Stories

For Soprano Ailyn Pérez, New Opera Roles and New Marriage

For soprano Ailyn Pérez, being rejected by the man she loves is all part of the job. But offstage, she is planning her wedding to bass Soloman Howard.

Stephen RaskauskasAugust 10, 2015

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

Composer Jimmy López proudly displays the completed piano-vocal score of his first opera, “Bel Canto,” on the stage of the Ardis Krainik Theatre in the Civic Opera House, home of Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Hannah EdgarJuly 27, 2015

From YouTube to Lyric: Composer Jimmy López on His Operatic Debut

Stephen RaskauskasJuly 21, 2015

WFMT’s Favorite Beach Reads

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

Michael San GabinoJune 21, 2019

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.

‘Closets Are For Clothes’: Celebrating Pride Month through Musical Coming Out Stories

Becky NystedtJune 20, 2019

"I wanted to encourage young emerging LGBTQ+ composers to write pieces that tell their story in an authentic way... This concert series is both a celebration of how far we have come and how far we still have to go.”

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15 Queer Composers You Should Know

Hannah EdgarJune 25, 2015

Can you imagine a world without the music of Handel, Tchaikovsky, or Britten? These great composers of the past are just a few of many important musical figures who did not identify as heterosexual.

Signifyin’ in Song: How the Sounds of Slavery Changed Music Forever

Stephen RaskauskasJune 24, 2015

Music and dance provided an outlet for enslaved people to express their sorrow, though often their cries of pain sounded quite the opposite to slave owners.

9 Living Black Composers You Need To Know

Stephen RaskauskasJune 22, 2015

If you’re not familiar with these 9 composers, we’ve got 2 things to say: 1. You’re missing out on a lot of great music. 2. Now’s your chance to catch up! June is African-American Music Appreciation Month, and while you shouldn’t limit your appreciation of music by African-American composers to the month of June, it’s a nice excuse to explore ...

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