Grant Park Music Festival. Unless otherwise noted, all programs will be in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue. Free; 312-742-7638, grantparkmusicfestival .com
Grant Park Chorus: Get a preview of the excellent choral group’s first-ever a cappella CD when Christopher Bell (celebrating his 10th anniversary as director) leads an eclectic program of recent American choral works. 6:30 p.m. June 28 and 30, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive
Mahler’s “Das Lied von der Erde”: Based on a German translation of Chinese classical poetry, “The Song of the Earth” gives ineffably moving musical voice to evocations of earthly joy and sorrow, and serene acceptance of what lies beyond. The Grant Park Orchestra under principal conductor Carlos Kalmar is joined by vocal soloists Alexandra Petersamer and Christian Elsner. 6:30 p.m. July 1 and 7:30 p.m. July 2, Harris Theater
Sibelius’ “Kullervo”: The Finnish composer’s early symphonic poem-cum-symphony, combining folkloric tragedy with nature-evocation, is seldom heard on these shores, a fact that further recommends the performances under Hannu Lintu, one of Finland’s rising young conducting stars. Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, 6:30 p.m. July 29 and 7:30 p.m. July 30
Schmidt’s “The Book with Seven Seals”: Seldom performed outside the non-German-speaking world, Franz Schmidt’s apocalyptic oratorio (1937), based on the New Testament Revelation of St. John the Divine, should prove, well, a revelation to local listeners in its beauty and nobility. Kalmar leads vocal soloists, orchestra and chorus. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 12 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13
Ravinia Festival. Lake-Cook and Green Bay Roads, Highland Park. Ticket prices vary; 847-266-5100,
ravinia.org
All-Brahms concerts with Emanuel Ax and Christoph von Dohnanyi: Along with Ravinia’s celebration of the Franz Liszt bicentennial, audiences will want to seek out familiar music by that other 19th century titan, Johannes Brahms. A great pianist and one of our finest conductors join forces with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (celebrating its 75th anniversary at Ravinia) to perform both Brahms piano concertos. Symphonies Nos. 2 and 3 round out the programs. 8 p.m. July 14 and 15; $10, $40, $70
Puccini’s “Tosca”: Music director James Conlon’s concert operas invariably rate high among the summer’s red-letter CSO events. For this occasion, he has assembled a first-rate cast headed by soprano Patricia Racette in the title role, tenor Salvatore Licitra as Tosca’s lover, Mario Cavaradossi, and bass-baritone Bryn Terfel as their lustful nemesis, Baron Scarpia. Puccini’s so-called “shabby little shocker” never had it less shabby. 7:30 p.m. July 30; $15, $70, $100
Mahler’s “Das Klagende Lied”: Conlon concludes his multiyear Ravinia Mahler cycle with the early cantata, “The Song of Lamentation,” a sprawling if fascinating rarity he introduced here in 1990. The roster will include the CSO, Chicago Symphony Chorus and vocal soloists. And there’s more: Itzhak Perlman will play the Beethoven Violin Concerto in the first half. 8 p.m. Aug. 4; $12, $60, $90
The 5 Browns: The talented, piano-playing siblings return to our Highland Park pleasure dome to present the world premiere of “The Edge of the World,” a brand-new work written for them by the hot young American composer Nico Muhly. Conlon conducts the CSO. 8 p.m. Aug. 9; $10, $25, $50
Handel’s “Orlando”: Baroque opera is alive and well in Ravinia’s intimate Martin Theatre, where that estimable Handelian, Nicholas McGegan, will lead a concert performance of this ravishing work, with soloists and his Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. 7 p.m. Aug. 11; $10, $40, $60
Twitter @johnvonrhein
“New Orleans: A Night in Treme”: The third concert in Symphony Center’s new United Sounds of America series will take listeners inside the music of “Treme,” the brilliant HBO TV series that explores Crescent City musical culture. On the bill: Wendell Pierce as narrator, plus saxophonist Donald Harrison, the Rebirth Brass Band, Dr. Michael White, trombonist-vocalist Big Sam Williams and trumpeter James Adams. 7 p.m. June 12 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; $25-$55; 312-294-3000 or cso.org
Rudresh Mahanthappa: The alto saxophonist, who launched his career in Chicago, has developed into a significant voice in 21st century jazz by incorporating influences of his Indian heritage. He’ll lead his Indo-Pak Coalition, with guitarist Rez Abbasi and percussionist Dan Weiss. 8 and 10 p.m. June 16-18, 4, 8 and 10 p.m. June 19, Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court; $20-$25; 312-360-0234 or jazzshowcase.com
Dave Brubeck & Sons: At 90, pianist Brubeck continues to defy the passage of time, playing with as much joy as ever. An ideal way to celebrate Father’s Day. 7 p.m. June 19, Ravinia Festival, Lake-Cook and Green Bay Roads, Highland Park; $70 reserved; $16-$21 lawn; 847-266-5100 or ravinia.org
Patricia Barber: The distinctive singer-pianist-composer commands a global audience but plays in a remarkably intimate environment weekly in Chicago. 9 p.m. Mondays, Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway; $7; 773-878-5552 or greenmilljazz.com
Judy Roberts Quartet: We’ll never quite get over losing singer-pianist Roberts to the great jazz capital of Phoenix (ahem), but, fortunately, Roberts returns each summer to her hometown. 8 and 10 p.m. July 7 through 9; 4, 8 and 10 p.m. July 10; Jazz Showcase; $20-$25
Sierra Maestra; Susheela Raman: The majesty of vintage Cuba music lives and breathes in the work of Sierra Maestra; Susheela Raman makes her Chicago debut finding the nexus among Indian classical, jazz, pop and other far-flung influences. 6:30 p.m. July 14, Pritzker Pavilion, Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue; free; 312-742-1168 or millenniumpark.org
