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Articles by Anne Johnson

Concertos aplenty (world premiere for horn), star soloists await at Grant Park Music Fest

Jun 11, 2017 – 9:33 pm
Grant Park Music Festival feature image (Christopher_Neseman)

Preview: The 2017 Grant Park Music Festival begins Wednesday, June 14. Here’s a look at all that’s in store on the great lawn at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, where star-gazing, the Lake Michigan breeze and great music are free. See our highlights preview.

With ‘Hamilton’ gang added to cast, Concert for America brings stellar benefit to Chicago

Mar 18, 2017 – 7:20 am
Melissa Manchester will perform in Chicago's Concert for America. (Randee St. Nicholas)

Preview: Concert for America is headed to Chicago on March 20 with stars including Melissa Manchester and the cast of “Hamilton.”

Lawn awaits, stars have got you covered: Downbeat is coming up at Grant Park Fest

Jun 13, 2016 – 8:26 pm
Grant Park Music Festival feature image

Preview: The Grant Park Music Festival is the nation’s only free, outdoor classical music series of its kind, one of the glories of Chicago’s summer. Each year the Festival presents ten weeks of lawn concerts at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Here are the 2016 highlights.

Tour stop Ravinia 2016: Stars of country, rock, indie, R&B and jazz are headed this way

Jun 11, 2016 – 7:37 pm
Chris Thile joined Garrison Keillor at the Prairie Home Companion broadcast from Ravinia, where the summer fest is underway.

Preview: Chris Thile will take over as host of Prairie Home Companion when Garrison Keillor hands off the baton later this year, and the mandolin master was on hand for Keillor’s live broadcast concert June 11, kicking off Ravinia Festival’s starry summer lineup. Chicago On the Aisle takes a look at some of the top acts ahead.

Tan Dun’s ‘Water Passion,’ Levine’s return highlight Ravinia’s summer classical lineup

Jun 8, 2016 – 10:40 pm
James_Levine crop feature image

Preview: The Chicago premiere of Tan Dun’s “Water Passion after Saint Matthew,” the return of conductor James Levine with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and a multi-concert observance of the 100th anniversary of the birth of famed choral conductor Robert Shaw loom large among highlights of the 2016 Ravinia Festival.

Musical ‘We Will Rock You’ to test the embrace of Queen’s charm beyond adoring British home

Oct 18, 2013 – 9:51 pm
We Will Rock You Act 1The musical by QUEEN and Ben EltonCredit Photo: Paul Kolnikstudio@paulkolnik.comnyc 212-362-7778

Preview: To the British, the rock band Queen is a lifelong friend. To most Americans, it’s a group from the 1970’s that put out a few good songs back in the day. It remains to be seen how this differing perception will affect “We Will Rock You,” the touring musical featuring Queen’s songs that runs Oct. 22-27 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre under the aegis of Broadway in Chicago.