The Tribune’s Best of Arts and Entertainment of 2022

As we find ourselves at the end of another year, it’s time to hand out some superlatives. A+E’s writers, columnists and critics look back at the best of 2022 in arts and entertainment.

Author Hannah Edgar reflects on this year’s standouts in classical music and jazz, including the eternal “Tosca,” Florence Price’s late Symphony No. 3 and a psychedelic 12 hours of fantastic music in tribute to the German composer Karola Buckholt.

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Resilience may be the theme of this year’s Year of Dance Chicago, according to writer Lauren Warnecke, as local dance companies hit full steam ahead after years of chaos. Highlights include “Flamenco Passion” at Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater and “Reclamation” at Chicago’s Black Dance Heritage Project.

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Writer Lori Waxman picks the shows she loves and knows best this year, including nearly every exhibit at the Cultural Center, the work of Alberto Aguilar and the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Festival Anniversary Exhibit.

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Author Christopher Borrelli says it’s been a particularly good year for great books, with his top 10 picks including Peter C. Baker’s woefully underrated “Airplane” (Planes) and Gwendoline Riley’s My Phantoms.

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While it’s unclear whether 2022 is a normal year for Chicago theaters, the Chicago stage offers some standout productions, including Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” and “The Notebook,” writes critic Chris Jones. .

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Big screen or home live, takeout or dine-in, the writers at The Tribune are here to guide you to your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. watch. Do.communication here.