Impromptu | WFMT

In consistent demand for their technical and interpretive prowess matched by an infectious joy of music making and “rampaging energy” (Alex Ross, The New Yorker), the Danish String Quartet has already established a worldwide reputation for their integrated sound, impeccable intonation and judicious balance. The ensemble is joined by fellow Scandinavian Torlief Thedeen, celebrated Swedish […]

Gramophone Magazine called the Calidore String Quartet “a miracle of unified thought.” This vibrant, young ensemble won the inaugural 2016 M-Prize Chamber Arts Competition, which has the largest award of any competition of its kind, and the 2016 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, the first North Americans to be so honored. With Calidore’s return to Impromptu, we’ll […]

Soprano Albina Shagimuratova, who performs the title role in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor at Lyric Opera of Chicago Oct. 15-Nov. 6, joins us for a solo recital. The program includes arias from Lucia, Russian lullabies, and “Fly Me to the Moon.” Music Donizetti: Cavatina, “Quando, rapito in estasi” from Lucia di Lammermoor Donizetti: Mad Scene, “Alfin son tua” from Lucia […]

Eugenia Moliner and Denis Azabagic are a Chicago-based husband-and-wife flute and guitar duo, acclaimed worldwide as the Cavatina Duo. Also a married couple, violinist Desirée Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliffe are both members of the Lincoln Trio, one of Chicago’s most celebrated chamber ensembles. They will perform excerpts from their recent album on the Cedille […]

In celebration of twenty years of collaboration with composer Philip Glass including four recordings, publications and commissioning of Glass’s Piano Concerto No.2 (After Lewis and Clark), pianist Paul Barnes, Marguerite Scribante Professor of Music at the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has released his twelfth CD “New Generations: The Etudes […]

Celebrating New Music in Chicago with 300 musicians and 53 world premieres, the new Ear Taxi music festival will be a celebration of Chicago’s thriving contemporary music scene with concerts, lectures, marathons, webcasts and artist receptions. The Fifth House Ensemble in conjunction with the EAR Taxi Festival is live from the Daniel Levin performance studio […]

Hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer for “projecting polished charisma and a singing sound,” cellist John-Henry Crawford has a passion for sharing powerful music with audiences near and far. His collaborator today is the wonderful pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion. Music Chopin – Introduction and Polonaise brillante Op.3 David Sanford – Seventh Avenue Kaddish Poulenc – Sonate […]

Harpist Yolanda Kondonassis and guitarist Jason Vieaux are now on tour in support of their latest collaboration, an album featuring two world premieres for the duo. Asked what she loves best about their instrumental combination, Yolanda said it was how the blend and contrast “changes constantly depending on the register, the articulation, and the dynamics.” […]

Pianist Kirill Gerstein returns to WFMT to herald his new recording of the complete cycle of Liszt’s Transcendental Etudes. He will also share excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in its 1879 version, which he’ll perform with the Grant Park Music Festival.  Tune in to hear Gerstein play the entire concerto in a live […]

Michael Ward-Bergeman is a passionate performer, songwriter and composer. His sensitive and creative approach to music making has led to performances and collaborations with an international array of musicians and composers from across a wide range of genres. A virtuoso hyper-accordion player, he returns to Impromptu in the good company of eighth blackbird’s pianist, Lisa […]