Stories

Sondra Radvanovsky in sleeveless black leather dress, elbows resting on a stack of opera scores, hands folded under chin, smiling, in a girlish pose, strawberry bonde hair, on stage of the Ardis Krainik at the Civic Opera House, empty auditorium out of focus in background.

New Releases Mar 31: Puccini, Vivaldi, and Jóhann Jóhannsson

A mix that includes an all-women a capella ensemble, late Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson, and lute concertos beyond Vivaldi’s own.

Associated PressAugust 7, 2025

Eddie Palmieri, pioneering Latin jazz musician and Grammy winner, dies at 88

Conductor Jeff Hunt flanked by 30 members of St. Charles Singers in black concert attire posed in front of St. John the Baptist Church, Windsor. Windsor Church,

Keegan MorrisAugust 6, 2025

St. Charles Singers Announces 2025-26 Season

Keegan MorrisAugust 6, 2025

An Orchestra for the Musicians: Founding Artistic Director on End of Time with Lakeview Orchestra

New Releases Nov. 18: With Voices Raised

Adela SkowronskiNovember 18, 2025

Configurations that shine a spotlight on the human voice: from Mahler's "Symphony of a Thousand", to new arragements of spirituals.

Recreating Music of the American Revolution

WFMTNovember 14, 2025

“Music is central to filmmaking,” Burns told WFMT. Rather than squeezing the music in after the film has been edited and reached a near-final form, they incorporate the soundtrack early on in the editing process.

Playlists

Playlist: 10 Handel Operas Everyone Should Know

Playlist: 8 Classical Composers Who Were Cuckoo for Cuckoos

Playlist: 10 Classical Works to Put a Little Spring in Your Step

Playlist: Classical Music To Tug at Your Heart Strings

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Swan Songs: Classical Music Inspired by Swans

Katherine BuzardAugust 5, 2025

With this wealth of allegorical associations, these elegant creatures have captured composers’ imaginations for centuries.

New Releases Aug. 5: Bach, Coleridge-Taylor, Hovhaness

Keegan MorrisAugust 5, 2025

Deep-dives into works by JS Bach (featuring the late conductor Sir Andrew Davis, a Lyric Opera of Chicago legend), as well as music by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Alan Hovhaness. Plus, meet a lesser-known — but influential — Polish composer: Zygmunt Noskowski. And take part in a richly immersive vocal compendium by Minneapolis-based Cantus.

Clayton Stephenson sits with a piano in the background

Chicago Sinfonietta’s 2025-26 Season: Ignite

Keegan MorrisAugust 4, 2025

The orchestra — fueled by a mission to make classical music more accessible and diverse — will share five programs between October and May.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Radio Broadcasts