Lara Downes with Nicole Cabell

Works by Florence Price and other women composers, including unpublished songs by Margaret Bonds.

Danish String Quartet

The dynamic ensemble performs works by Haydn, Bach, and Shostakovich as well as their crowd-pleasing arrangements of folk music.

Hispanic Heritage Month Launches on WFMT

Programming highlighting electric composers, masterful performers, and the classical stars of tomorrow.

A Tribute to Miriam Fried

Ravinia Steans Music Institute alumni Ariel Quartet, violinist Ayano Ninomiya, cellist Karen Ouzounian, and pianist Henry Kramer pay tribute to the retiring director of the RSMI program for piano & strings.

Apollo’s Fire: The Road to Dublin

In this new program, haunting ballads and legends give way to driving reels.

Ultimate Brahms and Haydn

The faculty of Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute — including violinist and program director Miriam Fried, pianist Alessio Bax, and violist Kim Kashkashian — perform works by Haydn, Brahms, and Busoni.

Tenor Karim Sulayman & Guitarist Sean Shibe

The duo performs their program “Broken Branches” with music ranging from Dowland, Monteverdi, Britten, Rodrigo, Takemitsu, Harvey, and Chakerto traditional songs from the Middle East, scrutinizing the close cultural and musical ties between East and West. Recorded on June 21 in Bennett Gordon Hall.

Arnaud Sussmann & Michael Stephen Brown

Two alumni of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute — Arnaud Sussmann, violin, and Michael Stephen Brown, piano — join forces for a wide-ranging program of music from the 18th century to today.

Marin Alsop, Jude Kelly Reflect on Leadership and Purpose in Panel Led by WFMT-WTTW CEO Sandra Cordova Micek

Marin Alsop reflects that “courage is important in leadership, but accountability is, too.”

RSMI Piano/Strings On Tour

Artists from the Ravinia Steans Music Institute — Ravinia’s training ensemble — join the program’s director, violinist Miriam Fried, to play a medley of quartets.

Chicago Summer Concerts, Events, Festivals, and More for 2023 (Updated 7/17/23)

Chicago abounds with exciting activities, concerts, exhibitions, and more. Here are some ideas to make sure your summer is filled with art and music!

Kathryn Lewek, a Coloratura Queen

The American soprano performs her signature role in The Magic Flute next month at Ravinia Festival.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra Live from Ravinia

Opening night of CSO’s annual summer residency at Ravinia features Marin Alsop leading the chorus and orchestra in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

Midori Named Artistic Director of Ravinia’s Piano & Strings Training Program

Midori will succeed Miriam Fried, who’s led the program for the past 30 years.

Ravinia Announces 2023 Season

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s 2023 Ravinia residency features conductor Marin Alsop and a lineup of other leading conductors.

Video: Weird Al Flexes His Classical Music Muscle

When beloved satirist and musician “Weird Al” Yankovic visited Ravinia, WFMT spoke with him about his tour… and then challenged him to a classical music speed round!

From 2015: Ramsey Lewis On His Long Overdue CSO Debut

WFMT spoke to the Chicago-born Lewis in 2015, when, at the age of 80, his music received its first CSO performance.

Pianist Stewart Goodyear on the Magic of Music

“Every time I play a piece of music, I train my mind to look at a score fresh.”

Seasons, Tan Dun, and Ghostbusters in Chicago Phil’s 2022/23 Season

The new season will kick off with a live concert performance and screening of Ghostbusters.

Ravinia Festival’s 2022 Lineup Brings Signature Music Mix, Bevy of Guests

In addition to the annual CSO residency, Ravinia will play host to a spate of guest ensembles, including Music of the Baroque, The Knights, the Lincoln Trio, Chanticleer, the Chicago Philharmonic, and the Chicago Sinfonietta.

10 Woman Conductors You Should Know

Though there is a long way still to go, today’s stages are richer because these pioneering conductors are on them.

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.

See Photo Highlights from WFMT’s 70th Anniversary Day of Celebration

We’re still soaring from our big day last week, when we welcomed some of Chicago’s leading artists to take part in a daylong celebration of WFMT and the music we’ve been presenting for the last 70 years!

Stream Highlight Performances from WFMT’s 70th Anniversary Day of Celebration

How better to mark 70 years of WFMT than with a party!?

Artist Icebreaker: Pianist Lara Downes

Ahead of her appearance at Ravinia this week, we sat down to talk with Lara Downes about her efforts to broaden the classical canon, her first introduction to Black composers like Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, and why she loves to work with Rachel Barton Pine.

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