Playlist: Classical Coffeeshop

Sit back, relax, sip, and enjoy

Watch an All-French Concert

Music by Chaminade, Ravel, and Lili Boulanger.


New Releases Mar. 18: Gut Strings, Marsalis, Sondheim, and Selaocoe

An ambitious and inventive take on Tchaikovsky’s chamber music, a Wynton Marsalis symphony, piano reimaginings of music of Sondheim, and the multifaceted Abel Selaocoe. Plus, selections from contemporary operas without singing, and a vocal exploration on the theme of light.

Don't Miss a Beat

Met ’25-’26 Season: Bates, Frank, Saariaho, & 3 New Productions

Plus beloved titles from Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, and more.

Elgin Symphony ’25-’26: Enduring Classics, Notable Soloists, and New Works

Guest artists include cellist Oliver Herbert, violinist Geneva Lewis, and pianist Orion Weiss.

Semifinalists Named for Cedille’s Chicago-Focused Emerging Artist Competition

Open to early-career Chicago-based and Chicago-born classical musicians, the grand prize is a contract for a debut solo album worth almost $75k.

New Releases Feb. 18: Bach, Strauss, Goodyear, and More

Plus, delve into explorations of lieder, Romantic piano rep, and contemporary compositions by Richard Rodney Bennett and more.

Trump has purged the Kennedy Center’s board, which in turn made him its chair – why does that matter?

No U.S. president has served as a member of the Kennedy Center board before, let alone its chair.

Breaking Boundaries: The Genre-Defying Legacies of Black Musicians

These musicians didn’t just navigate the classical and jazz realms… they transcended and redefined them.

Ravinia Begins Multi-Year Revamp with Pavilion Upgrades, Shortened ’25 Season

The newly announced Pavilion upgrade launches a multi-year renovation project, all ahead of Ravinia's 125th anniversary in 2029.

The Evolution of the Orchestra: A Brief History

The modern orchestra as we know it today only took shape in the last 150 years.

New Releases Feb. 11: Three Sopranos, Chamber Works, Rare 20th-Century

A creative, historically minded album from Apollo’s Fire, an unusual combination of instruments team up, a deep-dive into “Dies irae”, and two separate explorations of obscure 20th-century rep.

Chopin in the City Fest Celebrates Ninth Year

Classical and jazz interpretations, artmaking listening parties, and other innovative programming awaits.

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