a virtual journal and essential blog of the classical music scene in greater Boston
Lee Eiseman, publisher; Robert Levin, advisor; David Moran, assisting editor; Bettina A. Norton, emerita editor
Reviews
October 15, 2018
BLO Brings the Lyric to Seville
by Tom Schnauber
With skill and playfulness, David Angus led the Boston Lyric Opera season opener, Il Barbiere di Seviglia (The Barber of Seville) at the Cutler Majestic Theater Friday, finding easy lilt and spontaneity in the Rossini’s drama giocoso mastery. The run continues Wednesday night through next weekend. [continued]
October 13, 2018
Whatever Tone You Please, Indeed
by Virginia Newes
At the approach of his 600th birthday, Johannes Ockeghem (ca. 1420-1497) thrives, thanks in great measure to seven years of advocacy from director Scott Metcalfe and the singers of Blue Heron. I heard the eighth installment, which centered on the four-voice Missa cuiusvis toni (Mass on whatever tone you please), at the First Church in Cambridge. [continued]
Apotheosized Form From the Jupiter Quartet
by Nicolas Sterner
The Jupiter Quartet brought cyclic, coloristic delights of Debussy, Agócs, and Mendelssohn to a full house of deeply attentive listeners at a private concert on Beacon Hill last night. The ensemble will perform the Debussy Quartet and the Schubert Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D. 887 at Ashmont Hill Chamber Music tomorrow (Sunday) 4 pm. [continued]
October 12, 2018
BSO Opens With Reverie and Reality
by David Patterson
Opening night at Symphony Hall showcased our world-ranked Boston Symphony Orchestra in works of the dominating Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky, and Bartók, recalling another giant, Serge Koussevitzky. [continued]
October 10, 2018
“Sanctuary” Sanctifies Symphony Hall
by Mark DeVoto
For the Terezin Music Foundation 2018 gala in Symphony Hall Monday, pianist Simone Dinnerstein gave an hour-plus recital after a string quartet from the Boston Symphony opened the musical portion of the evening. [continued]
October 8, 2018
Dynamic Sphinx Virtuosi Make Boston Debut
by David Patterson
Young string players, 18-strong, surged, thrilled and chilled, oftentimes, flashing Flamenco, as they filled Calderwood Hall’s “sonic box” with a world of music Sunday. [continued]
October 6, 2018
The true pearl Flows Through the Tapestries
by Rachael Fuller
David Lang’s true pearl, an opera in five tapestries, premiered in Calderwood Hall Thursday; subsequently a recording will be available to accompany visitors in the Tapestry Room. [continued]
October 1, 2018
Brilliant “Solace” Radiates
by Ian Wiese
Introspection and catharsis abided on the Pickman Hall stage Saturday with Radius Ensemble’s “Solace,” an eclectic set of comforting pieces highlighting composers who suffered within or escaped from totalitarian regimes along with a pairing of two living composers, an underplayed oddity, and a titan of the repertoire. [continued]
September 30, 2018
On the Shoulders with Malov
by Cashman Kerr Prince
Making his Boston début this afternoon, Sergey Malov brought his violoncello da spalla to the Gardner Museum’s Calderwood Hall for a performance of the even-numbered cello suites of J. S. Bach. [continued]
H+H Shows Energy and Sparkle in Bach
by Laura Stanfield Prichard
Cantatas, concerti and a Latin Mass of the German master inspired the chorus, orchestra and soloists to produce one of the lightest, most energetic events I’ve heard in the Symphony Hall for years. [continued]
From Ethnic to Cantorial to Hepcat
by Julie Ingelfinger
NEC Philharmonia with its charismatic conductor Hugh Wolff and NEC’s beloved Laurence Lesser recognized the latter’s approaching 80th birthday with extraordinary playing and celebratory programming. [continued]
September 29, 2018
PermaDeath: Sting or Victory?
by Sudeep Agarwala
PemaDeath sparked to life when the characters in the world of the video game appeared on a screen above the Cutler Majestic Theater stage on Friday. Last performance Saturday. [continued]
September 27, 2018
Reliably Sourced Bouquet for Our Senior Pianist
by Anonymous
Russell Sherman’s performance at Sunday’s Jordan Hall faculty recital came from a realm most of us can hardly imagine, much less reach. [continued]
September 26, 2018
Odyssey Opera Resurrects the Queen of Sheba
by Steven Ledbetter
The 150-year-late American debut of Gounod’s Queen of Sheba (La Reine de Saba) came to Jordan Hall with all its formerly shorn parts in a concert version on Saturday evening through the satisfying efforts of Gil Rose. [continued]
September 25, 2018
A Far Cry Crosses Borders
by Steven Ledbetter
The Jordan Hall audience traveled far and wide through the agency of composers channeling cultures foreign to their own, as the “Criers” forged a lively, sonorous, show, but Mehmet Ali Sanlikol’s A Gentleman of Istanbul stole it. [continued]
BCMS Offers Unconventional From Three Bs
by Julie Ingelfinger
Boston Chamber Music Society inaugurated its Sanders Theater season Sunday with Beethoven, Britten, and Brahms works which departed from conventional expectations. [continued]
A Glissando of Depth and Discovery
by Leon Golub
Sergey Schepkin opened his new concert series, this season devoted to “Bach at 333” on Sunday before a full house at First Church in Boston. [continued]
September 24, 2018
Mannys Hail Cecilia
by Virginia Newes
Ryan Turner led an outstanding roster of singers and players with unfailing verve and stylish sensitivity in Britten and Handel works devoted to St. Cecilia on Saturday evening at Emmanuel Church. [continued]
September 18, 2018
Tasting Greatness with Hung-Kuan Chen
by Jim McDonald
The pianist served the deepest and headiest of 19th-century pours Saturday evening in Jordan Hall. [continued]
Dashon Burton Steadfast and Noble in Ashmont
by Brian Schuth
The bass-baritone brought chamber sensibilities to his recital at Peabody Hall with pianist Christopher Walter. [continued]
September 17, 2018
Borromeo Begins Mendelssohn Survey
by Brian Schuth
The 23-year-old musical institution’s singleness of focus, a polished technique, and beauty of tone emerged once again Saturday afternoon in Calderwood Hall. [continued]
September 16, 2018
Freisinger Returns to Old South
by David Patterson
The Freisinger Chamber Orchestra mingled multifarious Mozart, Beethoven, Donizetti, Tubin and Bernstein at Boston’s Old South Church Saturday afternoon, with soprano Hailey Fuqua, tenor Ethan Bremner, and pianist Bianca Oglice. [continued]
September 14, 2018
Festive Trio Gets Its Irish Up
by Vance R. Koven
We heard Trio Festivale’s Irish-themed program of traditional and classical pieces, including a new work by an esteemed Irish composer at Community Music Center Thursday night. And we witnessed proof once again that nothing ever ends well in an Irish ballad. [continued]
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Compassion Through Time
by David Patterson
With plenty of compassion, cellist Rhonda Rider and pianist Judith Gordon advanced an up-to-date inventory of mazes, pulls and drifts at Boston Conservatory’s Seully Hall Thursday night. [continued]
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September 12, 2018
A Piping State of Play
by David Moran
Like the participants and jurors, BMInt’s Bach organ maven braved long hours, heat, humidity, then chill, to report on the inaugural Boston Bach International Organ Competition. [continued]