Two voices tell a deeply human transgender story ‘As One’
Various books, films and plays of recent years have dealt with the emotional and social stakes of coming out as a transgender individual in 21st century America. But no opera...
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Muti in brilliant form as be begins brief November residency with CSO
Riccardo Muti has been a shining if somewhat elusive presence locally since his most recent appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in late September. But the maestro has certainly been...
Opera ‘As One’ sings a timely tale of being transgender in America
At a time when transgender issues are turning up more often in the national conversation, a recent opera about the journey to self-acceptance of a young trans protagonist is all...
A symphony of 300 bells at the Chicago Philharmonic, and vocal rarities from Third Coast Baroque
In separate concerts over the weekend, two similarly named groups, Third Coast Percussion and Third Coast Baroque, reminded audiences of the increasingly vital roles new classical music and early music...
Honeck brings bold personal vision to Viennese classics at the CSO
Given the curious silence of Orchestra Hall on the presumably ongoing search for a successor to Riccardo Muti at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra once his present contract as music director...
Former box office worker accused of stealing $100,000 from Chicago Opera Theater
Chicago Opera Theater has gone through hopeful times and worrisome times during its 45 seasons. The city’s second opera company will certainly weather this latest bump in its long, tortuous...
Recommended Chicago-area classical concerts
Third Coast Baroque: The city’s newest period instrument ensemble introduces a new component – a chorus. The TCB Voices under artistic director Ruben Dubrovsky perform works by composers born in...
Recommended Chicago-area classical concerts
Lyric Opera – Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers”: This colorful French Romantic favorite is back at Lyric, this time around with Matthew Polenzani (as Nadir) and Mariusz Kwiecien (Zurga) joining for...
Consort, Josefowicz seize the musical road less traveled
The mass diaspora that resulted from the infamous edict by Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella (remember them?) in 1492 expelling all Spanish Jews who refused to renounce their faith and...
Racette’s searing performance elevates melodramatic hokum of COT’s ‘The Consul’
Gian Carlo Menotti’s 1950 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera “The Consul” may be shameless melodrama, but the subject matter is as chillingly timely today as it must have appeared to audiences in...