Playlist: Electrifying Classical Music Fireworks

With many of the major annual fireworks displays on hold this year because of COVID-19, WFMT is bringing you the fire with a curated playlist of pyrotechnic music.

Playlist: Classical Music Inspired by Flowers and Nature

Many composers have also answered the call of springtime’s riotous colors during this, the blooming season.

Bernstein MASS: Join Marin Alsop, Paolo Szot, and WFMT’s George Preston for a Live Panel Discussion

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 free panel.

Here’s What ‘Wicked’ Creator Stephen Schwartz Learned From Leonard Bernstein

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.

Playlist: Dispelling the Stigma of the Classical Crossover

The classical crossover has not always had the best reputation, but there’s no shortage of ambitious, energizing takes on genre-mixing. Composer and conductor Teddy Abrams, who collaborated with indie-rocker Jim James on a recent album, breaks down the perils and payoffs of the crossover.

19th Amendment, Beethoven, Perlman To Be Celebrated in Ravinia’s 2020 CSO Residency

Anniversaries make up many of the highlights of the CSO’s annual summer residency.

Exploring Chords: “Appalachian Spring”

From its premiere more than 75 years ago, this music and ballet continue to speak to the American soul. Dive into the score of Appalachian Spring with Bill McGlaughlin.

Playlist: Classical Music From Composers’ School Days

Just because the school year is right around the corner doesn’t mean that you have to stop playing (or writing) music. As proof, here are 16 pieces from composers written when they were still students!

Playlist: WFMT Selects Classical Music for Your Serene, Sunny Summer

Summer is upon us! Whatever your plans, we have the perfect musical accompaniment: summery classical music selected by WFMT hosts and staff!

Ravinia Festival Announces 2019 Summer Season

Mahler’s “Symphony of a Thousand,” the continued celebration of the music and influence of Leonard Bernstein, and four films accompanied by live orchestra await festivalgoers this summer at Ravinia, which released its 2019 summer schedule this morning.

Grant Park Music Festival Announces 2019 Season

The eighty-fifth annual season opens June 12 and will run through August 17, with most performances taking place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

Sound the Shofar!

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.

Listen: How Latin American composers influenced Leonard Bernstein

Fiesta celebrates the centenary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth with a look at the maestro’s love for Latin American music. 

WFMT, Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus Celebrate Bernstein 100 In Pop-up Boystown Performance

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.

A Bernstein Family Photo Album

In celebration of the centenary of her father’s birth, Jamie Bernstein shares some of her favorite family photos – including a couple shared exclusively with WFMT.

The Most Important Lessons Conductor Marin Alsop Learned From Her Mentor Leonard Bernstein

As the world celebrates the centennial of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, one of his protégés, conductor Marin Alsop has a busy schedule conducting his works around the world.

WFMT celebrates Carl Grapentine with Beethoven, Bernstein, and bubbles at Ravinia

On Saturday, July 14, 2018, hundreds of Carl Grapentine’s friends, family members, and colleagues gathered at the Ravinia Festival to celebrate his incredible career as the longtime host of WFMT’s Morning Program.

Tchaikovsky Memorial to Be Installed in the Heart of Chicago’s Boystown

Composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky will be honored with a memorial exhibit as part of the Legacy Walk, Chicago’s outdoor LGBTQ history museum. Located along 3245–3705 Halsted Street in the heart of Boystown, the museum features rainbow pylons with biographical plaques that honor the diverse contributions of LGBTQ people. From any smartphone, visitors can access videos, study guides, and other resources …

Raise Your Glasses With Us at Ravinia as We Celebrate Carl Grapentine’s Retirement

Help us send Carl off in style with a special champagne reception!

Ravinia announces 2018 festival season of music and more

Highlighting Ravinia 2018 is a celebration of the Leonard Bernstein centennial, being organized by the festival’s first-ever artistic curator, conductor, and former Bernstein student Marin Alsop.

Grant Park Music Festival Announces 2018 Season

The summer festival’s 2018 season of concerts runs for 10 weeks from June 13 to August 18.

“I Remember Lenny” | On Bernstein’s 99th Birthday, Carl Grapentine Reflects on the Man and His Music

I grew up with Leonard Bernstein. No, I didn’t live anywhere near Lawrence, Massachusetts where he was born August 25, 1918. And he was more than thirty years older than I. But as a child growing up in the 1950s, I was the perfect age to enjoy The Mickey Mouse Club and Leonard Bernstein’s Young People’s Concerts. I was 8 …

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.

Playlist: The Best Classical Music to Serve at Your Next Cookout

As you fire up the grill, we have the perfect soundtrack for you: some of our favorite American works, from classics like Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue to modern masterpieces like John Adams’ City Noir.

6 Unforgettable Composer Friendships

Whether bosom buddies or esteemed colleagues, there’s no doubt that these composers enjoyed genuine friendships that would influence their personal and professional lives.