Hear a diverse group of works, including a Chicago premiere, in this concert and conversation recorded live at WFMT.
76 Trombone Pieces?! Hear a Big Parade of Trombone Music in our Music Man-Inspired Playlist
When you think of the trombone, what comes to mind? A particular classical work, or more likely, “Seventy-Six Trombones” leading a big parade? Although The Music Man brings the instrument into the spotlight in Meredith Willson’s hallmark song, the musical leaves a lot of room to explore the wide world of trombone repertoire.
David Bromberg fears huge violin collection must be split up
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — David Bromberg, a master of stringed-instrument Americana, says a deal to sell his massive collection of historic violins to the Library of Congress has fallen through. The singer-songwriter and session musician has compiled a collection of 263 historic American violins over the years, and at 73, was hoping to sell it intact for $1.7 million as ...
Violinist Aaron Rosand dies at 92
Violinist Aaron Rosand has died at the age of 92. Rosand was born in 1927 just outside of Chicago in Hammond, Indiana, and at age ten, the lauded virtuoso made his orchestral debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Best known for his interpretations of Romantic works (self-billed as the “Last Romantic”), Rosand studied with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institute of Music at the beginning of what would become a more than 70-year playing career.
Fretless and Linear: How Classical Violin shaped Andrew Bird’s Sound
Using his violin and virtuosic whistle, Andrew Bird genre-jumps from indie rock to jazz, and from folk to classical. Born in Lake Forest, Bird began learning classical violin from the Suzuki Method at the age of four and recalls, “My mom would have WFMT on all the time… My dad listened to Merle Haggard.”
Cat’s Meow — 9 Classical Selections Inspired by Feline Friends [Playlist]
What animals have nine lives and are beloved by the internet and classical composers alike? Cats, cats, and — you guessed it — more cats. While kitties are favored in contemporary popular culture (memes, viral videos, #Instagram), they have also long dominated the hearts of humans throughout history and are reflected through past art and music. One of the most ...
Long lost WWII-era Soviet songs brought to life in Israel
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — In a musty basement hall of an unassuming building nestled among modern high-rises in the heart of Tel Aviv, a few hundred spectators are kindly requested to turn off their cellphones. What makes the typical scene surreal is that they are asked to do so in Yiddish — the playful, lyrical language of Diaspora European ...
Brazilian bossa nova pioneer João Gilberto dies at 88
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — João Gilberto, a Brazilian singer, guitarist and songwriter considered one of the fathers of the bossa nova genre that gained global popularity in the 1960s and became an iconic sound of the South American nation, died Saturday, his son said. He was 88. João Marcelo said his father had been battling health issues though no ...
Celebrate Independence Day with WFMT!
This Independence Day, WFMT will share rousing and patriotic classical works for the whole day — here are some highlights that you won't want to miss. At noon, Music in Chicago shares a recent Elgin Symphony Orchestra performance of "Hoe-Down" from Copland's Rodeo Starting at 1:00 pm, we'll share another Copland masterwork: Appalachian Spring. You'll also hear Gottschalk's The Union, ...
Grant Park Music Festival Chorus Director Christopher Bell’s Top 5 Independence Day Outfits
The Grant Park Music Festival’s annual Independence Day Salute is a Chicago tradition, and one of the most colorful aspects of the July 4 tradition is the festival's chorus director, Christopher Bell. Each year, Christopher, conducts the celebratory performance, and each year, he finds a way to wow us with a new, extraordinary, star-spangled outfit. To celebrate the Fourth of ...
Pianist Radu Lupu Retires
Pianist Radu Lupu has decided to retire from the concert stage at the end of the 2018-19 season, a statement from his agent announced. The news was first reported in the Spanish classical music and opera magazine “Scherzo.” Born in 1945 in Galați, Romania, Lupu had his first piano lessons at the age of six. Making his public debut at ...
