WFMT: Critical Thinking and Critic's Choice

In a program from February 2013, Andrew Patner features eighth blackbird's Cedille Records recording "meanwhile" which won both Grammy Awards for which it was nominated — Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance and Best Contemporary Composition for Stephen Hartke's title work [...]

Critical Thinking's first-ever On The Road Edition! Following the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for the entirety of their 2009 Far East Asia Tour, Andrew and Matt file their first full-length program from Tokyo, Japan [...]

The second of a two-part interview from November of 2011 with Andrew Patner and dance critic and historian Jennifer Homans discussing her highly-acclaimed book Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet (Random House) [...]

The first of a two-part interview from November of 2011 with Andrew Patner and dance critic and historian Jennifer Homans discussing her highly-acclaimed book Apollo's Angels: A History of Ballet (Random House) [...]

In a program from October of 2010, Andrew Patner talks about Goodman Theatre's production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide with its director and adapter Mary Zimmerman, music director Doug Peck, and cast members from the show [...]

The second of Andrew Patner’s two-part, October, 2010 conversation with then-Chicago Symphony Orchestra Helen Regenstein conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez, who stepped-in to lead the CSO for an ailing Riccardo Muti.  Maestro Boulez died Wednesday at age [...]

The first of Andrew Patner’s two-part, October, 2010 conversation with then-Chicago Symphony Orchestra Helen Regenstein conductor emeritus Pierre Boulez, who stepped-in to lead the CSO for an ailing Riccardo Muti.  Maestro Boulez died Wednesday at age [...]

In a conversation recorded November 2, 2014 at the Museum of Contemporary Art's Edlis Neeson Theatre, Andrew Patner talks with eighth blackbird ensemble members Lisa Kaplan and Matthew Duvall about the group's beginnings. This program was part of the 2014 Chicago Humanities Festival, and was recorded for WFMT by Eric Arunas. Watch full video of this conversation. &nbsp [...]

In a program that first aired on January 2, 2012, Andrew Patner presents a program of music for the new year [...]

In the second of a two-part program that first aired on August 7, 2013, Andrew Patner talks with music critic and Chicago-area native Matthew Guerrieri about his acclaimed book, The First Four Notes: Beethoven's Fifth and the Human Imagination [...]

In part one of a two-part program which first aired on July 29, 2013, Andrew Patner talks with music critic and Chicago-area native Matthew Guerrieri about his acclaimed book, The First Four Notes: Beethoven's Fifth and the Human Imagination. &nbsp [...]

In the second of a two-part program that first aired in January of 2013, Andrew Patner talks with French conductor Emmanuel Villaume, discussing a conductor's life today. At the time of the interview, Mr. Villaume was in town to lead the first of two runs of Puccini's "La Bohème" at Lyric Opera of Chicago [...]

In part one of a two-part program that first aired in January of 2013, Andrew Patner talks with then-Lyric Opera of Chicago guest conductor Emmanuel Villaume discussing Puccini, and preparing/presenting "La Boheme."  Villaume was in town to lead two month-long runs of the opera at Lyric [...]

In a program that first aired October 7th, 2013, Andrew Patner talks with longtime Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg about his book, "You Were Never in Chicago." [...]

In a program that first aired April 11, 2011, Andrew Patner's guest is Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, in a conversation that followed a set of Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Hall recital appearances [...]

In the second of a two-part program that first aired on August 19, 2013, Andrew Patner talks with composer, performer, and teacher David Lang, co-founder of Bang on a Can, and shares his music [...]

In a program that first aired on August 12, 2013, Andrew Patner interviews composer, performer, and teacher David Lang in the first of two programs with the co-founder of Bang on a Can.  Shortly after this program first aired, David Lang's Pulitzer Prize-winning "the little match girl passion" made its Ravinia premiere at the Martin Theatre. The New Classic [...]

In a conversation recorded June 20, 2014, and airing for the first time tonight, Andrew Patner talks with composer/conductor/pianist Matthew Aucoin, whose opera for young people, Second Nature (for which he composed the music and libretto), makes its world premiere this week at the Lincoln Park Zoo with performances 8/19 at 10:00am and 12:00pm, and 8/20 at more [...]

In the second of a two-part conversation that first aired July 9, 2012, Andrew Patner speaks with poet and winner of the 2012 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, W.S. Di Piero [...]

In part one of a two-part conversation that first aired on July 2, 2012, Andrew Patner speaks with poet and winner of the 2012 Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, W.S. Di Piero [...]