Classical, Music, Reviews

Review: Michael Tilson Thomas, Orion Weiss, and the CSO Deliver Mozart and Brahms/Schoenberg

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave a rousing if edgy performance on Thursday night, when it opened a series of concerts at Symphony Center, billed as MTT Conducts Mozart. MTT refers […]

Louis Harris /
Classical, Features, Music

Feature: Chicago Violinist Rachel Barton Pine Mixes Classical With Heavy Metal

Chicago is well known for having a rich and robust classical music community. One of the best measures of that is the talent that emerges from it. One great example […]

Louis Harris /
Classical, Music, Reviews

Review: CSO Celebrates Rachmaninoff With Conductor Lahav Shani and Pianist Beatrice Rana Making Debuts

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra kicked off its weekend celebration of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s 150th birthday in a fantastic fashion at Symphony Center on Thursday night. In his CSO conducting debut, Lahav […]

Louis Harris /
Classical, Music, Reviews

Review: Anne-Sophie Mutter and Lina González-Granados Exhibit Brilliance With the CSO

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra succeeded in a tall order on Thursday night: turning a major work that has often left me wanting into a thing of abject beauty. To accomplish […]

Louis Harris /
Classical, Music, Reviews, Today

Review: The CSO Under the Baton of Karina Canellakis Delivers the Goods

What kind of concert starts with an 11-minute introductory piece that ends up getting two ovations? A Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert that opens with Brio by Chicago-based composer Augusta Read […]

Louis Harris /
Classical, Music, Reviews

Review: Nicholas McGegan’s Performance of the Messiah Provides an Enjoyable Afternoon at Symphony Center

I have only recently become fond of vocal music and, as a non-Christian, I have always avoided Christmas concerts, including performances of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Outside of the ubiquitous […]

Louis Harris /
Event, Fiction, Lit, Stages

George R.R. Martin Discusses Influences, Inclusion & Diversity in Sci-Fi/Fantasy at Humanities Festival

Commencing last week with journalist and author Ta-Nehisi Coates, the Chicago Humanities Festival continues to celebrate its 30th anniversary in full force with acclaimed author George R.R. Martin being the […]

Adam Prestigiacomo /
Classical, Music, Uncategorized

Civic Orchestra of Chicago Marathons Bach With Yo-Yo Ma

At the end of a frenzied day of performances across the city, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago concluded Wednesday’s Bach Marathon with a free concert of all six Brandenburg Concertos […]

Louis Harris /