Review: Dame Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque Keep The Messiah Fresh
As I listened to Dame Jane Glover conduct the Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus in Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” for the third time in as many months, it dawned […]
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.
Review: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Surprises and Charms the Harris Theater Audience
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center gave a surprising and charming performance of string quintets at Harris Theater on Wednesday night. It was surprising because they performed several rarely […]
Review: Muti Leads the CSO Through a Rousing Performance of Dvořák, Hindemith, and Strauss Jr.
Maestro Riccardo Muti returned to Symphony Center to lead the Chicago Symphony Orchestra through a rousing program of 19th and 20th century music on Thursday evening. Following an overture by […]
Review: Ear Taxi Festival Hosts Scott Speck and the Chicago Philharmonic for an Evening of Premieres
Ear Taxi Festival 2025 continued its run of excellence with an Anchor Performance by the Chicago Philharmonic at Harris Theater on Saturday night. Under the direction of Scott Speck, Marta […]
Review: Klaus Mäkelä, Antoine Tamestit, and the CSO Perform Hector Berlioz in a Dramatic and Exciting Way
With Music Director Designate Klaus Mäkelä at the podium, an expanded Chicago Symphony Orchestra gave dramatic and exciting performances of two symphonic gems by French composer Hector Berlioz on Thursday […]
Review: Music of the Baroque Gives an Interesting But Incomplete Performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos
With Nicholas Kraemer directing from the harpsichord, Music of the Baroque gave an interesting if incomplete performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos at Harris Theater on Monday night. It […]
Review: Ear Taxi Festival Delivers a Concert Not to Be Missed at DePaul
Ear Taxi Festival 2025 delivered another excellent concert on Saturday night, this one an Anchor Performance at Gannon Hall in DePaul University’s Holtschneider Performance Center. There, the William Ferris Chorale, […]
Review: Ear Taxi Festival Hosts Lovely Vocal and Chamber Music in the Logan Square Neighborhood
The Ear Taxi Festival convened an enjoyable evening of piano, vocal, and chamber music at the Elastic Arts Studio near Logan Square on Wednesday evening. Sponsored by New Music Chicago, […]
Preview: Ear Taxi Festival Is Back!!!
For the first time since 2021, the Ear Taxi Festival will give Chicago audiences an incredible opportunity to experience its deep and extensive contemporary classical art music scene. Starting this […]
Review: Palomar Ensemble Offers Wide Variety at the CheckOut
Continuing the CheckOut’s Opening Festival, the Palomar Ensemble performed an interesting program before a nearly full audience on Wednesday evening. Founded by Access Contemporary Music, the CheckOut is a new […]
Review: Orion Ensemble Offers Music of Mozart, Brahms, and Huydts at Pianoforte Studios
The Orion Ensemble continued their 33rd season in a charming way at Pianoforte Studios in the South Loop on Monday night. Comprised of the quartet formed by clarinetist Katheryne Pirtle, […]
Review: The Boromeo Quartet Demonstrate Beethoven’s Immortality at Guarneri Hall
On Thursday and Friday evenings, the Boromeo Quartet brought to Guarneri Hall an innovative performance of the music that, in my humble opinion, is the greatest ever written: the late […]