News & Stories
A Cellist's Reflections on Bach
Grant Park Orchestra cellist Eric Kutz has been playing the Bach Cello Suites since he was a kid. He's been teaching them to young players for almost as long, so they weren't exactly the shiny new toy. But then came the quarantine.
Musicians at Home—Rika Seko
Grant Park Orchestra violinist Rika Seko is not accustomed to sitting around. When COVID-19 brought the performing arts to a standstill, she suddenly had to grapple with the notion of having free time—and learn to love it!
Discovering and Rediscovering the Bach Cello Suites
Musicians tend to speak of the Bach Cello Suites as an almost religious experience. Possessing an affect that is as startling as it is profound, this music endures—in spite of its checkered history.
Musicians at Home—Jonathan Boen
In the spring of 2020, Jonathan Boen lost what would surely have been a career highlight—the chance to play principal horn in Wagner's Ring Cycle. The coming of summer, with the cancellation of the Grant Park Music Festival, brought further disappointment, yet he's finding ways to turn lemons into lemonade.
News
Six Artists of Color Make Their Mark in Classical Music
Six artists of color make their mark in classical music — an industry where diversity is lacking
News
Festival HD: Bringing Music to the Screen
In 2019, the Festival was looking for a way to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of the opening of Millennium Park. Organizers came up with Festival HD—and paved the way to a virtual season in 2020.
Insights
Here's What's Buzzing about Flight of the Bumblebee
Rimsky-Korsakov must have known his Flight of the Bumblebee would be a crowd pleaser—but could he have predicted this? Take a look at the many ways this bee has buzzed its way into popular culture.
Behind the Scenes
A Young Artist in the Age of Coronavirus
One month before a statewide order sequestered Chicagoans in their homes, Pablo Sanchez received a letter of congratulations from the Grant Park Music Festival.
Interviews
Interview with Opera Star and Social Activist J'Nai Bridges
After the virus placed her opera career on hold, one-time Chicagoan J'Nai Bridges decided to use her voice for social change.
Insights
Celebrating Women's Voices
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, giving women the right to vote.