A lover of music his whole life, Louis Harris has written extensively from the early days of punk and alternative rock. More recently he has focused on classical music, especially chamber ensembles. He has reviewed concerts, festivals, and recordings and has interviewed composers and performers. He has paid special attention to Chicago’s rich and robust contemporary art music scene. He occasionally writes poetry and has a published novel to his credit, 32 Variations on a Theme by Basil II in the Key of Washington, DC. He now lives on the north side of Chicago, which he considers to be the greatest city in the country, if not the world. Member of the Music Critics Association of North America.
Under the direction of Christoph Eschenbach, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave a lovely performance of music by Richard Strauss, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven on Friday afternoon. Joining […]
The sounds of the first viola ever made by Antonio Stradivarius wafted through the rafters of Symphony Center on Thursday as French-born Antoine Tamestit performed William Walton’s concerto for that […]
Over a two-evening span, Dame Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus provided a once-in-a-lifetime musical experience. On Tuesday, with the help of soprano Joélle Harvey, tenor […]
Under the direction of Dame Jane Glover, Music of the Baroque Orchestra gave a spirited performance of musical chestnuts at Ravinia’s Martin Theater on Tuesday night. In doing so, it […]
A Chicago audience got its first taste of a new musical organization at the PianoForte Studios on Saturday evening. The American Chamber Music Society introduced itself in a dramatic fashion […]
Under the lively leadership of Jonathan Rush, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra completed a residency at Ravinia in an amazing fashion on Sunday evening. Joined by violinist Rachel Barton Pine, the […]
Following an amazing performance of Mahler’s 6th Symphony on Sunday night, the Sun Valley Music Festival continued to offer wonderful musical experiences. Even when performances were not the best, the […]
Creating a dramatic soundscape of sadness, longing, tenderness, and joy, conductor Alasdair Neale led the Sun Valley Festival Orchestra though Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No 6, in a-minor, Tragic, before 3000 […]
In my first experience with overcast weather at the Grant Park Music Festival this summer, the orchestra gave an enjoyable concert at Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Wednesday evening. With the […]
Under another beautiful evening and sunset, the Grant Park Orchestra continued its excellent season at Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Wednesday evening. Conductor Eric Jacobsen called the program “inspired” because the […]
On yet another lovely evening, the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus gave an equally lovely performance on Friday at Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Leading the orchestra and chorus was Giancarlo Guerrero […]
Returning to Jay Pritzker Pavilion from a weekend next door at Harris Theater, on Wednesday evening Ludovic Morlot led the Grant Park Orchestra in a delightful follow-up to last week’s […]