WFMT: Critical Thinking and Critic's Choice

Andrew continues with the conclusion of his conversation with Bob Riesman, author of the recent book "I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy," on the legendary Chicago blues and folk musician [...]

With the acclaimed Steve James documentary on the late Roger Ebert, Life Itself, now in theaters, Andrew rebroadcasts his commentary from Roger's death in April of last year [...]

Andrew talks with Bob Riesman, author of the recent book "I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy," in the second of a series on the legendary Chicago blues and folk musician [...]

Tonight on Critical Thinking with Andrew Patner, we feature music recently recorded by Wisconsin-based pianist Nicholas Phillips of Croatian composer Boris Papandopulo (1906-1991) [...]

Andrew shares the second hour of a two-part "exit interview with music" with Deborah F. Rutter.  Rutter leaves her longtime position as president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association today to head the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. beginning in September [...]

This year's Beethoven Festival, scheduled to take place in September, is in trouble.  Andrew outlines its problems, and points to solutions in this week's Critic's Choice [...]

Andrew shares a new conversation with Riccardo Muti.  The Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director talks about Verdi he has not conducted, Richard Strauss works he plans to add to his repertoire, and the role of principal players in an ensemble.   Riccardo Muti leads the final CSO programs of the season — the Schubert Fifth more [...]

Andrew revives the 1947 Broadway musical by E.Y. "Yip" Harburg and Burl Lane, "Finian's Rainbow" via its original cast recording [...]

A conversation with Chicago-native Jack Zimmerman, whose CD of autobiographical stories and original music entitled The Gift is gaining national popularity [...]

Andrew remembers civil rights activist and award-winning author and poet Dr. Maya Angelou, who passed away today at [...]

Andrew talks with Bob Riesman, author of the recent book "I Feel So Good: The Life and Times of Big Bill Broonzy," in the first of a series on the legendary Chicago blues and folk musician [...]

Andrew presents recordings of Chicago-born singer/songwriter Terry Callier, who died in 2012 at the age of [...]

Andrew brings the last of his readings from James Thurber's "Fables for Our Time." [...]

In the conclusion of a new two-part conversation with music, Andrew talks with physicist and educator Walter E. Massey, president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Walter Massey has led many and varied major institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory, the National Science Foundation, and his alma mater, Morehouse College in his nearly more [...]

The University of Chicago celebrates Studs Terkel May 9 – 11 with its Let's Get Working festival [...]

In the first of a new two-part conversation with music, Andrew talks with physicist and educator Walter E. Massey, president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Walter Massey has led many and varied major institutions, including Argonne National Laboratory, the National Science Foundation, and his alma mater, Morehouse College in his nearly more [...]

Andrew recommends Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music [...]

Andrew's guest is Chicago-native comedian Jeff Garlin, co-star and an executive producer of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" starring Larry David.  The release of the documentary film "Finding Vivian Maier," now showing at the Landmark Theatres in Chicago and Highland Park, produced by Jeff Garlin, prompted Andrew to rebroadcast this 2012 conversation [...]

The recent announcement that the third $1-million Birgit Nilsson Prize in music would be awarded to the Vienna Philharmonic prompted Andrew to re-air this commentary from last year concerning the report which confirmed the Vienna Philharmonic's Nazi ties [...]

Andrew's guest is conductor Leonard Slatkin discussing his work with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and in Lyon and the music of William Schuman. Mr. Slatkin leads one more performance of Schuman, Barber, Bates, and Gershwin with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Tuesday evening and returns this summer after many years to the Grant Park Music Festival [...]