The Renovo String Orchestra is one of the best that the Chicago area music scene has to offer. You…read morecan tell that everyone who is associated with this place (performers and staff) cares deeply about bringing high quality performances to its audiences. The folks here are friendly and passionate patrons of the arts. I had a chance to see this group perform at Rockefeller Chapel, among other fabulous productions, and they simply brought the house down. The praise showered down, non stop, from the last row in the balcony to the first row of the orchestra. This is the quintessential Chicago ensemble. Go see them live - You will love it!

These are the bravest artists in Chicago. Their performances are always beautiful and unique. They…read morehave a huge repertoire that includes some highly original collaborations - Gina Patterson's ballet with Sons of the Neverwrong (My Witness), Alex Ketley's tribute to Otis Redding (Wish for Even Ground), and his ongoing open collaboration with musicians on If Ever (an Ocean) Relinquished. But the bravery happens when after each performance the Artistic Director - Julie Nakagawa opens up discussion between the dancers and the audience. Inspiration is revealed, and you become connected. Always something unexpected - it sticks with you. very cool.

Ok, totally shameless plug for one of the top classical groups in Chicago...because I am in it. :)…read more Music of the Baroque (or MOB) is in its 38th season, and the chorus and orchestra specialize in the performance of eighteenth century works (mostly Bach, Handel, Purcell, etc). Some of you might read that and think, snooze fest, but I assure you, it is as far from that as you can imagine. Acclaimed music director (and conductor) Jane Glover has quite the international reputation and really knows how to bring drama to the works. The riveting performances of the St. Matthew Passion last spring were nearly sold-out and received rave reviews. The Holiday Brass and Choral Concerts begin tonight and are the epitome of the Christmas spirit! If you are looking for a classy and festive event for the holidays, look no further. But hurry and call for tickets, because these shows sell out! I'd highly recommend the Friday evening performance in St. Michael's in Old Town -- you'll feel like you've traveled to Europe without even leaving the city! If you miss the Holiday concerts, check out the Bach Mass in B Minor in February in the Harris Theater. It will knock your socks off!

I am no classical music or symphony expert, but seeing these folks for the very first time at their…read moreHarris Theater home rather blew me away. Under the direction of conductor Nicholas Kraemer, we took in a program of Bach concertos, suites and sinfonias to a packed house on a Monday evening. The conductor addressed the audience in a humorous and honest way, told us things we might never have known about Bach and the music. And then he presided over performances which were nothing short of perfection. The Harris Theater venue is great both acoustically and for sight lines. Perched way up top, I've never seen so many bald heads in one place in my life. Rows of fuzzy cue balls. (The mind does wander during a symphony.) The Music of The Baroque season includes concerts at the Harris and other venues in Chicago, Skokie, and Evanston. Seven different programs from fall through spring, or October through May. MOB strikes me as just one more Chicago cultural gem, which may warrant a visit sometime, if you like to support our superb local artistes. Or if you just want to feel better about having hair.

This organization and the events held at Lincoln Way North High School (at their Performing Arts…read moreCenter) is just an absolute hidden gem, especially if you live in the Southwest suburbs and enjoy the performing arts. Maestro Carmen DeLeone who conducts the IPO, has also been Music Director of the Cincinnati Ballet since 1969, and just last season he also marked his twentieth year as Music Director of the Middletown Symphony in Ohio. At New York's Carnegie Hall, he has served as Conductor and Host of the "Family Concert" Series, and in Europe, he has conducted frequent performances with the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also an accomplished composer and really has a passion for music. His energy and love really come through as does the enthusiasm and passion of all the members of the IPO. This is really an outstanding experience and a great well kept secret. This past Saturday's event featured John Adams - The Chairman Dances, W.A. Mozart - Symphony No. 35 in D Major ("Haffner"), and Sergei Prokofiev - Piano Concerto No. 3. We also were able to enjoy an incredible appearance by Anthony Molinaro who is a world renowned Piano Soloist and his performance was excellent.

I saw them perform yesterday at Trinity Christian College and they were fabulous! They had a youth…read moreprogram and played Beethoven's 5th symphony. It was an interactive performance where the conductor was great at explaining the music, Beethoven's intentions, and sample pieces so that kids could follow along. After, we got to meet a bassist and learn a bit about his instrument. Wonderful experience.

This show is about so much more than wrestling. The incredible storytelling sucked me in from the…read morefirst moment and had me spellbound. The actors were fabulous--and one of them, not sure who, was recovering from the flu that had caused the Saturday performance to be canceled. So glad we were able to get replacement tickets. The house was packed and the standing O was well deserved. I'm not a season ticket holder and I know nothing about wrestling but I would see this play again in a heartbeat.

Kristoffer Diaz was a Pulitzer Finalist! How sweet is that? I hope you guys got a chance to check…read morethis show out while it was here in Chicago. Otherwise you should give it a gander if you plan to be anywhere near NYC this summer. It's totally worth it!

