Stories

Two male singers front an early music ensemble and a row of women singers and a row of male singers. A conductor faces the ensemble.

New Releases Feb 3: Music by the Sea

New music from a few countries by the water – Estonia, Latvia, and the British Isles – is added to WFMT’s music library. From elsewhere in Europe, Collegium 1704 and Collegium Vocale 1704 present new works of Jan Dismas Zelenka, a composer born in Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic). Plus, two celebrated pianists dedicate their latest recordings to women composers and …

Katherine BuzardMay 2, 2025

The Evolution of the Orchestra: Strings

Associated PressMay 2, 2025

‘Buena Vista Social Club,’ ‘Death Becomes Her’ and ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ lead Tony Award nominations

Tzu-Tsen Wu poses holding a ruan, a traditional Chinese stringed instrument resembling a banjo

Keegan MorrisApril 30, 2025

Chicago-Area AAPI Month Events and Concerts

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.

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New Releases Apr. 29: Women Composers, Ukraine, Early Music

Keegan MorrisApril 29, 2025

Works by Julia Perry, Doreen Carwithen, Hildegard von Bingen, and Miley Cyrus (yes, you read that right) are the marquee works on a pair of releases dedicated to women composers and artists. We are also treated to a survey of Ukrainian classical music, a pair of early music releases, and albums highlighting works by Franz Liszt and Ludwig van Beethoven.

Playlist: Magical Classical Music

Adela SkowronskiApril 23, 2025

Sometimes music can bring us awe-inspiring wonder... here are a few such pieces!

New Releases Apr. 22: Bach, Brahms, Price, Satie, and more

Keegan MorrisApril 22, 2025

Deep dives into composer catalogues this week, with album-length surveys of music by Bach (in two recordings), Brahms, and Satie. Plus a record juxtaposing quintets by Florence Price and Antonín Dvořák. And we hear from contemporary composers Rami Levin and Michael Daugherty.