Classical Music Aerial Adventure: Winter in Chicago

With spellbinding aerial footage of Chicago, you’ll hear acclaimed artists playing wonderful, wintry classical music.

Paul Huang, violin & Helen Huang, piano

WFMT is honored to present a recital by two extraordinarily virtuosic collaborators who happen to share the same last name. The pair plays music by Gabriel Fauré, Frédéric Chopin, and Felix Mendelssohn.

Musical Tails: 6 Composers Who Wrote Music for Pets

Meet the incredible pets who inspired some of our favorite music!

Playlist: Classical Coffeeshop

A rich blend of music for calm, conversation, and of course, caffeine.

Video: Romantic Era Piano Favorites from Pianist Simon Karakulidi

Two of the great Romantic composers for the piano — Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt — came together for a stirring afternoon of music.

Chopin’s last piano gets its 19th-century features back

The last piano on which Frederic Chopin played and composed is being renovated by a U.S. expert who is giving it back its original mid-19th century characteristics.

Canadian Wins 18th Chopin International Piano Competition

Pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Liu of Canada joins a pantheon of winners including Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman, and Seong-Jin Cho.

12 pianists in final stage of prestigious Chopin competition

Twelve pianists from around the world have been admitted to the final stage of the 18th edition of the prestigious Frederic Chopin piano competition, reputed for launching world careers for its winners and finalists.

COVID-19-delayed Chopin piano competition opens in Poland

The competition was scheduled for the fall of 2020, but authorities put the popular event off due to social distancing rules.

Quiz: How Well Do You Know the Music of Chopin?

Frédéric Chopin is one of the most beloved classical composers today. But how well do YOU know the music of Chopin?

Calculating Chopin: WFMT’s New Digital Series Demystifies Math and Music

“Contrary to popular myth,” Dr. Eugenia Cheng explains, “math is not just about numbers, but about patterns, structures, and logic, and patterns and structures also pervade classical music.”

Video: Pianist Evan Wong shares an all-Chopin Recital

On a foggy mid-March day, pianist Evan Wong took the Preston Bradley Hall stage at the Chicago Cultural Center to share a program of Chopin favorites.

Playlist: Your Guide to Chopin’s Études

Explore Chopin’s études – some of the most beloved works in the piano repertoire – by listening to some of our favorites and learning more about them.

Video: Piano Works of Beethoven, Liszt, and Debussy by Christopher Goodpasture

From beneath the glistening Tiffany Dome of the Chicago Cultural Center, pianist Christopher Goodpasture shared works of Beethoven, Liszt, and Debussy to a full audience.

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.

Video: Pianist Kamil Tokarski Plays Scarlatti, Chopin, Albéniz

On November 13, 2019, Polish pianist Dr. Kamil Tokarski took the Preston Bradley Hall stage to perform a program of works by Scarlatti, Chopin, and Albéniz. 

Marc-André Hamelin on Conversing with Chopin and the Piano’s Infinite Possibilities

The New York Times describes him as having “made a career of playing the seemingly unplayable.” The New Yorker is more emphatic, saying he’s “among the wonders of the musical world.” But Kerry Frumkin’s colleague, producer Louise Frank has a more grounded account of Marc-André Hamelin, describing him as a “most approachable genius.”

Playlist: 10 Jazzed Up Versions of Chopin Classics

Frédéric Chopin is one of the most beloved composers of all time. Here are 10 jazz versions of Chopin that will have you listening to old favorites with new ears.

Video: Pianist Lucas Krupinski Plays Schubert, Chopin, Ravel

Award-winning pianist Lucas Krupinski is no stranger to the music of Chopin. So it was no surprise when the young Polish pianist gave a sensitive, dynamic performance of a sensitive, dynamic performance of the esteemed Romantic composer’s Ballade No. 4.

Video: Pianist Hélène Tysman Plays Debussy, Bach, Chopin, Ravel

On an overcast, early fall day, pianist Hélène Tysman shared a sensitive, illuminating performance of piano works by Bach, Debussy, Chopin, and Ravel for this Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert broadcast. Watch the full program here!

Playlist: Piano Études for Your Back to School Studies

Since there is a type of musical composition named for studying — études, for you non French-speakers — we have the perfect musical accompaniment while you hit the books.

Video: Pianist Kimberly Han, 18, Plays Bach, Haydn, Chopin

Beneath the Tiffany Dome of the Chicago Cultural Center, 18-year-old pianist Kimberly Han performed works by Bach, Haydn, and Chopin.

Playlist: Meet John Field, the Irish Composer Who Invented the Nocturne

Frédéric Chopin’s collection of 21 nocturnes might be the best-known example of the musical form, but did you know the inventor of the nocturne was an Irish composer named John Field?

Postcards from Poland and Prague | A Musical Journey with Host Peter van de Graaff

WFMT listeners love to explore classical music destinations around the world. From September 22 to October 3, we enjoyed an Earthbound Expeditions trip filled with great concerts, great food, and great companionship throughout Poland and the Czech Republic.

AP Interview: Chopin contest winner praises old pianos

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The winner of the world’s 1st Chopin competition on historic pianos says the search for the original sound restores the appeal of classical music and helps artists understand the composer’s intentions. Tomasz Ritter of Poland was named the best of 30 young pianists at the 1st International Chopin Competition on Period Instruments this month. The 23-year-old …