Tonight To-Do: Rush Hour Concerts Begin (FREE)

By Alexander Hough in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 1, 2010 5:40PM

Rush Hour, the free weekly classical music concert series at St. James Cathedral, begins its eleventh summer-long season this evening. We love Rush Hour for its simple formula that appeals to seasoned fans and classical music neophytes alike: short, casual post-work concerts (usually about 30 minutes long), preceded by refreshments, with additional information to consume, if you're interested (a blog, a podcast, online concert notes, and recordings of the concerts available immediately afterward to take home via flash drive).

The performers are top-notch, too. Tonight's performance of Johannes Brahms's Sextet No. 1 features violinists, violists, and cellists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera, and other musicians from nearby and as far as China (erhu player Xiaohui Ma) will get in on the act as the concerts continue every Tuesday through the end of August.

Tonight, reception at 5:15 p.m., concert at 5:45 p.m., 65 E Huron, FREE