Stories

Tenor Jonas Kaufmann takes on Tristan, opera’s voice killer

Ten years ago, tenor Jonas Kaufmann was hesitant about taking on heavy Wagnerian roles like the hero of “Tristan und Isolde.” Now, at age 51, Kaufmann is ready to perform a role so challenging, it’s known as a voice killer.

Angelica Lasala | May 9, 2017

Ravinia Announces 2-Year Bernstein Celebration, Curated by Conductor Marin Alsop

Stephen Raskauskas | May 8, 2017

Composer Rodrigo Cadet Creates World-Premiere Works for Chicago Students to Teach About Mexico & Its Music

Stephen Raskauskas | May 8, 2017

Conductor, MacArthur ‘Genius’ Marin Alsop Explains Why There Aren’t More Women on the Podiums

Playlist: Fretless and Linear — How Classical Violin Shaped Andrew Bird’s Sound

Daniel Goldberg | July 10, 2019

Using his violin and virtuosic whistle, Andrew Bird genre-jumps from indie rock to jazz, and from folk to classical. Born in Lake Forest, Bird began learning classical violin from the Suzuki Method at the age of four and recalls, “My mom would have WFMT on all the time… My dad listened to Merle Haggard.”

Playlist: Classical Cats, Selections Inspired by Feline Friends

Becky Nystedt | July 9, 2019

While kitties are favored in contemporary popular culture (memes, viral videos, #Instagram), they have also long dominated the hearts of humans throughout history and are reflected through past art and music.

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The Women of Nordic Affect Share What Makes the Music of Iceland Some of the Coolest Stuff on Earth

Dennis Moore | May 5, 2017

Learn about what makes Iceland's music scene so unique from the only group that's performed with both Björk and The English Concert.

Just TRY Not to Weep Listening to Lila Downs Sing This Classic Canción Ranchera, “La Cruz de Olvido”

Stephen Raskauskas | May 3, 2017

“I love to sing for people, and that helps with my mood swings too – especially folk music. Folk music is the mother of all music. It’s the people’s music. I am very grateful to express my views through the music. Music can make people confront reality and confront themselves.”

“Females Disrupting The Tap World” Explore Dance, Art, and Gender with New “Hansel and Gretel”

Angelica Lasala | May 3, 2017

For jorsTap Chicago, a company that describes itself as “females disrupting the tap world,” dance functions not only as a storytelling medium but as a way to create safe spaces. The company’s latest project is a gender-inclusive re-telling of Hansel and Gretel created in collaboration with multimedia artist David Lee Csicsko. The original tale of a brother and sister who ...

Mornings with Dennis Moore