Impromptu | WFMT

Gramophone Magazine called the Calidore String Quartet “a miracle of unified thought.”  This vibrant, young ensemble won the 2016 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, the first North Americans to be so honored.  The ensemble continues to earn high praise, including a place on the prestigious roster of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two. Catch this extraordinary ensemble in performance tonight at Northwestern University's Winter Chamber ... The post Calidore String Quartet appeared first on WFMT.

On October 15, 2015, the extraordinary American tenor, Lawrence Brownlee, and the superb collaborative pianist, Craig Terry, shared repertoire by Rossini – a Brownlee specialty – as well as a spiritual, “Come By Here,” as well as Britten's lovely “Down By the Sally Gardens.” The post Lawrence Brownlee, tenor & Craig Terry, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Frederik Øland, Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, Asbjørn Nørgaard, and Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin – known collectively as the Danish String Quartet – have described their ensemble with these words:  “Yes, playing string quartets is our job, and yes it is hard work, but we mostly do it for pleasure, like we always did.”  Sometimes, of course, they revel in quintets, too, as ... The post Danish String Quartet and Juho Pohjonen, piano appeared first on WFMT.

On October 15, 2015, the extraordinary American tenor, Lawrence Brownlee, and the superb collaborative pianist, Craig Terry, shared repertoire by Rossini – a Brownlee specialty – as well as a spiritual, “Come By Here” and Britten's lovely “Down By the Sally Gardens.” The post Lawrence Brownlee, tenor & Craig Terry, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Hailed by the Philadelphia Inquirer for “projecting polished charisma and a singing sound,” cellist John-Henry Crawford has a passion for sharing powerful music with audiences near and far.  His collaborator in this 2016 Impromptu Encore is pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion. The post John Henry Crawford, cello and Victor Santiago Asuncion, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Eugenia Moliner and Denis Azabagic are a Chicago-based husband-and-wife flute and guitar duo who make music as the Cavatina Duo.  Violinist Desirée Ruhstrat and cellist David Cunliffe, also a married couple, are both members of the Lincoln Trio, one of Chicago's most celebrated chamber ensembles. In this Impromptu Encore from 2016, the quartet  performed excerpts from their recent album on ... The post Sephardic Journey: The Cavatina Duo with Desiree Ruhstrat, violin and David Cunliffe, cello appeared first on WFMT.

Originally broadcast in May 2019, this Impromptu Encore features violinist Sergey Khachatryan, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and pianist Inon Barnatan in an outstanding performance of Beethoven's “Ghost” Piano Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1. The post Alisa Weilerstein, cello, Sergey Khachatryan, violin, and Inon Barnatan, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Gramophone Magazine praised the Calidore String Quartet as “a miracle of unified thought.”  This vibrant, young ensemble won the 2016 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, the first North Americans to be so honored.  The group continues to earn high praise, incliudng a place on the prestigious roster of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Two. The post Calidore String Quartet appeared first on WFMT.

Tune in to hear clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein and pianist Michael Brown play Mieczyslaw Weinberg's 1945 Clarinet Sonata in this Impromptu Encore from 2018. The post Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet and Michael Brown, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Italian pianist Beatrice Rana made her Chicago debut at Symphony Center on February 24, 2019.  The next day, the 2013 Cliburn Competition silver medalist performed on Impromptu. The post Beatrice Rana, Piano appeared first on WFMT.

The Cavatina Duo brings together Spanish flutist Eugenia Moliner and Bosnian guitarist Denis Azabagic.  In this 2019 Impromptu, you'll hear the “style, sympathy, and technical aplomb” that captivated Fanfare Magazine as well as fans around the globe. The post Cavatina Duo appeared first on WFMT.

WFMT presented the Solera Quartet on Impromptu in May 2019. These rising stars have been acclaimed by critics as “top-notch, intense, stylish, and with an abundance of flare and talent” and “one of the foremost young string quartets.” The post Solera Quartet appeared first on WFMT.

