Playlist: Classical Music To Dance To

This ain’t your average classical music dance playlist: dance along to new pieces, old grooves, treasured tangos, and winsome waltzes.

Playlist: Classical Music for Travel

WFMT brings you a “musical getaway,” whether you’re enjoying the comfort of your cushiest armchair or exploring somewhere new!

Alsop In at Ravinia Through 2025; Will Curate New Breaking Barriers Festival This Year

In her role as chief conductor, Alsop curates and conducts a three-week stretch of programs with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Embedded within that residency will be the Breaking Barriers Festival.

Lyric’s ’22-23 Season: Verdi, ‘Fiddler,’ Fleming, & ‘Carmen’

Plus a world premiere, Chicago-set take on ‘The Barber of Seville’ and the return of ‘West Side Story’

Van Zweden to leave New York Philharmonic after 2023-24

After six years as music director, van Zweden’s will be the shortest tenure of anyone in a half-century.

Artist Icebreaker: Conductor Teddy Abrams

Ahead of his Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut, conductor Teddy Abrams explains why classical music needs to reach out to young people and embrace other artforms — and explains how Leonard Bernstein was a role model for both of these missions.

A Walking Tour of 12 LGBTQ+ Artists Whose Legacies Are on Display in Chicago

In the Lakeview Neighborhood, the Legacy Walk, a series of ten 25-foot pylons, recognizes influential figures across genders, races, and fields.

Watch WFMT’s Classical Conversations With Marin Alsop

One of the world’s leading conductors, Marin Alsop was in 2020 appointed the principal conductor and curator of the Ravinia Festival. WFMT was honored to speak with the celebrated conductor in the latest installment of our Classical Conversations series.

New York Philharmonic launches on-demand streaming service

The New York Philharmonic has launched an on-demand video and audio streaming service Monday called NYPhil+.

WFMT and CSO Partner for New Series: From the CSO’s Archives: The First 130 Years

Today, WFMT and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announce the launch of an exciting new broadcast and streaming series.

Playlist: 88 Piano Pieces for Piano Month

September is National Piano Month, so WFMT is sharing a supersized playlist – with one selection corresponding to each key on the keyboard.

Quiz: Which Great Conductor Are You?

Have you ever envisioned yourself leading a world-class orchestra? Take our quiz to learn which great conductor you are!

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.