Review: Pianist Evgeny Kissin is Amazing at Symphony Center
What kind of performance has 10 curtain calls and three encores? Evgeny Kissin’s piano recital at Symphony Center on Sunday afternoon does. It was something reviewers dream to hear: a […]
A lover of music his whole life, Louis Harris has written extensively from the early days of punk and alternative rock. More recently he has focused on classical music, especially chamber ensembles. He has reviewed concerts, festivals, and recordings and has interviewed composers and performers. He has paid special attention to Chicago’s rich and robust contemporary art music scene. He occasionally writes poetry and has a published novel to his credit, 32 Variations on a Theme by Basil II in the Key of Washington, DC. He now lives on the north side of Chicago, which he considers to be the greatest city in the country, if not the world. Member of the Music Critics Association of North America.
Review: Thomas Wilkins Leads the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in Symphonies by Florence Price and Antonín Dvořák
With Thomas Wilkins taking the podium, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago gave a lovely performance at Symphony Center on Monday evening. Being the professional training ensemble for the Chicago Symphony […]
Review: Daniil Trifonov, Klaus Mäkelä, and the CSO Perform Brahms, Boulez, and Dvořák With Drama and Dazzle
With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director designate Klaus Mäkelä taking the helm, CSO Artist in Residence Daniil Trifonov and the CSO gave a wonderful performance of Johannes Brahms’ Piano […]
Review: Jaap van Zweden and the CSO Give an Engrossing Performance of Mahler’s 7th Symphony
Under the direction of Jaap van Zweden, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave an engrossing performance of a symphony that is challenging to all involved: Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 7. In […]
Review: Driehaus Museum Hosts CSO Chamber Musicians to Uneven Results
As part of its efforts to mix music with an art exhibit currently on display, the Driehaus Museum hosted members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for an evening of chamber […]
Review: Berlin’s Leonkoro Quartet Entertains in Hyde Park With a Mix of Early to Modern Music
Before returning to their homes in Berlin, the Leonkoro Quartet finished their North American tour with an entertaining concert at Logan Center in Hyde Park on Friday night. Formed in […]
Review: A Spirited CSO and Chorus Perform MacMillan, Beethoven, and Haydn
Under the nuanced direction of conductor Manfred Honeck, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus gave a spirited performance at Symphony Center on Thursday night. The first half of the program […]
Review: Miró Quartet Ends the Northwestern Winter Chamber Music Festival in an Entertaining Way
The Miró Quartet from Austin, Texas, entertained a large audience to end the Northwestern Winter Chamber Music Festival on Sunday. In performing a program of classics by Franz Joseph Haydn […]
Review: Cedille Records Gets Vocal in a Fabulous Way
In 2024 Chicago’s Cedille Records released several CDs featuring vocal music, continuing a trend from 2023. Several include world premier recordings of works by Chicago composers. Others resurrect long-ignored songs […]
Review: Christoph Eschenbach, Lucas and Arthur Jussen, and the CSO Offer a Lovely Performance of Strauss, Mozart, and Beethoven.
Under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave a lovely performance of music by Richard Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven on Friday afternoon. Joining […]
Review: Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Antoine Tamestit, and the CSO Offer Vaughan Williams, Walton, Tchaikovsky, and Stradivarius
The sounds of the first viola ever made by Antonio Stradivarius wafted through the rafters of Symphony Center on Thursday as French-born Antoine Tamestit performed William Walton’s concerto for that […]
Review: Music of the Baroque Delivers Once-in-a-Lifetime Excellence, Including a Concert Cruise on the River
Over a two-evening span, Dame Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus provided a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience. On Tuesday, with the help of soprano Joélle Harvey, tenor […]