Yearly Archives: 2020
Sound Of Silence Banishes Music Across The Land
REPORT – March 12 was the day the music died, at least temporarily, as musical organizations across North America shut down to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. MCANA members sent in these regional reports.
Zwilich’s Snazzy Cello Concerto Soars In Florida
KEY WEST, Fla. - Zuill Bailey was the charismatic, groovy soloist in Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's new concerto, which she dedicated to the cellist and South Florida Symphony Orchestra music director Sebrina María Alfonso.
Baroque Splendor Laid Out In Crypt For Live Listeners
NEW YORK – Harpsichordist Harry Bicket and the Diderot String Quartet descended into a Harlem crypt for a journey through Baroque Europe, performing music of Bach, Muffat and others under the aegis of Death of Classical.
Met’s New Launch Of Wagner Classic Slow To Catch Sail
NEW YORK ‒ Director François Girard's dark, Nordic vision could make a truly haunting Flying Dutchman, yet that's not what emerged on opening night, which felt like a rehearsal despite Evgeny Nikitin's nuanced portrayal.
Opera As History Upended, Guttural And In Your Face
LOS ANGELES – Opera at its best can be transformative. Avant-garde producer The Industry conjured magic in Sweet Land, twin cultural music-dramas that unfolded in the unprepossessing milieu of LA State Historic Park.
Beethoven: Alive At 250, Or Frozen In A Glass Case?
CHICAGO.-.John.Eliot.Gardiner and his style-conscious forces began.a.Beethoven.symphonies blitz with fleet spins through the classically retro Eighth and the transcendental Ninth. The latter made, all told, the more convincing impression.
Music From Japan Looks Inward For Signs Of Identity
NEW YORK – The group's 45th-anniversary festival explored what is Japanese about contemporary music from Japan. Seven composers provided firsthand evidence of how deeply their backgrounds are imprinted on their music.
High On Clarinet, Composer Bacri Goes Low At Last
CHICAGO – Composer Nicolas Bacri has twice featured the clarinet in works essaying Shakespeare’s Ophelia. The Chicago Symphony’s J. Lawrie Bloom flew to Paris to sell him on bass clarinet. Result: The premiere of Ophelia’s Tears.
Mix Ives, Dvořák, Rinse And Repeat: New World Arises
LOS ANGELES – Gustavo Dudamel, an enthusiast for complete cycles, is pairing the four symphonies of Charles Ives with the late symphonies of Dvořák in a concise, provocative series with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Bruckner Faces Exodus Following Bounty Of Modern
NEW YORK - Many audience members who heard the New York Philharmonic play the world premiere of a work by Ellen Reid and songs by Anders Hillborg and Björk with Renée Fleming left before Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony.
Berliners Dance With Acoustics At Elbphilharmonie
HAMBURG – On their ten-day trek through Germany, Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic offered works by Zimmermann, Stravinsky and Rachmaninoff with rhythmic drive, even if the hall lacked punch at top and bottom.
Music Of Nørgård Doubly Rewarding In Symphony Disc
DIGITAL REVIEW – If the brooding lyricism of Per Nørgård's Symphony No. 1 shows the Danish composer under Sibelius' spell, the Symphony No. 8 reveals a contrasting light heart in its welcome first recording.
The ‘Winterreise’ Bandwagon Makes A Stop In Texas
HOUSTON – Schubert’s song cycle seems to be everywhere these days. The Mercury chamber ensemble gave the world premiere of a staged and orchestrated version with tenor Nicholas Phan as the melancholy wanderer.
LA Phil Goes Dark With A Vengeance In Weimar Festival
LOS ANGELES - Esa-Pekka Salonen, to whom the orchestra turns for special projects whenever he comes back as conductor laureate, came up with a hugely enterprising lineup of pieces from the Weimar Republic.
Levit’s Beethoven: At Blazing Speed, Blistered Sonatas
DIGITAL REVIEW – Igor Levit's now complete nine-CD cycle of the 32 sonatas, begun with the late sonatas six years ago when the pianist was only 26, displays astonishing technical skill but often feels short on flexibility and drama.
Brave ‘Freedom Ride’ Makes Admirable, If Bumpy, Debut
CHICAGO ‒ There are many elements in this opera and Chicago Opera Theater premiere worthy of praise, especially Dan Shore's vocal and instrumental writing. The problem lies in how these parts come together.
For An Australian In NY, Premieres Grand, Intimate
NEW YORK – In a big couple of weeks for Australian composer Brett Dean, the New York Philharmonic played the New York premiere of his Cello Concerto and the Doric String Quartet gave the U.S. premiere of his String Quartet No. 3.
DiDonato Sparkles In Voice And Style As Met’s Agrippina
NEW YORK – Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato's brilliant turn in the title role of Handel's opera, the fine singing of a number of other cast members, and the alert, detailed orchestral playing under Harry Bicket made for a real event.
Renamed, Retuned Competition Rises In Keyboard World
SAN ANTONIO – A new name, a new outlook, and a new sheriff have brought a fresh aspect and a boost in stature to what's now known as the Gurwitz International Piano Competition – the other big piano contest in Texas.
‘Salome’ In Concert Captures Essence Of Strauss Score
DALLAS ‒ Music director designate Fabio Luisi and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra gave a riveting account of Richard Strauss’ masterpiece in a semi-staged performance of the opera. Aušrine Stundyte was thrilling in the title role.
