Barbra Streisand a veteran tour de force at the United Center

It was pure serendipity that legendary songstress Barbra Streisand began her Friday night concert at the United Center with a gorgeous rendition of “On A Clear Day, You Can See Forever,” the haunting and lovely ballad from the 1965 Broadway musical of the same name. …

Haitink, CSO, chorus, soloists go to the heart in ‘Missa solemnis’

It’s the most extraordinary work by a great composer you’ve never — or very rarely — heard performed live. It’s 80 minutes of power, delicacy, surprise and wonder. It’s Beethoven’s “Missa solemnis,” and the remaining performances this weekend by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under conductor Bernard Haitink are not to be missed.

Kids These Days blends sounds into one of year’s best albums

Combining Chicago traditions of blues, funk and hip hop, the young Chicago band scores national attention for its distinctive “traphouse rock” style. “It’s just a totally equal blend of the seven people in the band,” says guitarist Liam Cunningham.

Tony Bennett, Placido Domingo sing duets on latest albums

Two music legends, Tony Bennett and Placido Domingo, offer object lessons in the art of ensemble singing on two recent releases: Tony Bennett, “Viva Duets” (Columbia) ★★★ “Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum.” That’s the first line of “The …

Clug Hopping 10.26.212

JACKSON BROWNE

The acclaimed ’70s soft-rock singer-songwriter boasts a career that started high (“Doctor My Eyes,” “These Days”), sank low (“Lawyers in Love”) and boomeranged back to elder statesman status in recent years. Earlier this year he even played a Woody Guthrie tribute show backed …

Gavin DeGraw dancing to happy tune

Contemporary pop singer-pianist Gavin DeGraw has been a commercial success for less than a decade, yet that was good enough to land him a spot on “Dancing With the Stars.” DeGraw was axed from the popular ABC series after only five weeks, but the 35-year-old …

At 21, Rita Ora’s star rising rapidly

Life moves fast for Rita Ora, and since the August release of her self-titled debut album in August, it’s showed no sign of slowing down. Ora signed with Roc Nation, one of the country’s premier labels, at just 18, joining Rihanna, J. Cole and MIA. …

Sara Evans slated for two shows in Naperville

Take off the high heels and makeup and country music star Sara Evans can quite easily transform into just another ponytailed mom trying to keep everything from crashing down around her. Heading a blended family of seven children with football-star-turned-sportscaster-turned-hubby Jay Barker, Evans’ real life …

Phillips and Phillips find common ground

Singer, songwriter, and now tour mates Glen Phillips and Grant-Lee Phillips are not related when it comes to their family tree. Yet, when it comes to their musical paths through the shadows of today’s ever complex music industry, they have much in common. While both …

LEO uses gravity, video to tell its story

Audiences can expect to have their worlds turned upside-down — and sideways — when the Elgin Community College Arts Center welcomes the innovative and critically acclaimed one-man show, LEO, this weekend. A combination of video effects and old-fashioned physical performance, LEO is the story of …

Indigo Girls back on the road with full-out band

Although the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls has performed together in some capacity for more than 30 years, the fact that they lead separate lives has cemented their relationship on and off stage. “We lead very distinct, independent lives,” said Emily Saliers, who along with Amy …

Amazing Kreskin makes audience part of show

When The Amazing Kreskin, a mentalist, comes to work, he does not need a lot of props and other paraphernalia. “The audience is an extension of what I do,” said Kreskin, who considers himself an entertainer who deals with the mind. “I’m reading their thoughts. …

Taylor Swift’s album ‘Red’ on track to sell a million

Taylor Swift’s on track to sell more than a million copies of her new album, “Red,” in its debut week. Industry website Hits Daily Double reports the singer’s fourth studio album sold 262,000 copies on Monday, its first day of release. Sales in the seven …

Lyric goes mariachi with ‘Crossing the Face of the Moon’

Mexico’s acclaimed Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan will perform in the Midwest premiere of “Cru­­zar la Cara de la Luna,” presented by Lyric Opera of Chicago. Billed as the world’s first mariachi opera, “Crossing the Face of the Moon” will be staged April 7 at the …

Unlike its honoree, Georg Solti tribute concert falters at times

If you knew Georg Solti — as an audience member, a musician, a journalist, a friend — you miss him.

He was a man who was filled with an infectious vitality, literally until his unexpected death six weeks before his 85th birthday.

Of the last …