What a great outreach project from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Renee Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma teamed up today to bring music to students on Chicago’s north side. Arts students at Lake View HS had done a study of Verdi’s Aida, doing art projects, puppetry and poetry culminating in a trip to the Civic Opera House. And then last Tuesday, teachers brought in recordings of two select artists.

Today, Ma and Fleming visited Lake View High classrooms and led the students in some performances.

And here’s some recent music news from Lake View…congrats!

Band & Percussion students earn high honors at CPS Solo and Ensemble Festival

Over 50 students performed at the CPS Solo and Ensemble Festival on February 25. The majority of groups earned Division I Superior ratings while 5 groups earned a Division I Superior with Honors rating, and three groups earned perfect scores!  Congratulations to all of the Band and Percussion students on their great accomplishment!

Check out the newest live concert performances available on our podcast page. Dame Myra Hess Concerts, NEIU, Impromptu and more – plus Critical Thinking and Introductions for all of your listening devices. If you picked up one of our pre-loaded iPods during a past membership drive, you won’t want to miss this newest series of podcasts…enjoy!

Remember album art? This was some of my favorite. These guys are my cousins.

Peter and Christopher Whorf

The deep and broad tradition of English classical music will resound this Friday on WFMT. Join us from 6a-7p for the pre-Baroque sounds of Holborne and Henry the Eighth to 20th century masters Britten, Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton and much more. Our nod to the “wedding of the century” will also offer you the chance to win high tea at Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel, a royal pampering at Truefitt and Hill or fine tea and china from Upton Tea Imports. Wills and Kate, Orb and Sceptre and Pomp and Circumstance…Friday on 98.7 and wfmt.com. Visit the WFMT schedule for more details about Friday’s programming.

tea time with WFMT

We’ll have an interview soon with Anthony Freud, new Lyric Opera General Director.

Today’s press release from Lyric Opera:
Anthony Freud, widely recognized for his achievements as general director of both Houston Grand Opera (2006-present) and Welsh National Opera (1994-2005), will succeed William Mason as Lyric Opera of Chicago’s general director starting October 1, 2011.

In both positions Freud has been hailed for spearheading important artistic initiatives, impressive increases in attendance and fundraising, and visionary community-engagement programs to reach diverse new audiences.

Freud is the current chairman of Opera America and former chairman of Opera Europa. He has chaired the jury for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition (1995-2005) and was an executive producer for Philips Classics (1992-94), where he managed recording projects for some of the world’s leading classical artists.

Richard P. Kiphart, Lyric’s Board president and CEO, stated that Freud’s appointment had been unanimously approved by the Board’s executive committee and is expected to be ratified by the entire Board of Directors at 1:30 p.m. today.

Anthony Freud, 53, a native of London, takes over as Lyric’s general director effective Saturday, October 1 (opening night of Lyric’s 57th season), with a five-year contract that extends through the 2015-16 season. As general director designate, he will have regular involvement with Lyric through the month of September. Freud was chosen after an eight-month international search led by Lyric’s executive vice-president, Kenneth G. Pigott.

William Mason, 69, who announced his intention to retire last July, will continue to serve the company through the conclusion of the 2011-12 season. He becomes general director emeritus at the beginning of the 2011-12 season.

I’m really looking forward to a couple of next month’s special features…Chicago violinist, DePaul Professor and Artist of the Month Ilya Kaler and the weekday special Vintage Violin. We’ll hear most of Ilya Kaler’s many recordings, live performances, and a special guest-dj hour with Ilya spinning his favorite violin hits. He’ll also share some rarities from his personal collection to help us fill out our Vintage Violin special feature on weekdays at 9am.

WFMT’s April Artist of the Month plays music by our March Composer of the Month

We’ll celebrate J.S. Bach’s 326th on March 21st with a very special day that Chicago Symphony Orchestra cellist Brant Taylor put together for us – live performances of all six cello suites by members of the CSO. Not only that…we’ll have a special treat from marimbist, CSO percussionist Cynthia Yeh, as she leads off the set.

Here’s the lineup:
10am Cynthia Yeh/#1
11a Daniel Katz/#2
Noon Paula Kosower/#3
1pm Judy Stone/#4
2pm Brant Taylor/#5
3pm Ken Olsen/#6

Enjoy!

Brant will be joined by fellow CSO musicians in live performances of all 6 Bach cello suites this March 21st - Bach's birthday.

What better tribute to the timelessness of great music than to hear it featured as one of the shining stars of this year’s Hollywood “best picture”?

When it comes to movies, I’m always late to the party. As a father of four, I rarely see anything…for grownups. But a recent favorable alignment of the planets allowed for a date/movie night – and The King’s Speech was the hands down choice. Plus, all women love Colin Firth, so we had that going on.

On these rare movie occasions, I enter the theatre completely uninformed…beyond the basic story line and cast of characters. So I expected a bit of Britten, a dash of Delius or a pinch of Pomp and Circumstance to accompany a scene or two. But it was the joy Mozart and the driving force of Beethoven that, for me, and so many others, MADE several scenes. We all agreed on that here at WFMT. We were also delighted to witness the universal power of classical music within the popular media…still in style…still bringing its clear, personal message.

I also like what writer Jeremy Helligar had to say about music and movies…

Helligar on movie music



He’s well-known (as evidenced here) as one of the world’s great Chopin pianists.  But we’re thrilled that Mr. Ohlsson has given permission to include his December 2010 WFMT performance of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op 27 #1 on our Beethoven Piano Sonatas: Live on WFMT disc for our February pledge drive.  Tune in next week to hear who else is on the disc…and how you can get one.

Garrick Ohlsson performs