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.

Josefowicz takes on Thomas Adès’ “Concentric Paths” Violin Concerto. The high-powered Elim Chan leads music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Clarice Assad.

Two fast-rising stars, conductor Dalia Stasevska and violinist Randall Goosby, team up for a performance of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. We also hear works by Jean Sibelius and contemporary Swedish composer Andrea Tarrodi.

In a performance from June 29, 2023, Valentina Peleggi conducts music by Valerie Coleman, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Stewart Goodyear appears.

Alan Gilbert conducts works by Ravel, Nielsen, and Tchaikovsky.

Lahav Shani makes the CSO debut in Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances. Included in the program is Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 1 and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini featuring Beatrice Rana.

Pianist Joyce Yang, a 2023 artist-in-residence for the festival, joins conductor Gemma New to perform Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.

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

A dedication from Oliver Knussen to his late wife, and Tchaikovsky’s romantic reflections on Florence, Italy. Performers include the Miami String Quartet, soprano Tony Arnold, pianist Zoltán Fejérvári, and more.

“I belong to another period of making music, of approaching the scores, of asking for a lot of time for rehearsals, especially in opera.”

Celebrate Zell Music Director Riccardo Muti’s remarkable tenure with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at this free concert in Millennium Park.

Music by Haydn, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Kalinnikov conducted by 20th century maestro Fabien Sevitzky.

The Atlanta Symphony’s new music director Nathalie Stutzmann conducts music by Brahms and Tchaikovsky.

From concerts to screenings to festivals to parades, there’s always something happening in and around Chicago for LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Music by Dmitri Shostakovich and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

New York Philharmonic Principal Cellist Carter Brey performs Dvořák’s Cello Concerto under the baton of Alan Gilbert.

More artistic peaks from the great conductor.

Anna Rakitina makes her debut with the CSO leading an all-Tchaikovsky program.

Works by Johannes Brahms, Vincent d’Indy, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and Claude Debussy led by one of the 20th century’s definitive conductors.

Cynthia Phelps is featured as soloist in Unearth, Release, a new concerto by Julia Adolphe.

It’s hard to pinpoint a single genre for which music is more indispensable than horror. Here are 13 horror movie soundtracks to give you thrills and chills.

Not only are these composers’ musical works an inspiration, but their words are, too! Here are some of the most beautiful insights you’ll read all day.

Collaborators Matthew Cohen and Zhenni Li-Cohen perform a concert of music for viola and piano.

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

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