John von rhein chicago

I appreciated the power of the pen but was often reminded of the limitations of language when it comes to evoking arguably the most word-proof of the arts. When I erred, I usually erred on the side of generosity. My readers came to know me well enough through my carefully worded prose to know where I stood on a given performance, artist or issue.

I aimed to dialogue not only with committed classical buffs but also with classical newbies seeking guidance. I will miss the adrenaline rush of sending my morning-after musings to the copy desk with the click of a key. Lest my retirement invite dancing in the streets, bear in mind that I am only leaving the Tribune, not Chicago. I hope to continue to attend and write about performances, just more selectively.

I want to take in more theater and dance, read more books, study more scores, maybe start a blog. I hope to delve more deeply through the estimated 20, or so recordings I have amassed over decades of compulsive, and really quite insane, collecting.

Meanwhile, I note with sadness the demise of classical music criticism in many quarters of a shrinking newspaper landscape. Meaningful arts coverage has become anathema to many news organizations, and I was fortunate in being able to write for a major newspaper that recognizes the importance of providing a forum for critical expertise in a packed urban arena of arts and entertainment.

The first thing I learned when I began writing for this newspaper in October was that Chicago music can be as rough and tumble as the politics at City Hall.

I was lucky to have heard many of the greatest conductors of their generations and review some gifted newcomers. I heard great singers and great instrumentalists in their prime. I even rather enjoyed the silly promotional circuses orchestrated on behalf of pianist Vladimir Horowitz whenever the legendary Volodya would favor Chicago with a recital in the erratic Indian summer of his career.

I was around when Lyric general director Ardis Krainik fired Luciano Pavarotti for having canceled 26 of 41 scheduled performances with her company. I was also around to hear the megatenor in numerous splendid concerts and recitals and operatic performances. My admiration for Pierre Boulez was unbounded. I miss his bracing forays into the landmarks of 20th century music, his unique way of elucidating everything through his conducting and his lectures, his remarkable way of opening ears and minds to the music of our time.

Fortunately the orchestra remains in superior form under Muti, and the musical bond between maestro, players and public remains strong. With its interestingly varied concert on Sunday afternoon at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, the Chicago Philharmonic became the first local symphony orchestra to launch its season on its home turf, and non-virtually at that. True, both the Chicago Sinfonietta and Music of the Baroque had similarly emerged from the long pandemic lockdown a week or so earlier, but those appearances were strictly one-off teasers for their subscription series and presented at off-site venues.

None of the four works on the program enlisted the orchestra at full player strength, masks were de rigueur and social distancing was applied on stage. Audience members were required to present proof of vaccination and ID cards as they entered the hall, and were expected to remain masked throughout the concert. The auditorium was considerably less populated than normal.

Speck drew from his dozen players a warmly expansive reading that brought out the mystical spirituality of this music. The year-old Norris is a Ph. Visit smile. View complete concert schedule and event details. Learn more about each lineup, dates and locations by clicking the titles below, or see all concerts here. In , a small group of musicians formed the International Chamber Artists. ICA has grown steadily and responsibly, bringing emerging artists and great music to Chicago.

What started out as an idea among friends has grown to become one of the premier chamber music organizations in Chicago.