Stories

Friends of WFMT share their New Year’s Resolutions

To close out out week of musical resolutions, let's hear what some friends of WFMT — musicians, artists, authors, and more — intend to focus on in 2019.

How WFMT Program Director David Polk plans to get more out of attending concerts in 2019

My musical New year’s resolution: Listen More Mindfully Many of the most important and rewarding musical works demand our full attention and were written in and for far less harried times. In Chicago, in particular, we’re lucky to have access to live performances of great works year round, sometimes at low cost or even for free. It’s so easy to ...

Everything You Always Wanted to Know about the Lute but Were Afraid to Ask – with Paul O’Dette

Paul O’Dette is one of the most sought-after lute players in the world. In addition to being an active soloist, O’Dette is the co-artistic director of the Boston Early Music Festival, teaches at the Eastman School of Music, and records extensively, with credits on over 120 albums. His recording of Charpentier’s La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfer won the 2015 Grammy for Best Opera Recording. ...

Barbara Gaines, Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Artistic Director, Shares Her Favorite Theater Music

We spoke with the Chicago theater institution's founder and artistic director about the music that inspires her.

Why Vijay Iyer, DownBeat’s Jazz Artist of the Year, Doesn’t Like the Word ‘Jazz’

DownBeat magazine gave Vijay Iyer the honors of Jazz Artist & Jazz Group of the Year in its 63rd Annual Critics Poll. But to Iyer, jazz is a bit of a four-letter word.