CHICAGO, July 16 — Music of the Baroque is thrilled to announce the return of The Chicago Water Music, an extraordinary outdoor performance staged on the Chicago River. This year’s concert takes place on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, and will feature a brand-new element: “Hallelujah, Chicago,” a citywide singalong of the “Hallelujah” Chorus from Handel’s beloved Messiah. Last year’s stunning debut of The Chicago Water Music drew rave reviews from the press:
“An unforgettable collision of elegance and civic pride… Chicago has never heard its river sing like this.” — Chicago Sun-Times
“The Chicago Water Music set a new bar for outdoor classical performance in this city.”— Chicago Tribune
“With Dame Jane Glover at the helm, the river itself seemed to dance.” — Musical America
The Chicago Water Music transforms the Chicago River and the surrounding architecture into a grand concert hall, as Music Director Dame Jane Glover leads highlights from Handel’s Water Music, Music for the Royal Fireworks, and choral favorites while traveling down the river on Shoreline Sightseeing’s “Bright Star” boat. Joining the Music of the Baroque Chorus and Orchestra will be students from “Strong Voices,” the ensemble’s choral education program in seven Chicago public high schools in neighborhoods including Englewood, Pullman, and Chatham. The boat will proceed from Ogden Slip to Merchandise Mart, with a pause near Merchandise Mart so listeners may enjoy the full musical experience. The program will be repeated at LaSalle and Clark Streets, culminating in “Hallelujah, Chicago”—the mass singalong to the “Hallelujah” Chorus—before returning to Ogden Slip.
“Handel composed Water Music to be performed in the open air,” commented Dame Jane Glover. “It was a dream last year to lead this joyful music on the Chicago River amidst the architectural beauty of one of my favorite cities—quite unlike anything I’ve experienced. And this year, when the entire city joins us in singing the ‘Hallelujah’ Chorus, I imagine the whole river will resonate with joy.”
Two Audience Boats will accompany the “Bright Star,” giving listeners the opportunity to enjoy the unique event from the water. Audience Boat tickets are $150 and include a complimentary bar. Exclusive presale access to Audience Boat tickets for Music of the Baroque 2025-26 subscribers begins at 10 am on July 25, 2025. Any remaining tickets will be made available to the public at 10 am on August 4, 2025, when single tickets to the ensemble’s 2025-26 season also go on sale. The Chicago Water Music may also be viewed easily from the Riverwalk and surrounding bridges.
- For information about The Chicago Water Music, including a map of the route, viewing information, and Audience Boat tickets, visit org/watermusic2025 or call (312) 551-1414
- For information about “Hallelujah, Chicago,” visit org/hallelujahchicago
- For information about Music of the Baroque’s 2025-26 season and how to purchase subscriptions and single tickets, visit org/emerald or call (312) 551-1414
Music of the Baroque gratefully acknowledges Sipi Metals, Inc., The Negaunee Foundation, and Nancy Dehmlow for their generous support of this year’s event.
The Chicago Water Music is part of Music of the Baroque’s community engagement program, which has included free concerts at the Pritzker Pavilion, the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin, and the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen and collaborations in Englewood, Skokie, and downtown Chicago with companies including South Chicago Dance Theater. Future plans include a January 2026 performance featuring Chicago native and flute virtuoso Demarre McGill at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin.
About Music of the Baroque
Long recognized as one of the region’s top classical groups, Music of the Baroque is a vibrant professional chorus and orchestra devoted to the performance of 18th-century works. The ensemble has drawn particular praise for its performances of the major choral and orchestral works of J. S. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Haydn.
Music of the Baroque draws audiences from across the Chicago metropolitan area, performing regularly at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance and Symphony Center in downtown Chicago, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, intimate Chicago and suburban churches, the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin, and open-air venues such as the Ravinia Festival and the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
Music of the Baroque’s popular “Baroque Notes” series of pre-concert video talks has been praised for opening the doors to Baroque music to a much wider audience. Community engagement includes Project Inclusion, which employs young professionals from under-represented backgrounds in the orchestra; an annual collaboration with students at the Merit School of Music; and free neighborhood concerts. Through its “Strong Voices” choral education program, Music of the Baroque develops the next generation of singers at seven Chicago public high schools. Learn more about “Strong Voices” here.
Music of the Baroque also releases highly acclaimed recordings, broadcasts its concerts on WFMT and across the nation, and presents a series of programs online, including season concerts. Recently, the organization introduced “Conducting Leadership,” an immersive learning experience for business leaders through the vehicle of an orchestra.
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