music
Renee Fleming keeps Lyric’s ‘Streetcar’ on course
In Lyric Opera’s semi-staged “A Streetcar Named Desire,” Renee Fleming’s intense commitment, Brad Dalton’s direction, a largely strong cast, Duane Schuler’s lighting wizardry, Johann Stegmeir’s effective period costuming and a good connection between American conductor Evan Rogister and the score and orchestra, create surprisingly moving performance, but it’s one much more of the theater than the opera.
Marc-Andre Hamelin positively buoyant in recital at Symphony Center
Everything about pianist Marc-Andre Hamelin’s concert Sunday afternoon at Symphony Center was refreshing. The sparkling watery imagery that bubbled up in some of the repertoire featuring sonatas by Berg and Rachmaninoff and pieces by Faure, Ravel, Debussy and Hamelin himself fit nicely with Symphony Center’s ongoing Rivers Festival theme.
Chicago River runs through Orbert Davis’ new musical creation
A book of historical photos chronicling the waterway’s reversal helps steer the composer as he prepares for the work’s premiere by the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic.
Chicago Opera Theater to launch 2014 season with an Ellington rarity
In announcing its 2014 season, Chicago Opera Theater continues to move in different directions from its recent past while building on its strong bond with its general director’s Southern California company. Duke Ellington’s “Queenie Pie,” inspired by the life of black entrepreneur Madam C.J. Walker, will launch the season Feb. 15-23.
Rivers run through the CSO’s stellar program
Not one but three rivers ran through the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert Thursday night at Symphony Center. Four, if you count the babbling brook in the second movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”). Led by Spanish guest conductor Juanjo Mena, this week’s subscription concerts are an intriguing installment in the CSO’s monthlong Rivers festival.
Tate Stevens proving he has staying power
It’s been more than five months since up-and-coming country crooner Tate Stevens heard his name announced as the winner of season two of FOX’s “The X Factor.”
From sharing the stage with country music icons such as Alan Jackson to recording his first self-titled album …
Yo-Yo Ma, CSO players offer a robust program of chamber music
Sometimes when superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma comes to Chicago, he flies well below the public’s radar. As creative consultant to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, he often works behind the scenes, helping the CSO develop program ideas and make contact with Chicagoans who don’t necessarily spend …
Amina Figarova in a New York state of mind
A thick mane of black hair often thrown back as she gazes upward with closed eyes, Amina Figarova from Azerbaijan cuts a striking figure at the piano, but it’s far from show. Her empathy for the world around her has lead to a flood of …
Dwight Twilley perfectly content to churn out CDs
A documentary is in the works about Dwight Twilley, and in addition to featuring songs from the pop-rocker’s four-decade career (including his pair of No. 16 hits, “I’m on Fire” in 1975 and “Girls” in 1984) the film features several new autobiographical songs Twilley wrote …
Mei-Ann Chen makes an auspicious debut on the CSO podium
Mei-Ann Chen has been a terrific match as music director for the Chicago Sinfonietta. She has connected strongly with audiences and scoured the world for new and neglected scores. Those achievements were reflected in the centerpiece of her CSO subscription-concert debut Thursday at Symphony Center, “The Mississippi River” by unsung black composer Florence Price.
Cassie Taylor, daughter of Otis, sings her own blues
Blues songstress Cassie Taylor spent years traveling the world and jamming alongside her multitalented pop, prominent Chicago-born blues artist father, Otis Taylor. Now 26, Cassie is cultivating a solo career and touring to promote a new album called “Out of My Mind.”
“I love artists …
Chicago band Kids These Days confirms breakup
“It was definitely a creative thing,” Liam Cunningham told the Sun-Times. “When we started the band, we were all 15 years old, and we’ve all grown musically since then. I think everybody felt a bit suffocated.”
Rapper Ja Rule leaves upstate New York federal prison
ALBANY, N.Y. — Federal authorities say platinum-selling rapper Ja Rule has left federal prison. The 36-year-old rapper, whose real name is Jeffrey Atkins, left a state prison in central New York in February after serving most of his two-year sentence for illegal gun possession, going …
Hip-hop producer AraabMUZIK is shot, hospitalized
Abraham Orellana, the hip-hop producer known as AraabMUZIK, has been shot and is hospitalized.
Orellana’s publicist said in a statement late Thursday that he is “currently alive and well” after being shot Wednesday night, noting he was in the wrong place at the wrong time …
CSO’s ‘Spanish Passion’ program lacks genuine fire
Rising conductor Pablo Heras-Casado, in his house debut, shows promise but put no stamp on any of the works that he played Thursday night with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center.
Let the ideas flow in CSO’s monthlong study of rivers
Rivers curve and flow across continents, quench thirsty farmlands and serve as thoroughfares of commerce and culture. They define the character of cities great and small, and they inspire poets, novelists, composers and everyday dreamers. The many facets of these essential waterways will be highlighted …
