This broadcast celebrates Margaret Hillis, founder and first director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus, featuring three Grammy Award-winning recordings. Bartók’s Cantata profana led by Pierre Boulez is the centerpiece, bookended by an excerpt from Brahms’ German Requiem and Verdi’s monumental Requiem, both under the baton of eighth music director Sir Georg Solti.

Maestros Barenboim, Boulez, and Solti conduct the CSO with the Chicago Symphony Chorus under the direction of chorus founder Margaret Hillis.

Holiday music conducted by Sir Georg Solti and Fritz Reiner.

Hillis was the first woman to regularly conduct a major symphony orchestra, she was the founder of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and served for thirty-seven years as its first director, winning nine Grammy Awards.

Hillis was the first woman to regularly conduct a major symphony orchestra, she was the founder of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and served for thirty-seven years as its first director, winning nine Grammy Awards.

“I’ve been very lucky. Not only did I get the world’s best job, but I also got to work closely with the world’s best conductors: Barenboim, Muti, Boulez, Haitink, you name it!”

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.

WFMT general manager George Preston shares his thoughts on the announcement that Duain Wolfe will retire as director of the Chicago Symphony Chorus.