Stories

Get to know the musicians — and music — behind VOLTA, Cirque du Soleil’s latest show

"I saw my first Cirque du Soleil show when I was about 10 years old," recalls percussionist and band leader Ben Todd ahead of a recent performance. "I'd already been playing drums for quite a while before then, but something about seeing a live band with the acrobatics on stage and being in this unique environment of a Big Top, ...

Finding the Details in Grand Opera: Muti, CSO, and CSO Chorus Present Verdi’s ‘Aida’

Verdi's Aida is the apotheosis of grant opera, but the true beauty of Verdi lies not only in its grandeur but also in its details.

Kent Nagano’s ‘Violent Shift from the Status Quo’

This idea of hearing something new in live music underscores Nagano's overall outlook of the concert experience.

Singer Omara Portuondo on the Buena Vista Social Club’s Farewell Tour

Señora Portuondo, one of the greatest singers of our time, spoke with WFMT about Buena Vista’s goodbye tour, relations between the U.S. and Cuba, and the power music has to bring people together.

Star Soprano Karita Mattila’s Secrets to a Long, Successful Career

Finnish soprano and two-time Grammy Award winner Karita Mattila is celebrating her 33rd season as a professional performer. What are the secrets to her enduring success?