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Classical & Opera

Despite classical music’s low profile among the public, performers, administrators and critics have found a large audience for their blogs. A handful of Chicago bloggers raise our city’s scene to national prominence.

Briandickie.typepad.com Brian Dickie, Chicago Opera Theater’s British-born general director, gives a close-up view of just how the art form goes from planning to rehearsal to performance. His very English sense of humor and occasional world-weariness at the amount of travel involved provide bright dashes of color to his commentary.

Eighthblackbird.com/blog This new-music ensemble has been out in front of many recent advances in classical music, so it’s not surprising that its members are also active bloggers on the ensemble’s site. Flutist Timothy Munro contributes more than any other member, with posts ranging from his Australian wonder at the ways of the American music scene to describing their rehearsal process. A recent post—with pictures!—of whacking his head midperformance on a backstage air-conditioning duct, and proceeding to bleed all over the stage before woozily leaving to get his head bandaged, shows that he’ll go on even after a sharp blow to the head.

Wellsung.blogspot.com Jonathan and Alex (who only use their first names) write about opera in Chicago and New York. Alex, possibly a U. of C. student, handles the Chicago opera reviewing, and began his review of Lyric Opera’s Die Frau ohne Schatten with the indisputable claim, “Getting reasonable seats at Lyric is kind of a bitch.” The duo’s recorded IM conversations during opera broadcasts are hysterical as they shred the singers in real time.

Tonicblotter.blogspot.com This anonymous writer frequently and knowledgeably reviews Chicago Symphony concerts and classical recordings with a graceful style—and is also a passionate bird-watcher, posting exquisitely shot photographs from his (or her?) birding expeditions around the Midwest.

—Marc Geelhoed