CSO Announces 2024-25 Season and New Artist-In-Residence

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association has announced its 2024-2025 season, a full year of concerts in its mainstage subscription series, as well as chamber, solo, family, and other programming.

In Their Own Words: Remembering Those Who Died in 2023

Recognizing the Chicagoans, musicians, artists, and friends of WFMT who died this past year.

Kirill Petrenko & Berlin Play Mahler 7

Chief conductor Kirill Petrenko leads the Berlin Philharmonic in Gustav Mahler’s towering Symphony No. 7.

Tár music supervisor Lucy Bright: ‘It’s rare to have classical music on screen in that way’

A conversation with Lucy Bright about the ethical considerations of music supervision, Tár’s most surprising musical Easter eggs, and more.

2023 Grammy Winners & Nominees in Classical, Jazz, Soundtrack, and More

This year’s Grammys, the 65th annual ceremony, takes place on Sunday, February 5.

2023 Grammy Nominees Announced: Classical, Jazz, Soundtrack, and More

The Recording Academy announced its 2023 Grammy nominations on November 15, 2022.

Lars Vogt, Pianist & Conductor, Dead at 51

German pianist and conductor Lars Vogt has died. The musician was diagnosed with cancer in February 2021 after tumors were found on his throat and liver, and succumbed to his illness on September 5, 2022.

Carnegie Hall plans return to full schedule in 2022-23

Carnegie announced a 2022-23 schedule that includes about 70 events in 2,800-seat Stern Auditorium.

CSO 2022-23: Muti’s Farewell Season

Banner works by Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev headline Muti’s three CSO residencies, ahead of the conclusion of his tenure with Beethoven’s Missa solemnis.

Conductor Simon Rattle Receives Germany’s Highest Honor

Germany’s president has bestowed the country’s highest honor on British conductor Simon Rattle, the former head of the Berlin Philharmonic who is set to take a new job in Munich next year.

James Levine, who ruled over Met Opera, dead at age 77

Conductor James Levine, who ruled over the Metropolitan Opera for more than four decades before being eased aside when his health declined and then fired for sexual improprieties, has died.

In Their Own Words: Quotes From Artists and Friends of WFMT Who Died in 2020

2020 was a year of great loss for all; the music world was no exception. As we reflect on the year gone by, WFMT salutes the contributions of artists and friends who died this past year.

Deaf Hip-Hop Dancer is Moved by Beethoven’s 5th in New Music Video

With beautiful images and stunning dancing, this video reminds us that not everyone engages with music the same way.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Announces 2020-2021 Season

The CSO’s 130th season begins on September 17 with a free concert for Chicago at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Decade in Review: The 2010s and Classical Music

The 2010s were a tumultuous decade, replete with astounding artistic highlights, superlative new voices, and watershed moments of reckoning. WFMT hosts and staff reflect on what the past decade brought for classical music, and what the new decade may have in store.

‘I am here with my musicians’: Maestro Muti joins striking CSO musicians

Usually caught in a neither-nor position straddling the artistic and administrative halves of the organizations, music directors have historically stayed out of labor disputes in major orchestras.

Rome opera hires Gatti, who lost job over #MeToo allegations

Rome’s opera house on Friday defended hiring conductor Daniele Gatti, who was fired by an Amsterdam-based orchestra last summer over sexual misconduct allegations.

Playlist: 20 Works That Inspire CSO Composers-in-Residence Elizabeth Ogonek, Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams and Elizabeth Ogonek shared 20 modern and contemporary works that have most inspired them in celebration of 20 years of CSO’s MusicNOW series.

Playlist: 2017’s Best Classical Christmas Recordings

These nine recordings are sure to make your spirits bright this holiday season.

VIDEO: Take a Spin Around Berlin, Music Capital of the World, with Carl Grapentine

When Carl Grapentine, host of WFMT’s Morning Program, first visited Berlin in 1965 as a student he immediately felt at home.

Grammy-Winning Violinist Gil Shaham’s Advice for Young Musicians

Grammy Award-winning violinist Gil Shaham made his professional debut at age 10, an age when most are hardly even thinking about professional work of any kind.

Playlist: Your Top 10 Favorite Piano Concertos

We asked you to vote on your favorite piano concertos, which we have been counting down for two weeks along with works that might be new to you. Here are your top 10 favorite piano concertos revealed!