Paul Paray and the Detroit Symphony, 2

More reissued highlights from the Eloquence label.

Debussy, Berlioz, Chen, and Saint-Saëns

Chen Qigang’s Reflet d’un temps disparu is stunningly performed by French cellist Gautier Capuçon; the rest of the program features music by French composers.

French Ingenuity

A Franck violin sonata, and Saint-Saëns’ indelible Carnival of the Animals for chamber ensemble.

75th Annual Elgin Symphony Orchestra Season Announced

Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Beethoven, and other high-flying orchestral highlights mark the ESO’s 75th anniversary season.

Playlist: Classical Music for Reading

Whether you’re poring over a biography, traversing a novel, or perhaps writing something yourself, WFMT’s reading playlist is made to help you relax, focus, and get lost in literature.

Playlist: WFMT Listeners’ First Favorites

We all came to love classical music in different ways. Here are some of the musical first loves of our WFMT listeners, in their own words.

Playlist: 8 Popular Songs that Sample Classical Music

Musicians from rap to alternative to K-Pop and beyond look to classical music for inspiration! Here are just a few creative examples.

Valentina Peleggi

In a performance from June 29, 2023, Valentina Peleggi conducts music by Valerie Coleman, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Stewart Goodyear appears.

Pelios String Quartet; Sofia Radovic & Miriam Kessler

Music by Debussy, Bartók, Haydn, and Saint-Saëns.

Playlist: Classical Music for Beach Days

Need some music for a day at the beach? These classical plays are the perfect soundtrack as you’re catching rays.

Gimeno & Perianes

Gustavo Gimeno, the music director designate of Teatro Real leads the LA Phil and guest pianist Javier Perianes in music by Francisco Coll García, Camille Saint-Saëns, and Dmitri Shostakovich.

Playlist: Loud Classical Music

Whether you are looking to rev up for the race or drown out the din, this playlist of cacophonous classical music is for you.

Season Premiere: Schumann Symphony No. 4

Kicking off the 2023 Grant Park Music Festival season with music by Schumann, Muczynski, and Saint-Saëns.

The Artistry of Pablo Casals, Part I

Highlights (including Elgar, Brahms, and Dvořák) from the career of what may be the preeminent cellist of the 20th century.

Szeps-Znaider & Carpenter

Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider returns to the CSO in Poulenc’s Concerto in G Minor for Organ, Strings, and
Timpani and Saint-Saëns’s Symphony No. 3, featuring Cameron Carpenter.

15-Year-Old Pianist Noah Kim’s Saint-Saëns Wins Him the 2022 CSO Young Artists Competition

The first movement of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 — with its “unique suspenseful opening” — secured the young artist the prize.

Artist Icebreaker: Conductor Norman Huynh

From performing in haunted buildings to leading orchestras across the country, Norman Huynh is an ascending young conductor excited to bring classical music to new audiences.

Video: Young Chicago Artists Perform Music by Bach, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saëns

Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative aims to diversify American orchestras by preparing promising young artists from underrepresented communities for careers in music.

The Modern Musical Dynasty: Kanneh-Mason Family Performs Saint-Saëns, Bob Marley

There have been many musical dynasties throughout history – think of the Bach and Strauss families. Today, we have a new dynasty in the making with the Kanneh-Masons: seven brothers and sisters, all of whom play either violin, piano, or cello.

Lyric Cancels 2020-21 season

Among the canceled 2021 productions are Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro; and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, as well as a concert tribute to music director Sir Andrew Davis, who concludes his 20-year tenure at the end of this season.

Playlist: 88 Piano Pieces for Piano Month

September is National Piano Month, so WFMT is sharing a supersized playlist – with one selection corresponding to each key on the keyboard.

Video: Chicago Area Young Artists Bridge Continents with Cello Collaboration

Two young Chicago-area cellists have risen to the challenge of social distancing, bringing together 24 young artists from around the world for one moving performance.

Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces 2020-2021 Season

A North American premiere, a Midwest premiere, and a special opening night concert with Renée Fleming are among the highlights. The 2020-2021 season will also be Sir Andrew’s last as music director.

Once Lost, Saint-Saëns Sonata Unearths a World of Artistic Possibilities

It’s not every day an artist can re-discover a piece of music by a master from the Romantic era. Yet this was the enviable privilege of cellist Juliette Herlin, who in 2017 gave one of the first performances since 1919 of a lost cello sonata by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Playlist: WFMT Selects Classical Music for Your Serene, Sunny Summer

Summer is upon us! Whatever your plans, we have the perfect musical accompaniment: summery classical music selected by WFMT hosts and staff!