Paulo Szot, Marin Alsop, and the cast of Ravinia’s presentation of Bernstein’s MASS (Photo: Ravinia Festival) In the hour leading up to the premiere of the Ravinia Festival recording of Bernstein‘s MASS on PBS‘s Great Performances, we invite you to join us for this panel, hosted by WFMT General Manager and Vice President George Preston. In a stream starting at 8:15 …

Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz, who created hit musicals like Wicked and Godspell, was just 23 years old when he teamed up with Leonard Bernstein. In a video chat interview with WFMT’s George Preston, Schwartz recounts how he came to contribute to MASS, and what he learned from Bernstein.

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony conducted by Christoph Eschenbach, three concerts with violinist Itzhak Perlman, and Leonard Bernstein’s A White House Cantata will be part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s annual residency at next summer’s Ravinia Festival. Ravinia president and CEO Welz Kauffman announced today that the residency will emphasize the Beethoven anniversary year, and honor milestone birthdays for Eschenbach and Perlman. …

The shofar, an instrument made from a ram’s horn, is heard in synagogues all over the world during the Jewish High Holidays. It has also been heard outside those confines for ages, as a call to battle, or a way for shepherds to summon their flocks.

To celebrate Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday, WFMT and the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus presented a pop-up performance of “Somewhere” from the composer’s beloved musical West Side Story. The event was broadcast live from the Legacy Walk in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood.