Andrew talks with Bob Riesman, author of the recent book “I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy,” in the first of a series on the legendary Chicago blues and folk musician.
Critical Thinking
WFMT’s “Critic-at-Large” Andrew Patner presents an hour-long weekly program of conversation about the arts each Monday night at 10:00 pm.
Jace Clayton: The Julius Eastman Memory Depot
Monday, March 4, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew previews a New Amsterdam Records CD release of Jace Clayton’s (a.k.a. DJ Rupture) explorations of works by the late, gay African-American composer Julius Eastman. The CD is set to release on March 26.
Esa-Pekka Salonen (Conductor)
Monday, February 25, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew talks with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, who is in town to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Yo-Yo Ma 2/28 – 3/2 at Orchestra Hall. Esa-Pekka Salonen © 2012 Sonja Werner
Andreas Mitisek (Chicago Opera Theater General Director)
Monday, February 18, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew talks with Andreas Mitisek, the new general director of Chicago Opera Theater. COT opens its 2013 season, the first planned by Mitisek, this Saturday with “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Philip Glass, at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.
eighth blackbird’s Grammy Wins
Monday, February 11, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew features eighth blackbird’s recent Cedille Records recording “meanwhile” which yesterday won both Grammy Awards for which it was nominated — Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Composition for Stephen Hartke’s title work.
Austin Pendleton
Monday, February 4, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew talks with veteran actor, director, playwright, and teacher Austin Pendleton. His new staging of Harold Pinter’s “The Birthday Party” opened this weekend at the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre for a three-month run.
Emmanuel Villaume (Part 2 of 2)
Monday, January 28, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew is joined by French conductor Emmanuel Villaume in a new program discussing a conductor’s life today. Mr. Villaume is currently leading the first of two runs of Puccini’s “La Bohème” at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Emmanuel Villaume (Part 1 of 2)
Monday, January 21, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew is joined by Lyric Opera of Chicago guest conductor Emmanuel Villaume discussing Puccini, and preparing/presenting “La Boheme.” Villaume leads two month-long runs of the opera at Lyric beginning January 21.
Ole Kiilerich plays Rzewski
Monday, January 14, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Andrew presents a new recording of Frederic Rzewski’s landmark, hour-long 1975 “The People United Will Never Be Defeated: 36 Variations on a Chilean Folk Song” for solo piano. A new release from Bridge Records by the young Danish pianist Ole Kiilerich.
Historic Jazz and Blues recordings of the late 1920s
Monday, January 7, 2013 by Matt DeStefano
Tonight on Critical Thinking with Andrew Patner, Andrew marks the arrival of 2013 with an array of historic blues and jazz recordings from 75 years ago, 1927 and 1928.
Andrew’s 2005 interview with Studs Terkel
Studs discusses his book AND THEY ALL SANG: Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey.
"It is the only interview that I know of done with Studs where he discusses in detail his passion for opera and opera singers including Rosa Raisa, Lotte Lehmann, and "his" diva, Claudia Muzio. Studs also talks about his disc jockey days in general and the music editions of The Studs Terkel Program on WFMT. We play opera scenes with Raisa, Lehmann, Muzio, and a song by Woody Guthrie as well." -Andrew
To download an MP3 file of this interview, right-click on link below (Mac users control-click).
