Philadelphia Orchestra to tour China to celebrate diplomacy
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Orchestra is celebrating 40 years of official U.S.-China diplomatic ties with a new tour. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will lead the tour in May to Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Shanghai, with Shanghai-born pianist Haochen Zhang as soloist. The orchestra says that during a time of uncertainty in the countries’ relations, they hope to serve ...
Dutoit to conduct French orchestra after sexual abuse claims
PARIS (AP) — Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, who has faced multiple accusations of sexual assault, will conduct a concert for the National Orchestra of France on Sunday, his highest profile performance since the allegations were first revealed by The Associated Press. The orchestra said in a statement Wednesday to The Associated Press that Dutoit was chosen to conduct Berlioz’ “The ...
Chicago Symphony Orchestra announces 2019-2020 season
This morning, Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association president Jeff Alexander announced the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2019-2020 season. It will mark Muti’s tenth-anniversary season as music director as well as the 250th birthday of Beethoven. Muti conducts all of Beethoven’s symphonies over the course of the season, culminating in the triumphant Symphony No. 9 in June ...
Oscar-winning ‘Umbrellas of Cherbourg’ composer Legrand dies
PARIS (AP) — Oscar-winning composer and pianist Michel Legrand, whose hits included the score for the ’60s romance “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and the song “The Windmills of Your Mind” and who worked with some of biggest singers of the 20th century, has died at age 86. Legrand last performed on stage just last month, and was still composing and ...
Lyric Opera of Chicago announces 2019-2020 season, featuring Wagner’s Ring cycle, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly
Today, Lyric Opera of Chicago announced its 2019-2020 season, including seven mainstage operas (three of which are company premieres), three full performances of Lyric’s new Ring cycle, and the Broadway at Lyric premiere of 42nd Street. As part of its artistic and community outreach initiative, Lyric Unlimited, Lyric will present the Midwest premiere of a new opera in its first ...
PLAYLIST | WFMT Selects Classical Music to Help You Brave the Winter
Blustery wind, slushy snow, and frigid temperatures. Winter can be grueling in Chicago and beyond, but music can be an oasis that warms and soothes you. We asked 13 WFMT staff members to select music that helps them get through the winter. Whether you’re cozying up indoors or braving the elements, this playlist is for you!
WFMT welcomes George Preston as Vice President and General Manager
WFMT has a new Vice President and General Manager, but it is someone you may recognize! George Preston, who will begin in this position March 1, 2019, returns to WFMT, where he served as the afternoon drive host from 2009 to 2013, and hosted and produced the internationally syndicated Lyric Opera of Chicago broadcasts. Sandra Cordova Micek, CEO of Window ...
Unclothed Emperor? Costumes for opera stolen in Germany
BERLIN (AP) — The emperor has no clothes in this production of Puccini’s “Turandot” by the Lithuanian National Opera, but then again neither does any other character. Guetersloh police said Monday the costumes coming from Spain for the upcoming production of Giacomo Puccini’s three-act opera were stolen from a truck near the western German city after the driver pulled into ...
Cellist Yo-Yo Ma to Present Free Concert in Millennium Park, Shares New Music Video Celebrating Cultural and Artistic Harmony
“Culture – the way we express ourselves and understand each other – can bind us together as one world.” This powerful sentence opens cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s recent video of the Prelude from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major. This video also coincides with “The Bach Project,” Ma’s quest to perform all of Bach’s six cello suites at 36 locations around the world including at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Chicago's Millennium Park in June 2019.
VIDEO | Dover Quartet performs music by Tchaikovsky and Dvořák at Northwestern University’s Galvin Recital Hall
One of the world's leading classical ensembles, the Dover Quartet joined WFMT for a Facebook Live at Northwestern University's Galvin Recital Hall. In between performing selections of Tchaikovsky and Dvořák, Dover’s artists shared their experience as classical musicians in the digital age, as well as their process of working with and mentoring students as part of their residency.
