Violinist Jennifer Koh visited WFMT for a Facebook live broadcast and shared two contrasting works — the “Sarabande” from Bach’s Violin Partita No.2 in D minor and “Kinski Paganini,” by Missy Mazzoli. She also spoke about the importance of ensuring that there is diversity in future generations of classical artists. “One of the things that’s important to me,” Koh shared, “is to bring voice to people who didn’t have that voice before.”

Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges is known for her interpretations of classic and contemporary works, and she shared both with us live in the WFMT studios – including a world premiere!

With the Supreme Court very much in the news these days, a Chicago label has released a musical tribute illuminating the personal and professional life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is marking 25 years on the high court.

Niccolò Paganini’s 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1 has defined virtuosity on the solo violin for nearly 200 years. Violinist Jennifer Koh is changing that.

In April 2017, 99 percussionists joined composer Marta Ptaszyńska for the world-premiere performance of her piece Voice of the Winds at the Museum of Contemporary Art – Chicago. The performance was presented by the MCA-Chicago and Contempo of the University of Chicago Presents, of which Ptaszyńska serves as artistic director. Logistically, Ptaszyńska’s piece presents some obvious challenges. First, you need …

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra recently announced the 2017-18 lineup for its acclaimed series MusicNOW, celebrating 20 years of bringing contemporary music to Chicago.

“Music is the perfect way to get to know other parts of the world,” said composer Rodrigo Cadet during a visit to Chicago from his native Mexico. “Sometimes you don’t have the time or means to travel to another place, but music can help you to do that.” As part of a yearlong residency, Cadet has been sharing his music …

Composer Carl Vine and trombonist Michael Mulcahy are both Australians, and both Sydneysiders – Carl by choice, Mick by birth. Though the two had crossed paths occasionally over the year, their first major collaboration takes place over 9,000 miles from Sydney. Mick is the trombone soloist in Five Hallucinations, Carl’s concerto for trombone and orchestra, which has its world première October …

Philip Glass is simultaneously one of the best known and most misunderstood composers of our time. Though he has many fans, he also has many critics.

“I try to take Rostropovich’s example, who had incredible relationships with composers and of course was the muse to Shostakovich and Prokofiev,” Alisa Weilerstein said. “Without him, we might not have these titanic 20th century cello works.”

Opera has always been important to composer Rufus Wainwright, though many know him as the man behind the piano crooning confessional songs.