Preview: Inside Conrad Tao’s Expanding Musical World
There is an old home video of Conrad Tao that captures the modest beginnings of a prodigy. In the footage, a very young Tao sits at the piano, pawing out […]
Review: Evgeny Kissin Brings His Extraordinary Playing Back to Symphony Center
For the third time in a month, pianist extraordinaire Evgeny Kissin graced the stage at Symphony Center with his powerful and dramatic technique on Sunday. The first two times he […]
Review: Pianist Yefim Bronfman Is Riveting at Symphony Center
Yefim Bronfman gave an exhilarating piano recital at Symphony Center on Sunday afternoon. In doing so, he demonstrated possession of everything a concert pianist needs to keep an audience riveted. […]
Review: Mitsuko Uchida and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Are Underwhelming at Symphony Center
Leading the Mahler Chamber Orchestra at Symphony Center on Tuesday evening, Mitsuko Uchida gave an underwhelming performance of two piano concertos by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She first recorded this music […]
Review: Curtis Stewart Entertains at Music Now
Composer/violinist Jessie Montgomery hosted the latest installment of Music Now on Sunday afternoon at Symphony Center. Montgomery is the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Mead Composer-in-Residence. Using CSO musicians and conductor Lidiya […]
Review: Music of the Baroque Opens Season with Bach and Mozart
Music of the Baroque Orchestra and Chorus gave an enjoyable, if uneven, performance of Heaven and Earth at Symphony Center on Monday night. With Music Director Dame Jane Glover at […]
Review: Emerson Quartet Plays a Fine Farewell
It was with bittersweet emotions that I attended the Emerson String Quartet’s performance with Emanuel Ax at Symphony Center on Sunday. The Emersons have performed together since 1976, and the […]
Review: Pianist Seong-Jin Cho Dazzles at Symphony Center
In a dazzling display of youthful energy and vigor, Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho delivered a masterful, note-perfect recital before a nearly sold out crowd at Symphony Center on Sunday. He […]
Review: Violin Superstar Hilary Hahn Headlines a Lovely Night of Chamber Music
Violin superstar and Chicago Symphony Orchestra artist-in-residence Hilary Hahn headlined a thoughtful chamber music performance at Symphony Center on Friday night. Ably accompanied by Seth Parker Woods on cello and […]
Review: Nicholas McGegan’s Performance of the Messiah Provides an Enjoyable Afternoon at Symphony Center
I have only recently become fond of vocal music and, as a non-Christian, I have always avoided Christmas concerts, including performances of George Frideric Handel’s Messiah. Outside of the ubiquitous […]
Review: The Chieftains and Friends Perform the Irish Goodbye at Symphony Center
A full house at the Symphony Center on Friday night gave a warm welcome, and standing ovation, to the Chieftains, who were not only celebrating their 58th year together but […]
Viewpoint: How Beethoven 250 Made Me Relive Beethoven 9/11
I approached Monday’s Symphony Center concert of Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos, and Yo-Yo Ma performing Beethoven piano trios by with some trepidation. For nearly 20 years those piano trios have […]