While we’re staying safe in our homes we look forward to seeing you online, where you can receive a variety of Library-approved services designed to educate, inform, entertain, and more! Going forward, we’ll offer an array of virtual events and services from storytimes to lectures to crafts and an in-depth look at the online resources we provide that include homework help, genealogy records, online language courses, job search assistance, and so much more. The GPLD Connects links will be available here.
Enjoy watching Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Baird Dodge, principal second violin, as he performs "Over the Rainbow" in the courtyard of his residence and tenants gather on the fire escapes to listen.
In this Tiny Desk concert from NPR, Jon Batiste covers many sides of his rich musical history, from the soulful ballad titled "Cry," to the jazz and hip-hop inspired, "Coltrane" and a rocking Motown-inspired tune, "Tell The Truth," before ending with a bit of church with, "I Need You."
Enjoy this rendition of “Beethoven’s 5th Symphony” for solo guitar performed by Marcin Patrzalek.
Here is the first few minutes (most famously used in '2001: A Space Odyssey') played by musicians from 40 different homes under the UK lockdown, conducted from Sweden by Tobias Ringborg.
Enjoy listening to Yo-Yo Ma and Kathryn Stott perform "The Swan" (Saint-Saëns).
Portugal's only professional female fado guitarist, Marta Pereira da Costa, graces the David Rubenstein Atrium stage for an intimate evening of fado music.
Cynthia Yeh, principal percussion of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, offers this tribute to her teacher Alan Abel, who passed away April 25 from COVID-19, as well as all to loved ones who have been lost during the pandemic. She hopes listeners may find some solace in her performance of Mark Glentworth’s "Blues for Gilbert" (2004).
Enjoy this rendition of Lalo Schifrin's "Theme from Mission: Impossible" performed by Richard Hirschl, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's cello section, and his family!
Enjoy listening to Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," performed by members of Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Kenneth Olsen, assistant principal cello, and pianist Craig Terry, music director of the opera center, perform the work now regarded worldwide as a secular hymn.
Relax and listen to pianist Paul Cardall perform an intimate piano recital on his Steinway & Sons model D concert grand.
Enjoy a performance of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as part of their Beethoven Fest celebrating his 250th birthday.
Enjoy listening to Yo-Yo Ma as he performs "Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello" by Johann Sebastian Bach as part of NPR’s Music Tiny Desk Concert.
Boost your spirits as you listen to Chicago Symphony Orchestra Assistant Concertmaster Yuan-Qing Yu and Assistant Principal Cello Kenneth Olsen perform Johan Halvorsen’s Passacaglia for Violin and Viola from their respective homes.