Thursdays at 9:00 pm
Hear the country’s longest-running national classical radio series.
Since its founding in 1959, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) has continued to be one of the country’s most artistically vibrant and innovative orchestras. Millions nationwide have experienced the MSO since 1971 through its radio series – the country’s longest-running national classical radio series. Led by Ken-David Masur, who was appointed music director in 2018, the MSO’s virtuosic musicians excite listeners with over 140 live concerts across Wisconsin each season. A selection of concerts is featured in the broadcast series along with exclusive, behind-the-scenes conversations with musicians.
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra programs are part of the WFMT Orchestra Series.
There are no upcoming broadcasts at the moment.
Mahler & Britten
December 28, 2023
We conclude the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra broadcast season in triumphant fashion, with an excerpt from Britten's Peter Grimes and Mahler's Resurrection Symphony.
Brahms, Strauss, Mozart
December 21, 2023
Seminal orchestral works by Johannes Brahms, Richard Strauss, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart make up this performance led by music director laureate Edo de Waart.
Aaron Diehl Trio
December 14, 2023
Music director Ken-David Masur welcomes the Aaron Diehl Trio for Mary-Lou Williams's Zodiac Suite before conducting the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and the Milwuakee Symphony Women's Chorus in Holst's seminal The Planets.
Yaniv Dinur & Joyce Yang
December 7, 2023
Pianist Joyce Yang performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 under the baton of conductor Yaniv Dinur, who also leads works by Dvořák and Lutosławski.
Don Juan & Beethoven Piano
November 30, 2023
Roderick Cox conducts the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and pianist Inon Barnatan in music by Richard Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Jean Sibelius.
Stephen Hough Plays Rachmaninoff
November 23, 2023
Star pianist Stephen Hough takes the stage to perform Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.
Water Festival: Smetana, Hailstork, Takemitsu, Debussy
November 16, 2023
Music director Ken-David Masur leads water-inspired music by Smetana, Hailstork, Takemitsu, Debussy, and David Ludwig.
Water Festival: Rameau, Vivaldi, Handel
November 9, 2023
Nicholas McGegan conducts a program inspired by water and Milwaukee’s relationship with it.
Fresh Air & Beethoven’s Eroica
November 2, 2023
Tension, energy, and triumph abound in Beethoven’s history-changing Eroica Symphony. In contrast, Sebastian Currier’s delicate and mesmerizing Aether evokes “the air the gods breathe.”
Ravel & Chopin
October 26, 2023
Pianist Orli Shaham and conductor David Robertson, who are married, take the stage to perform music by Maurice Ravel, Frédéric Chopin, and Olivier Messiaen.
Every Tree Speaks: Habbi, Brahms, & Schumann
October 19, 2023
In an ode to the wonder of our natural world, this program ponders fate, resolve, and reverence.
James Ehnes Plays Prokofiev
October 12, 2023
Violinist James Ehnes takes center stage in a performance of Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto. Music by Jessie Montgomery, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky rounds out the performance.
Season Premiere: Marsalis, Strauss, Gershwin
October 5, 2023
The series premiere conducted by Ken-David Masur.
Aizuri Quartet & Beethoven 9
December 29, 2022
Season Finale: Ken-David Masur conducts a varied program that begins with John Adams‘ Absolute Jest for String Quartet and Orchestra and culminates in Ludwig van Beethoven‘s Ninth Symphony.
Awadagin Pratt
December 22, 2022
Pianist Awadagin Pratt joins Ken-David Masur and the MSO to perform Jessie Montgomery‘s Rounds. Masur also conducts works by Richard Strauss, Felix Mendelssohn, and Robert Schumann.
Alessio Bax
December 15, 2022
Guest conductor Ruth Reinhardt leads music by Lotta Wennäkoski and Antonín Dvořák before welcoming pianist Alessio Bax to play Johannes Brahms‘ Second Piano Concerto.
John Brancy & Kelley O’Connor
December 8, 2022
Baritone John Brancy and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor perform Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem under the baton of Ken-David Masur. The MSO music director also conducts music by Tōru Takemitsu, Joseph Canteloube, Jacques Ibert, Misato Mochizuki, and Maurice Duruflé.
Thomas Wilkins
December 1, 2022
Conductor Thomas Wilkins leads music by unsung 20th-century composers Roy Harris , Erwin Schulhoff, Howard Hanson. Plus, Ken-David Masur leads a work by William Bolcom and Yaniv Dinur conducts a piece by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson.
Jorge Federico Osorio
November 24, 2022
Friend of WFMT Jorge Federico Osorio, piano, joins the MSO and music director Ken-David Masur to play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart‘s Piano Concerto No. 23 in a program that also features Anton Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.
Edo de Waart Returns
November 17, 2022
MSO music director laureate Edo de Waart leads music by Delius, Elgar, and Beethoven.