Since 1999, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has brought together Arab and Israeli musicians as a means to defy fierce political divides in the Middle East and globally. Concertmaster Michael Barenboim leads the newly-formed West-Eastern Divan Ensemble, and on February 20, 2020 that fantastic group of chamber players performed the Mendelssohn Octet, live on Impromptu. The post Michael Barenboim + The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble appeared first on WFMT.

Enjoy an encore performance by the award-winning Aizuri Quartet, whose debut album Blueprinting was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award. This Impromptu was originally heard on WFMT on January 17, 2020. The post Aizuri Quartet appeared first on WFMT.

In 2018, the engaging Filipino-American pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion returned to WFMT’s Levin Studio. For this Impromptu performance, he brought some wonderfully talented friends, violinist Giora Schmidt and cellist Leonardo Altino. The post Pianist Victor Santiago Asuncion, violinist Giora Schmidt, and cellist Leonardo Altino appeared first on WFMT.

It’s always such a pleasure to welcome pianist Marc André Hamelin to WFMT and to hear that brilliant musical mind at work. This Impromptu Encore was first broadcast in May 2016. The post Marc-André Hamelin, piano appeared first on WFMT.

Cellist Mikhail Veselov, pianist Eri Nakamura, and violinist Anna Williams are the members of the Neave Trio. These musicians strive to engage, exchange, and connect “every time we play, and in everything we do.” And they say, “We just happen to use music to do this.” The post Neave Trio appeared first on WFMT.

The members of the KAIA String Quartet devote their artistry to promoting the rich and colorful music of Latin America. In 2018 they joined forces with guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque to perform pieces by Latin American masters. The post KAIA String Quartet & Fareed Haque, guitar appeared first on WFMT.

Shortly after releasing her 2017 album, Bel Canto, violinist Rachel Barton Pine demonstrated the showmanship required to perform Paganini’s virtuosic Caprices.   The post Rachel Barton Pine [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

The Danish String Quartet once described themselves with self-effacing friendliness, quipping “…we are simply your friendly neighborhood string quartet with above average amounts of beard.” Violinists Frederik Øland and Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard, and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin made their Impromptu debut on October 9, 2014.   The post Danish String Quartet [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

The story goes that Reginald R. Robinson first heard the sweet strains of ragtime music through the loudspeaker of a neighborhood ice cream truck. Years later, the self-taught pianist and composer received a 2004 “genius” fellowship from the MacArthur Foundation. Reginald Robinson performed some of his original compositions on Impromptu on September 21, 2017 The post Reginald R. Robinson, piano [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

Since 1999, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra has brought together Arab and Israeli musicians as a means to defy fierce political divides in the Middle East and globally. Concertmaster Michael Barenboim leads the newly-formed West-Eastern Divan Ensemble, and on February 20, 2020 that fantastic group of chamber players performed the Mendelssohn Octet, live on Impromptu. The post Michael Barenboim + The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

On October 15, 2015, the wonderful American tenor, Lawrence Brownlee, and the great collaborative pianist, Craig Terry, shared repertoire by Rossini – a Brownlee specialty – as well as a spiritual, “Come By Here,” and Benjamin Britten’s lovely “Down By the Sally Gardens.” This broadcast is a favorite of Impromptu’s producer, Louise Frank. The post Lawrence Brownlee, Tenor [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

Enjoy an Impromptu encore performance by the award-winning Aizuri Quartet, whose debut album Blueprinting was nominated for a 2019 Grammy Award. This program was originally heard on WFMT on January 17, 2020. The post Aizuri Quartet [Encore Broadcast] appeared first on WFMT.

Founded in 1999, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra brings together Arab and Israeli musicians as a means to defy fierce political divides in the Middle East and globally. The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble, led by the orchestra’s concertmaster Michael Barenboim, expresses their highly praised artistry through an intimate chamber music format. The post Michael Barenboim + The West-Eastern Divan Ensemble appeared first on WFMT.