Live broadcasts from the WFMT studios with some of today’s best artists.
Our live afternoon series of “impromptu” music and conversation features some of today’s most sought-after musicians from around the world. Previous guests on Impromptu have included cellist Yo-Yo Ma, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and author Salman Rushdie. Other guests have included Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, tenor Joseph Calleja, violinist Joshua Bell, and the vocal ensemble Chanticleer. Broadcast live from the Levin Performance Studio at WFMT, the program also features local performers who are vital to Chicago’s vibrant musical culture.
There are no upcoming broadcasts at the moment.
Calidore String Quartet
October 19, 2016
Gramophone Magazine called the Calidore String Quartet “a miracle of unified thought.” This vibrant, young ensemble won the inaugural 2016 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, which has the largest award of any competition of its kind, and the 2016 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, the first North Americans to be so honored. With Calidore’s return to Impromptu, we’ll hear what has earned them ...
Soprano Albina Shagimuratova
October 4, 2016
Soprano Albina Shagimuratova, joins us for a solo recital. The program includes arias from Lucia, Russian lullabies, and “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Sephardic Journey: The Cavatina Duo with Desiree Ruhstrat, violin and David Cunliffe, cello
September 27, 2016
Eugenia Moliner and Denis Azabagic are a Chicago-based husband-and-wife flute and guitar duo, acclaimed worldwide as the Cavatina Duo. Also a married couple, violinist Desirée Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliffe are both members of the Lincoln Trio, one of Chicago’s most celebrated chamber ensembles. They will perform excerpts from their album on the Cedille label, “Sephardic Journey,” which consists of ...
Paul Barnes, piano
September 22, 2016
In celebration of twenty years of collaboration with composer Philip Glass including four recordings, publications and commissioning of Glass’s Piano Concerto No.2 (After Lewis and Clark), pianist Paul Barnes, Marguerite Scribante Professor of Music at the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has released his twelfth CD “New Generations: The Etudes of Philip Glass and Music ...
Ear Taxi
September 15, 2016
Celebrating New Music in Chicago with 300 musicians and 53 world premieres, the new Ear Taxi music festival will be a celebration of Chicago’s thriving contemporary music scene with concerts, lectures, marathons, webcasts and artist receptions. The Fifth House Ensemble in conjunction with the EAR Taxi Festival is live from the Daniel Levin performance studio at WFMT with works by ...
John Henry Crawford, cello and Victor Santiago Asuncion, piano
September 8, 2016
Hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer for “projecting polished charisma and a singing sound,” cellist John Henry Crawford has a passion for sharing powerful music with audiences near and far. His collaborator today is the wonderful pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion.
Yolanda Kondonassis, harp and Jason Vieaux, guitar
September 1, 2016
Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux are now on tour in support of their latest collaboration, an album featuring two world premieres for the duo. Asked what she loves best about their instrumental combination, Yolanda said it was how the blend and contrast “changes constantly depending on the register, the articulation, and the dynamics.” And you can hear that ...
Pianist Kirill Gerstein
August 10, 2016
Pianist Kirill Gerstein returns to WFMT to herald his new recording of the complete cycle of Liszt’s Transcendental Études. He will also share excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in its 1879 version, which he’ll perform with the Grant Park Music Festival. Tune in to hear Gerstein play the entire concerto in a live broadcast from WFMT on Friday, ...
Michael Ward-Bergeman, hyper-accordion and Lisa Kaplan, piano
July 18, 2016
Michael Ward-Bergeman is a passionate performer, songwriter and composer. His sensitive and creative approach to music making has led to performances and collaborations with an international array of musicians and composers from across a wide range of genres. A virtuoso hyper-accordion player, he returns to Impromptu in the good company of eighth blackbird’s pianist, Lisa Kaplan.
William Harvey, violin and Steven Ayers, piano
June 23, 2016
Violinist William Harvey along with pianist Steven Ayers present a program of American music by Philip Glass, Reena Esmail, Augusta Read Thomas, Lera Auerbach as well as discussing the question “What is American Culture?” live from the Daniel Levin performance studio at WFMT. Steve Robinson hosts.
Midsummer’s Music Festival
June 14, 2016
The Midsummer’s Music Festival has presented concerts in the Door County area for the past 26 years. Today’s Impromptu will feature five musicians from the series: David Perry, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola; Walter Preucil, cello; Jeremy Attanaseo, bass; and Jeannie Yu, piano, with artistic director Jim Birkenstock live from the Daniel Levin performance studio at WFMT. Kerry Frumkin hosts.
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
May 23, 2016
Pianist Marc-André Hamelin stops by the studio after his Symphony Center recital for a live Impromptu featuring works of Mozart and Samuil Feinberg live from the Daniel Levin performance studio at WFMT. Lisa Flynn Hosts.
Till Fellner, piano
April 26, 2016
Till Fellner stopped by the Levin Performance Studio to record this Impromptu, featuring works by Beethoven and Robert Schumann.
Members of the Montréal Symphony Orchestra with pianist Daniil Trifonov
March 18, 2016
According to Martha Argerich, pianist Daniil Trifonov possesses both power and tenderness in his playing style. He joins members of the Montréal Symphony orchestra in a program of chamber music for this Impromptu featuring Rachmaninoff and Mozart live from the Daniel Levin performance studio at WFMT.
Celebrating Piazzolla’s Birthday with Philippe Quint, violin and Marta Aznavoorian, piano
March 11, 2016
Argentine composer, bandoneon player and arranger, Astor Piazzolla, was born on March 11, 1921. Pianist Marta Aznavoorian and violinist Philippe Quint celebrate the occasion by performing music by Piazzolla, as well as selections from Stravinsky, Bach, and Debussy, classical composers who influenced Piazzolla’s characteristic sound. Hosted by Kerry Frumkin.
Jordi Savall, viols and Frank Mcguire, bodhrán
March 3, 2016
Catalan viola da gambist Jordi Savall performs Scottish, English, American, and Irish folk and art music with bodhrán virtuoso Frank McGuire. They are currently touring together, and playing melancholy laments, elegant dances, and lively reels and jigs. Hosted by Kerry Frumkin.
The Knights
February 19, 2016
The Knights, dedicated to engaging listeners and defying boundaries, showcase their roots in classical tradition alongside their passion for musical discovery. Hosted by Lisa Flynn.
Chicago A Cappella
February 10, 2016
The words of William Shakespeare are illuminated through innovative and artful music as Chicago A Cappella commemorates the 400-year legacy of the Bard in 2016.
Ian Maksin and Friends
January 21, 2016
Harmonica virtuoso Corky Siegel, guitarist Goran Ivanović, and pianist Ani Gogova collaborate with cellist Ian Maksin in an eclectic program exploring a variety of genres with the cello as a common denominator. They will perform music by Beethoven, Bartók, Bloch, as well as original compositions and arrangements, by Corky Siegel, Ian Maksin, and Goran Ivanović
Yana Reznik, piano and Julian Milkis, clarinet
January 19, 2016
Clarinetist Julian Milkis studied with Benny Goodman. He comes to Chicago for the 75th anniversary performance of the historic premier of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. During this Impromptu, he and pianist Yana Reznik will perform the Brahms Clarinet Sonata No. 2, and Yana will play some piano favorites.