“Truth be Told: Celebrating the Legacy of Von Freeman”: The inventive “Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz” series launches with a tribute to 87-year-old saxophonist Freeman, with reedist Steve Coleman and other guests. 6:30 p.m. July 28, Pritzker Pavilion; free
“Latin Inspiration: Howard Levy With Chevere, Trio Globo and Special Guests”: He’s one of the world’s great harmonica virtuosos, as well as an accomplished pianist, composer and bandleader, so Levy richly deserves a long-overdue celebration of his art. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 18, Pritzker Pavilion; free
“Spiritual Source: Randy Weston and the Chicago Jazz Ensemble Featuring the Arrangements of Melba Liston”: The summer’s final installment of the “Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz” series will double as opening night of the 33rd annual Chicago Jazz Festival. The combination of the magisterial pianist Weston and the CJE augurs well for this year’s event. 6:30 p.m. Sept. 1, Pritzker Pavilion; free
Twitter @howardreich
“Downtown Sound”: Each Monday evening through July 25, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events joins forces with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture to curate a series of shows at the right price (free) at the right venue (the visually spectacular, sonically pristine Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park). Must-sees include Low with Glen Hansard on June 27, Seefeel and Cave on July 4, Blonde Redhead on July 18 and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists on July 25. 6:30 p.m. Mondays through July 25, Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park, Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue; free; 312-742-1168 or millennium park.org
“United Sounds of America”: This series presents six nights of music inspired by six American cities and regions, including New York (June 10 with hosts Bill Charlap and Suzanne Vega), Route 66 (June 11 with Arlo Guthrie), New Orleans (June 12 with the Rebirth Brass Band), Memphis (June 16 with Kirk Whalum), Detroit (June 17 with Marshall Crenshaw) and June 18 (Austin with Alejandro Escovedo). 8 p.m. June 10-12 and June 16-18, Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. $25 to $70; 312-294-3000 or cso.org
Loretta Lynn: The 79-year-old country icon has never gone out of style with her no-guff attitude and classic songs such as “Fist City,” “Rated X” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter.” 5 p.m. July 1 with Court Yard Hounds, Petrillo Stage in Grant Park, Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard, during Taste of Chicago; free; explorechica
go.org
FU: The group’s full name is too explicit for this publication to spell out, but this Toronto band deserves your attention. Blowing out the boundaries of hardcore punk, its latest album is a full-blown rock opera, “David Comes to Life.” There’s nothing pretentious about its live shows, though, which are built around the endlessly entertaining antics of the round mound of jocularity that is Damian Abraham. 8 p.m. July 2, Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; $15; 773-525-2501 or lincoln
hallchicago.com
Pitchfork Music Festival: The annual gathering of the indie-rock tribes will include headliners Animal Collective, Fleet Foxes and TV on the Radio, with up-and-comers Tune-Yards, Shabazz Palaces and Twin Shadow making early arrival mandatory (the complete lineup is at pitchforkmusicfestival.com). 3:30 p.m. July 15, 1 p.m. July 16-17, Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph Drive; $45 per day; 866-468-3401 or ticketweb.com
Wild Flag: This indie all-star group — including Sleater-Kinney’s Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss, Helium’s Mary Timony and the Minders’ Rebecca Cole — played one of its first shows with gleeful ferocity at the South by Southwest Music Conference last March, and built anticipation for a forthcoming album. The band is only doing a handful of shows this summer, and Chicago has two of them. 10:30 p.m. July 22, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave.; $15 (sold out); ticketweb.com; and 9 p.m. July 23, Wicker Park Festival, Milwaukee Avenue between North Avenue and Wood Street; $5 donation; 773-384-2672 or wickerparkbucktown.com
Dolly Parton: With her 43rd studio album, “Better Day,” due for release this month, one of country’s greatest songwriters is back on the road mixing down-home charm and sequined glamour. 7:30 p.m. July 28, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont; $58, $83, $114; 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
Sade: The menthol-cool Nigerian-born U.K. singer releases albums at a once-a-decade pace these days, and her tours are equally infrequent, which makes this an event — even if her laid-back style is certainly better suited to more intimate venues. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 5-7, United Center, 1901 W. Madison; $49.50, $99.50, $149.50; 800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com
Lollapalooza:
Eminem, Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, the Foo Fighters, Muse, Deadmau5 and A Perfect Circle headline, but the festival is just as much about the 100-plus bands and artists spread across eight stages earlier in the day, an opportunity for music fans to stumble into something great. Among the
must-see early sets are Lykke Li, Local Natives and Typhoon. Noon Aug. 5-7, in Grant Park; $215 for three-day pass (single-day tickets go on sale Tuesday);
lollapalooza.com
greg@gregkot.com
Twitter @gregkot
