Season Premiere: Marsalis, Strauss, Gershwin

The series premiere conducted by Ken-David Masur.

Beethoven & Strauss

Pierre-Laurent Aimard plays Beethoven’s Fourth Concerto, and Finnish conductor Eva Ollikainen concludes with the waltz-filled Der Rosenkavalier Suite.

Playlist: WFMT Listeners’ First Favorites

We all came to love classical music in different ways. Here are some of the musical first loves of our WFMT listeners, in their own words.

Chromatic Passages

Music by Richard Strauss and Anthony Cheung

An Interview with Susan Graham

The beloved American mezzo-soprano shares her passion for French mélodie and reminisces on one of her signature roles—Oktavian in Der Rosenkavalier

Vienna Philharmonic

The world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic shares a program of Arnold Schoenberg and Richard Strauss.

Playlist: Loud Classical Music

Whether you are looking to rev up for the race or drown out the din, this playlist of cacophonous classical music is for you.

Strauss’s Salome

Conductor Philippe Jordan leads the ensemble in Strauss’s Salome, with Malin Byström in the titular role, alongside Gerhard Siegel (Herod), Wolfgang Koch (John the Baptist) and more.

Playlist: Classical Music You Probably Know (But Can’t Name): Vol. 1

Classical music can be nigh on impossible to find unless you know exactly what you’re looking for. Let us help!

Highlights of Warner Classics Compilation of Furtwängler Recordings, II

More artistic peaks from the great conductor.

Great Guest Soloists

This week, we celebrate Byron Janis’s 95th birthday in Strauss’s Burleske in D Minor from a 1957 RCA recording and some of the guest soloists who have appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra over the years.

Salonen & Bronfman

Esa-Pekka Salonen leads works by Richard Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Anders Hillborg in a recital featuring pianist Yefim Bronfman.

Music Director TBA: Elgin Symphony Unveils Flagship Series for 2023-2024

Concerts featuring Christine Brewer, Brandon Patrick George, and more. But with a music director to be named in the coming months, we will have to wait to see who will conduct them.

Video: Violinist Julian Rhee & Pianist Xiaohui Yang play Mozart & Strauss

Violinist Julian Rhee is not yet 20 years old, but he’s already an in-demand artist, with appearances with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Madison Symphony Orchestra, and the San Diego Symphony under his belt.

Playlist: Soprano Ailyn Pérez Shares the Music and Singers Close to Her Heart

Chicago native soprano Ailyn Pérez speaks to us about some of her favorite Latin American and Spanish music and shares a playlist of influential singers and music.

‘A rose for love and a book forever’: Literature for Music Lovers on World Book Day

WFMT host Candice Agree has selected some of her favorite works of literature that have inspired musical compositions for you to enjoy on World Book Day.

2021 Grammys: Classical Music Nominees and Winners

It’s been a strange, difficult year for the music world, which is all the more reason to celebrate musical excellence.

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.

From 2014: Jessye Norman Visits WFMT

WFMT is deeply saddened to learn that soprano Jessye Norman has died at age 74. As a tribute to her inspiring life and career, we are re-sharing this story from when Ms. Norman herself visited WFMT.

Playlist: Classical Music for an Abundant Autumn, Selected by WFMT

In the gap between a languid summer and a long winter, there’s just enough room left for fall. It’s a season for transformation, comfort, reflection, and growth. In other words, it’s the perfect time to grab some cider, take in that brilliant fall foliage, and enjoy this playlist created for you by WFMT staff and hosts!

Unrecognizable: A Stage Makeup Transformation for Lyric’s Elektra

Richard Strauss’s Elektra is challenging, dramatic, and very, very bloody. This thrilling, one-act opera is based on an ancient Greek myth: Elektra seeks her sweet revenge on her mother for murdering her father. Lyric Opera of Chicago’s intense production features WFMT host Maggie Clennon Reberg. Go behind the scenes at Lyric, and be astonished as Maggie transforms in hair and makeup!

Classical Music Grammy Award Winners: 2019

On February 10, some of the biggest names in the music industry convened at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles. R&B and soul singer Alicia Keys hosted the ceremony, as winners were announced in 30 fields and 84 categories. Here are the nominees and winners for the classical music categories.

Video | Soprano Tamara Wilson Sings Music Inspired by Female Astronauts

With pianist Justina Lee, Wilson shared a selection from Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos and Weightless Dreams, a song cycle composed for Wilson based on the writings and experiences of women astronauts.

‘Arias and Songs’ Host Larry Johnson Donates >5,000 Records To DePaul University School of Music

Though Larry primarily features CDs on his program, over several decades his collection has evolved into over 5,000 recordings, including LPs and original 78RPM discs dating back to 1901.

Carl Grapentine’s 10 Favorite Musical Performances During His 32 Years in Chicago

Looking back on his many years experiencing great music in Chicago, Carl shares some of his very favorite performances.