The Illinois Symphony Orchestra Plays Symphonie Fantastique
This week, we’re featuring the Illinois Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of Hector Berlioz’s Sinfonie Fantastique. A strange story of love, obsession, dark hallucinations, and a witch’s sabbath, all inspired by the composer’s infatuation with Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson.
Listen
Miles by Illinois
On this week’s episode of Prairie Performances, you can hear Illinois jazz artists pay tribute to East St. Louis native, Miles Davis. Our program includes tracks from Orbert Davis, Robert Irving III, Herbie Hancock, and more!
Listen
The University of Illinois New Music Festival
This week, we are looking at the University of Illinois’s 2026 New Music Festival. You can hear works from this year’s guest composers, Shulamit Ran and Arlene Sierra, as well as an interview with festival organizer Dr. Josh Graham.
Listen
A Look Back: Oliver Talukder
This week on Prairie Performances, we are revisiting the works of Mexican-Bengali oboist and winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Oliver Talukder. Hailing from Glenview, Talukder’s debut solo album, Briefly Gorgeous, released early last month. On this episode, you can hear excerpts from that album, as well as an interview with the artist.
Listen
Music for Autumn
This week on Prairie Performances, we are welcoming the brisk air and bountiful harvests of autumn with seasonal music from Leo Sowerby, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, William Grant Still, David Ludwig, and more!
Listen
Featured Artist: Jim Pugh
This week, Prairie Performances is featuring the works of renowned trombonist, composer, and Professor Emeritus of Jazz Trombone at the University of Illinois, Jim Pugh. His latest album, New American Symphonies, brings to life Roy Harris’s once-lost trombone symphony. You will hear Jim Pugh talk about how the symphony was recovered, along with a few selections from the album.
Listen
Themes and Variations
This week on Prairie Performances, we listen to three pieces that can be classified as “themes and variations”—a musical form that offers variety to the listener while showcasing the composer’s ability to manipulate musical material in interesting ways.
Listen
Jazz: Live Near You!
This week on Prairie Performances, you can hear jazz from artists playing live near you in the coming month. Many great performances coming up in and around the state of Illinois. Maybe this episode will have you scheduling your next concert outing!
Listen
Featured Artist: Oliver Talukder
This week on Prairie Performances, we are featuring the works of Mexican-Bengali oboist and winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Oliver Talukder. Born in Evanston, IL, Talukder’s debut solo album, Briefly Gorgeous, is releasing on September 4th. On this episode, you can hear a sneak preview of that album, and an interview with the artist.
Listen
The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra Plays Mahler’s Symphony no. 5
On this week’s archive episode of Prairie Performances, we’re bringing you the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra’s 2018 performance of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony no. 5. We will talk about what makes this work both a continuation of and departure from Mahler’s previous symphonies, why Mahler refused to assign a key signature to the work, and more!
