How Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor became Halloween’s theme song
The music of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue owes much of its spookiness to the drama it employs.
Don't Miss a Beat
Conductor Mariss Jansons dies at 76; led top orchestras
Mariss Jansons, conductor of top classical ensembles including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, has died in Russia.
Gelb’s contract as Met Opera head extended through 2026-27
A former recording executive and television producer, Gelb was hired by then-Met Chairwoman Beverly Sills in October 2004 to take over two seasons later.
Mister Rogers Remembered by His Former Music Director [Video]
For many of us, just hearing the lyrics "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood," is enough to transport us back to our childhoods.
Opera Explores the Brink of Humanity: ‘Dog Days’ Gets Chicago-Area Premiere
“It has been said that a society can be judged by the way it treats its animals,” composer David T. Little says in the program notes for his chamber opera, Dog Days. Based on a short story by Judy Budnitz, the opera is set in a war-torn future that’s not too far away from our own time.
Discover the versatility of Jan Peerce in 3 powerful recordings
In a career of more than sixty years, Jan Peerce reigned as a Met favorite, sang popular music, and performed Jewish cantorial repertoire.
Opera’s Ryan McKinny on Friendship, Artistic Bond with Death-row Inmate: ‘We’re Human Just Like Him’
Terence Andrus has been on death row since 2012. Through a penpal program, celebrated bass-baritone Ryan McKinny has become a friend and artistic collaborator.
Grammy Nominations Announced with Nods for Third Coast Percussion and Cedille Records
The 2020 Grammy Nominations were announced this morning, and several members of the Chicago classical community received recognition as nominees.
A Striking Musical Retreat in the Big Sky State
Located on 12,000 acres in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, the rolling, expansive landscape of Tippet Rise provides an evocative complement for an art center and summer festival that combines music, sculpture, poetry, and nature.
Totenberg Stradivarius reborn 4 decades after theft
Roman Totenberg didn't live to see his instrument again; he died in 2012 at the age of 101. But Nathan Meltzer, a nineteen-year-old star violinist, has revived the prized instrument.
Video: Ahead of Chicago Premiere, An Excerpt From Rachmaninoff’s ‘Aleko’
Two operatic opus ones will have their Chicago premieres this weekend, and they both command a chorus of well over 100. Chicago Opera Theater opens its 2019-20 season with a double bill: Joby Talbot's Everest and Rachmaninoff's Aleko.