Thank the Sultans of Groupon, and the Board of the Chicago Phiharmonic Orchestra, who allowed me to…read morepurchase a ticket for Sunday's concert at Pick-Staiger Hall. Called "Going for Baroque", it featured (no surprise here, from the title) mostly music of the Baroque period. The concert consisted of Baroque masters J.S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, George Frideric Handl, and the almost-classical but mostly baroque Carl Phillip Emanuel Bach. The orchestra, according to the website, draws many of its members from the Lyric Opera Orchestra, as well as other career musicians from the Chicago area. If you are a true Baroque purist, you should be aware that this concert was performed on modern instruments. Some people apparently think that period pieces should be performed on period instruments, so that the modern audience can get closer to hearing what Antonio Vivaldi heard. For example, an absolutely wonderful piccolo player named Alyce Johnson performed pieces that were originally written for the sopranino recorder. It ain't what Vivaldi heard, not exactly, but who cares? I like hearing original instruments, but this was really good, too. I enjoyed this group, and the musical selections, very much. While some compositions from this group of Baroque composers are familiar, the Chicago Philharmonic dug a little deeper into the repertoire for Sunday's concert. The guest conductor and harpsichorist was David Schrader. Along with his musical duties, he also offered a brief history and background of the selected compositions, and I liked that, too. While I really enjoy Baroque and classical music, I am most definitely not a scholar. Getting a little more information broadened my knowledge and enriched the musical experience. And for you Groupon-aholics, I had absolutely no problem redeeming my Groupon. It was a delightful evening. I highly recommend the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra. Even if you have to pay full price.

Breathtaking and Spectacular performance. The audience was enthralled with the orchestra for their…read moreinnovation!

I've only been to one of their productions, and that was at the Aethaneum, so take this with a…read moregrain of salt. The production was good, definitely not very good or great. This company is a helpful launching pad for singers who are working to become full-time professional opera singers. My husband and I saw one of the Handel operas, and the singing, with the exception of the soprano lead, had a ways to go. The acting also wasn't so great - the performers seemed more focused on vocal tehnique. I'm a bit of an opera buff, but my husband isn't, and it was hard for him. Handel opera isn't especially approachable, so that might have been my poor judgment call. We both enjoy the Lyric much more (although he likes to get 40 winks there too). But the Lyric certainly has a larger budget for singers, sets, etc. This is not an inspired regional opera company, but a solid one.

I scored dress rehearsal tickets to a few of Chicago Opera Theater's upcoming shows. Last night, my…read moresister and I went to see La Clemenza di Tito. I'm no opera expert, but I can definitely appreciate it. The performance was beautiful. The music was unbelievably powerful and the interpretation somewhat modern (though I'm merely speculating). I'm a photographer, and I found myself in utter awe of the sets and of the lighting. Everything about it was so dramatic and full of contrast and just fit the performance to a T! The Harris theater itself is not at all what I expected. It's very modern, almost cold feeling, with very few embellishments or visual distractions one might expect from a theater. Not saying this is good or bad. Just is. In a sense, I suppose it helped keep the focus where it belongs: on the stage. Overall, a wonderful experiences. Can't wait until the next show!

While there is a Yelp Chicago listing for St James Episcopal Cathedral and its Walking Labyrinth,…read moreand a review of this annual concert series in the former (with great photos of the venue too), I felt that the Rush Hour Concerts were notable enough to get its own Yelp page. Especially since it's been offering Chicagoans and visitors to the city an exceptional and consistently excellent series of professional classical performances for over 10 years. The series and its welcoming reception, with snacks and drink prior to the mini performance, are all offered free of charge. This has been made possible by the dedicated work by its founder and artistic director, Deborah Sobol (who is a well-regarded concert pianist in her own right), her generous board of directors and collaborative organizations, and a friendly cadre of volunteers. Almost every concert I've been to has been packed. The draw is not just the freebies, but the top-notch performers, some drawn from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the music that is not just from the popular classical repertoire. The attendees are always polite folks, even though they've stood in a loose line for the on-the-dot 5:15 PM door opening. Be amongst the early birds to partake of the pre-concert refreshments. On this past week's season opener, we got a small plate of a pastry snack (cheesecake, cookie, or nut cake) plus 3 huge strawberries, and our choice of wines or light beverages (from Argo Tea.) A pleasant and civilized way to end your work day and to begin a brief concert! The concerts are usually about 30-minutes total. So it's perfect if you are not used to attending a "conventional" classical performance that could last almost a hour before intermission. I should add that even though the cathedral's address is on Huron, the entrance to the church and the reception and concerts is on Wabash. This model has worked for over a decade and has also spawned its imitators in other metropolitan centers (NYC and San Francisco are notable cities that also copied this Rush Hour idea.) The series also offers a high-tech way for you to enjoy and share the concerts afterwards: their innovative "In a Flash" library of recordings on USB flash drives let you take the music home, even the very concert that you've just listened to live! Concerts are on Tuesdays during summer months and start at 5:45 PM, just after the free reception, when doors open at 5:15 PM. Check their Web site for the scheduled performers and music for each concert.

After work wanna unwind to some live meditative classical music in a beautiful setting? Every…read moreTesuday during the summer, St James Episcopal Cathedral offers a wonderful getaway right off the Michigan Avenue. It's a beautiful church. Check out my panoramic photo in the review. Get there no later than 5:30pm to get a seat. It fills up. I like to sit along the wall, so when I use my phone to tweet or checkin to foursquare or yelp, I won't be annoying to the older crowd. And it's truly an elderly crowd. I sat and watched a spider spin a web. And a bug crawl on some guy's collar.