Review: Batman 1989 With the Chicago Philharmonic: Zap! Pow! Zonk!
My first experience with Batman was on television in 1966. The show blended live action with cartoonish settings and hammy acting. It never occurred to me as a 6-year-old that […]
Review: Chicago Philharmonic’s Soundtrack Live Heightens the Drama of 1982 Blade Runner
One of the coolest things I have had the pleasure of doing is watching classic movies with the soundtrack played live by the Chicago Philharmonic. The live music is much […]
Review: The Chicago Philharmonic Blends Classical Overtures with Exquisite Arias from Met Star Ryan Speedo Green
October is Chicago Artist Month, and our city is so fortunate to have what I call treasures with our arts institutions. One of our finest treasures is the Chicago Philharmonic, […]
Review: Chicago Philharmonic Delivers the Romanticism of Larsen, Mahler, and Schumann
The Chicago Philharmonic is known as “the People’s Orchestra.” They have regaled audiences with a variety of classical, jazz, gospel contemporary, and the music of young composers from their Donna […]
Review: Augusta Read Thomas’ New Release Captures the Breadth of Her Musical Palette with a Regular Dose of Sunshine
Chicago-based composer Augusta Read Thomas has issued a new release comprised of several recent compositions. Bell Illuminations has a wide variety of ensemble configurations and illustrates the breadth of her […]
Review: Tidings of Comfort at Chicago Philharmonic’s Cozy Joyeux Noel
Given what we’ve all been through since the spring of 2020, this seems to be a holiday season for grand-scale musical statements. The number of Chicago orchestras performing George Frideric Handel’s Messiah oratorio this […]
Review: Chicago Philharmonic Delights With World Premiere and Sunset Serenades
Chicago Philharmonic staged the world premiere of composer Jonathan Bingham’s short symphonic piece, titled Tautology, last Sunday. His composition was placed on a program between works by Johannes Brahms and […]
Preview: Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Quartet and Music of the Baroque to Perform In-Person Concerts in Skokie
As part of its Out Back Summer Sessions, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts will be hosting the Chicago Philharmonic Chamber String Quartet and Music of the Baroque […]
Review: Chicago Philharmonic and Marcus Roberts Gift-Wrap Gershwin
My wife is off the hook this holiday season. The Chicago Philharmonic’s presentation of George Gershwin’s Concerto in F, featuring great jazz pianist Marcus Roberts and his trio, is all the […]
Review: Cedille Records’ New Releases Lead up to Annual Soirée
In the lead-up to its annual fundraising Soirée on September 8, this week Cedille Records will be issuing Souvenirs of Spain & Italy, a collection of quartets and quintets performed by […]