joshua Bell is one of the most acclaimed musicians of our time... which is to say, he can really tear it up on the violin.
Rare Ballet Sylvia Comes to Chicago
Choreographer John Neumeier said that in his reinterpretation of Sylvia, he "tried to invent a movement vocabulary that would suit each of the characters."
The Women of ‘Figaro’ on Mozart’s Women
Behind every great man is a great woman, so the saying goes. In Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, the women often run the show. How better to learn about these fascinating female characters than from the women behind Lyric Opera of Chicago’s new production of Mozart’s masterwork? I spoke with Barbara Gaines, the stage director, as well as the opera’s leading ladies ...
