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SFO Salutes Ten “American Mavericks”
Michael Tilson Thomas Michael Tilson Thomas has always had a special affinity for the music of American composers. The Los Angeles-born music director of the San Francisco Symphony since 1995, he has...
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Is it Self-Taught, Outsider or Art Brut? Why Not Just Plain Art?
Editor’s Note: The postings this week and next focus on two magnificent art exhibits currently up. One is 750 miles away at the Metropolitan Museum in New York while the other is only 90 miles from...
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The Steins Collect.Did They Ever!
Moviegoers were captivated last year with Woody Allen’s movie, “Midnight in Paris”. Millions of viewers fantasized going back in time to Paris in the 1920s to drop in on Gertrude Stein’s salon and meet...
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A Special Musical Legacy
It is common knowledge that Chicago enjoys a rich and vibrant classical music scene. We can boast of having a world-class symphony orchestra, opera company and classical radio station (WFMT). Ensembles...
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A Living Hell in the Basement
It’s hard to believe but the League of Chicago Theaters boasts more than 225 member companies. They run the gamut from pop-up venues and modest storefronts to more established mid-size companies all...
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Music Festivals = Summer Magic
Summer in Chicago “Hot Time, Summer in the City” is a lyric from an old rock song. Summer means lots of beaches, barbeque, beer. Yet Chicago goes far beyond those three summer staples. In fact, I think...
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A Too Short “American Century”
At a time when the media, opinion leaders and the public are bemoaning America’s decline, it is appropriate that a book, “The Short American Century,” (Harvard University Press) should appear....
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A Trio On the Verge
Lincoln Trio I first encountered The Lincoln Trio slightly more than three years ago. They were about to embark on a months-long concert tour of Illinois towns, presented by the Ravinia Music Festival,...
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Looking to Rebottle the Magic
Navy Pier Cats have their proverbial nine lives. But art fairs? Later this week, Expo Chicago becomes the sixth incarnation, by my count, of the successful art fair launched by Michigan print dealer,...
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Georg Solti Centennial
The most evident centennial being celebrated in Chicago right now is that of Poetry Magazine. You can’t walk anywhere in the Loop and miss the lightpole banners, streetside bulletin boards and even...
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The Little Label That Could
When James Ginsburg founded Cedille Records in 1989 at the ripe age of 24, the classical record industry was bustling with activity. Four labels dominated the field: Deutsche Grammophon, Decca...
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Catch This “Motherf**ker” Pronto
Maybe the language (the word “fuck” becomes a musical riff at least 60 times), the lower-class setting (El Barrio in New York City), or Steppenwolf‘’s proclivity toward dark tales have kept you from...
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Euro Film Fest a Chicago Treat
While I normally write about books or concerts after the fact, this week I want to get the word out in advance for the 16th Annual European Union Film Festival, screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center...
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Lyric Duo Worth Singing About
Each year, around Christmastime, arts critics recollect top performances of the past year. Well, 90 days later (due to other commitments), I’m ready to offer my own compliments to Lyric Opera. My...
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Tasty Musical Treats Times Two
At the beginning of this month, I urged you to put the upcoming European Film Festival on your calendar. Today, I’m alerting you to two April music festivals. They should but may not get much...
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Photography’s 150 Years on View
"Bouquet of Flowers" by Edward Steichen A rare synchronicity of scheduling makes it possible for photography fans and collectors to survey 150 years of photography in three current museum exhibitions....
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“Maria”& Argentina’s Dirty War
First it was Philip Glass’ “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Now, with Astor Piazzolla’s opera, “Maria de Buenos Aires,“ which opens this Saturday, Chicago Opera Theater is signaling a trend toward...
View ArticleIt’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll but I Like It
News Bulletin: CIMMFEST (Chicago International Music and Movies Fest) is on this weekend (April 18-21) with a lollapolooza lineup of movies and live events. Don’t let the weather keep you from catching...
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Two People Who Hate People
I first came to know Alan Bennett as a member of “Beyond the Fringe”, the smash 1960 comedy revue that revolutionized British satire. Back then, Bennett was the forgotten Fringe member, ceding the...
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Shop Art Fairs for Holiday Gifts
It’s so discouraging to see the holiday season starting earlier year after year. It was only Halloween last week and already store windows featured Christmas trees and decorations to put us in the mood...
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