Articles by Nancy Malitz
Cultural twins, tied to Chicago and Poland, set to make their mark in the orchestra world
Receive management fellowships.
August Wilson’s legacy resonates in vitality of African portraiture by playwright Danai Gurira
Report: All 20 precociously accomplished high school actors who took part in the August Wilson Monologue Competition at the Goodman Theatre were offered, as part of their winnings, free tickets to American playwright Danai Gurira’s “The Convert,” onstage at the Goodman through March 25. I hope they took the Goodman up on it. Wilson’s legacy is strongly continued with Gurira’s reflection upon her own African roots in a former capital of British colonialism.
Nathan Lane and straight man Brian Dennehy break the ice with a blitz of interview zingers
A bit o’ comic relief at the Goodman.
Solemnity rules as Riccardo Muti guides CSO through musical perspectives on human spirit
Review: Riccardo Muti has given Chicago many reasons to celebrate his music directorship of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, but perhaps the most perfect expression of his belief in art’s purpose comes in the current run of rarely heard works for chorus and orchestra by Brahms, Schoenberg and Cherubini. ****
In a program of Handel arias, Iestyn Davies illuminates Baroque art of the countertenor
Review: You’ve got to hand it to countertenor Iestyn Davies and conductor Harry Bicket. When they take a night off from the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where they’re performing music of George Frideric Handel, they’re in another part of town performing … George Frideric Handel. Is this love or what? ****
Soprano Hui He takes over as Aida in Lyric’s new cast, and suddenly the chemistry bubbles
“Aida” with four new singers. 4 stars!
Handel trips back to the future as Lyric Opera proclaims the outrageous genius of ‘Rinaldo’
Not your grandfather’s Handel. 4 stars!
‘Meistersinger’ to ‘Streetcar,’ Lyric Opera’s new season offers scenic route with 9 stops
The Chicago Lyric Opera’s new season begins and ends with shows that should attract aficionados of opera and theater: “Elektra” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Here’s the show-by-show breakdown.
Riccardo Muti, Chicago Symphony unleash alternative energy of Mason Bates, Anna Clyne
Feature: Chicago Symphony Orchestra performances in California and at Carnegie Hall will introduce new works by young resident composers Feb. 14-19 and Oct. 4.
Forget brass ring, tenor Jay Hunter Morris appears from nowhere to grab Wagner gold
Interview: The Texas native talks about his unlikely mid-career burst into stardom at the Metropolitan Opera. Morris plays the hero Siegfried in the Met’s HD broadcast of Wagner’s “Götterdämmerung” at cinemas worldwide Saturday, Feb. 11.
Chicago Symphony’s 2012-13 plans highlight Wagner, Stravinsky and waterway themes
Complete season highlights, details.
HD sound check at the Berlin Philharmonic: Second look at stellar streaming concerts
The Berlin Philharmonic began live concert broadcasts over the Internet in mid-2009 amid some high-tech speed bumps. Is 2012 the year it all comes together?
Sip New Year’s bubbly at home, tune in to great performances from around the world
Our selective guide to the best national broadcasts, international radio streams, concert replays and festive downloads to help you ring in New Year 2012.
The holly and the ivories proclaim Yuletide in sparking keyboard riffs on old favorites
Review: “A Steinway Christmas Album,” a classy bundle of seasonal arrangements compiled and performed by pianist Jeffrey Biegel. (Steinway) ****
New talents refresh evergreen tradition in sharp-shooting musical ‘A Christmas Story’
Debut tour at Chicago Theatre. 4 stars!
Early music vocalists Anonymous 4, bearing gifts from new CD, to offer Chicago concert
Profile: Anonymous 4, the vocal quartet renowned for its plainchant and medieval music recordings, celebrates 25 seasons with a holiday concert of favorites at Chicago’s Art Institute Dec. 18, and a new release called “Secret Voices.”
Once more, Lyric’s treasured ‘Magic Flute’ spins its noble, wacky tale of love and light
Mozart’s classic opera revives. 3 stars.
New York ‘Follies’ stars Broadway babies old enough to have a boffo then and now
Appreciation: The showgirls of Broadway’s “Follies” have histories of their own. Hats off to these flawless charmers and their former selves in a present — and past — perfect production.
Goodman Theatre’s magical ‘Christmas Carol’ redeems sour Scrooge with heart and laughter
Festive retelling for all ages. 4 stars!
‘An Iliad’ reconsiders the poet who brought us Achilles, Agamemnon, Hector and all that
One-man invasion at the Court. 4 stars!
In a claustrophobic space, Writers’ frames psychological chill of Pinter’s ‘Caretaker’
Deliciously bizarre test of wits. 4 stars!
Glass’ meditative ‘Satyagraha,’ on Gandhi, takes Met’s Live HD series to new ground
Preview: The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD broadcasts throughout the U.S. feature a landmark of American minimalism not to miss — ”Satyagraha” by Philip Glass, Nov. 19 and Dec. 7. Here’s a peek.
Contempo doubles down on new music, plays matchmaker for separate audiences
Preview: U.S. and Chicago premieres abound in the season opener of the new-music series Contempo, at the Harris Theater Tuesday. The concert is a double bill featuring a second set with Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara and her trio.
Lyric Opera’s powerful ‘Boris Godunov’ recaptures tragedy’s original stark beauty
Tortured soul of a Russian czar. 4 stars!
Calling all composers! Win up to 5 minutes on a Hilary Hahn recital! And be recorded!
No, this is not an appeal on the back of a cereal box, although it’s definitely got that gee-whiz feeling.Leave it to Hilary Hahn, the nimble-witted concert violinist and Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, to announce her Encore Contest in a whisper on YouTube by candlelight.
In a meeting of grey eminences, Haitink scores a fine first in Haydn’s oratorio ‘The Creation’
Review: Is there an optimal year in one’s life to conduct a masterpiece of Haydn for the first time? In the case of Dutch conductor Bernard Haitink and Haydn’s oratorio “The Creation,” the magical number would appear to be 82. ****
Chicago Symphony MusicNOW opens season with ping-pong balls and rhythms a-tumble
Review: MusicNOW, the contemporary series of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, began its 2011-12 season alive with the music of ping-pong balls, marimba, country fiddle and eerie vocals. Composers converged from Dublin, Connecticut, Minnesota and London to hear their works performed.
What’s under that skirt? Chicago Lyric Opera’s coloratura Anna Christy kicks Olympia into top gear
Lyric Opera close-up: We had to know. How is it that soprano Anna Christy is able to zip around like a hovercraft while pinging those sparkling high notes as Olympia, the mechanical doll, in “The Tales of Hoffmann”?
Sondheim’s ‘Follies’ at CST: Broadway glitz and glamour, with all the endearing bruises
At Chi. Shakespeare Theater. 5 stars!
Riccardo Muti receives Birgit Nilsson Prize of $1M
Video: In acceptance speech, he stresses social commitment thru music.
