Chicago Holiday Arts Calendar: Enchanting Concerts, Events, Spectacles, and more!
As we look forward to the festivities, we have compiled some of Chicago's most enticing holiday offerings!
Don't Miss a Beat
Remembering Jamie Gilson, children’s book author, WFMT contributor, and friend
When Jamie Gilson came into this world there were fireworks, her website explains. She was born on the Fourth of July 1933. She died quietly at her home on February 11, 2020, with her family around her. She was known primarily as a writer of children’s books, but she also wrote for radio, magazines, and film – WFMT, WBEZ, Chicago ...
New Music, Deep Listening: Chicago’s Frequency Festival Celebrates 5 Years
With all the incredible performances that happen every year around this city, it can be easy to forget: Chicago is a hub for new music. This year, one of the cornerstones of Chicago's contemporary classical music scene — Frequency Festival — celebrates its fifth year in a week of new music concerts.
Odysseys of Movement, Music in Joffrey Program
Culminating in “The Times Are Racing” by choreographer Justin Peck, Joffrey's mixed-rep program features “ballet, contemporary, comic, and a ‘sneaker ballet,’” artistic director Ashley Wheater describes.
Drawing Hope and Courage from Opera: Dan Shore’s ‘Freedom Ride’
With a story that highlights how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go, Chicago Opera Theater presents the world premiere of Dan Shore’s Freedom Ride, which centers on a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle.
Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces 2020-2021 Season
A North American premiere, a Midwest premiere, and a special opening night concert with Renée Fleming are among the highlights. The 2020-2021 season will also be Sir Andrew's last as music director.
Video: Pianist Mayta Lerttamrab Plays Rachmaninoff and Moszkowski
Pianist-architect Mayta Liu Lerttamrab has taken a unique path in his musical endeavors. Studying and beginning his career as an architect, Lerttamrab decided to pursue music in his mid-20s.
Combining Cappuccinos and Chamber Music With the Chicago Sinfonietta
“Tchaikovsky’s ‘Serenade for Strings’ while enjoying a nice pour-over, or anything by Mozart would be perfect,” says Sadie Woods, project manager of the Chicago Sinfonietta‘s Residents Orchestrate Project (ROP). Whether you enjoy Liszt and a latte, Grieg and a green tea, or Bartók and a black coffee, the Sinfonietta’s ROP Melodic Lounge live music series infuses symphonic sounds with aromatic coffeehouse ...
Marvin Goldsmith, Marketing Executive and WFMT-WTTW trustee, dies at 84
Marvin Goldsmith, WTTW and WFMT Trustee, died last Thursday evening, February 6, 2020, at age 84. Elected to the Board in June of 1977, “Marv” was one of its longest-serving members. As a trustee, he dedicated valuable time, expertise, and counsel to the Development and Investment Communities, to finance and governance functions, and to the WFMT Radio Committee. He is ...
Renowned Italian soprano Mirella Freni dies at age 84
The famed soprano, who enthralled audiences for half a century, at her home in Modena, Italy from a degenerative muscular disease and a series of strokes.
No Maestro, No Problem for Chicago’s Conductorless Orchestra
Conductors are all but a given in symphonic performance today. Front and center, they provide a dynamic focal point for the audience while guiding the artistic experience onstage. But what if there were no conductor? Who would run the show? In chamber music, the artists themselves are usually tasked with determining the artistic interpretation and then communicating together to play ...
