A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood
January 18, 2021
Host Terrance McKnight interweaves musical examples with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s speeches and sermons to illustrate the powerful place that music held in his work.
Music and Conversation with Enrique Mazzola
January 13, 2021
Maestro Enrique Mazzola will succeed Sir Andrew Davis as music director at Lyric Opera of Chicago for the 2021-2022 season. WFMT’s George Preston sits down with Mazzola to talk about his life and career, some favorite music, and his thoughts about his new post.
New Year’s in Vienna, a Strauss Family Concert conducted by Riccardo Muti
January 1, 2021
Maestro Muti takes the podium for 2021’s installment of this annual New Year’s Day tradition.
The Best Is Yet To Come: New Year’s Eve With WFMT
December 31, 2020
2020 has been a year like no other, so let’s wave it goodbye in a broadcast unlike any we’ve ever hosted. From 8:00 pm to 2:00 am, join us for an on-air look back at the year in a program featuring classical, jazz, and folk selections chosen by WFMT hosts, staff, and friends!
A More Perfect Union: A Musical Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg
December 30, 2020
In 2015, WFMT was deeply honored to welcome the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who shared her deep love for opera. During our rebroadcast of this special event, being presented in her memory, we’ll also hear some highlights from Chicago’s own classical-recording label, Cedille, and from the opera Scalia/Ginsburg.
Eastern Orthodox Christmas Music with Andrew Patner
December 28, 2020
A rebroadcast from WFMT’s late critic-at-large, in which he explores this lesser-known holiday repertory.
Apollo’s Fire: Christmas on Sugarloaf Mountain
December 25, 2020
Critically acclaimed early music ensemble Apollo’s Fire shares a festive, Irish-Appalachian celebration. READ MORE: What are Shape Notes? Jeannette Sorrell of Apollo’s Fire Explains
Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’
December 24, 2020
Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti’s Christmas opera.
Vaughan Williams: ‘Hodie’ Cantata
December 24, 2020
The London Symphony Orchestra performs with the St. Paul’s Cathedral Choristers.
A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
December 24, 2020
The annual service broadcast from King’s College Chapel of Cambridge University.
Winter Holidays Around the World with Bill McGlaughlin
December 23, 2020
Bill’s spirited selections hail from the British Isles, Paris, Mexico, Polynesia, and more.
Music for the Winter Holidays
December 21, 2020
"The Film Score: Music for the Winter Holidays," hosted by Chicago Tribune film critic Michael Phillips, features music from holiday favorites and other wintry classics.
Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’
December 21, 2020
For the first day of winter, WFMT shares a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concertos.
Tchaikovsky: ‘Nutcracker’ excerpts
December 19, 2020
A Chicago Symphony Orchestra performance conducted by Fritz Reiner.
Itzhak Perlman’s Hanukkah Radio Party
December 17, 2020
The illustrious violinist samples a great variety of music for the Jewish Festival of Lights.
Benjamin Britten: ‘A Ceremony of Carols’
December 17, 2020
The Westminster Abbey Choir performs this perennial holiday favorite.