Music
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Aston Magna's 35th Anniversary Concert at the Clark
A scholarly, imaginative, and warm performance of Vivaldi Four Seasons and Bach concerti
By: - Jul 02nd, 2007Aston Magna, the oldest and one of the most important early music festivals in North America, adds a new venue for its 35th anniversary celebration, including veteran Stanley Ritchie.
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The 2007 Summer Classical Music Season in the Berkshires: a Guide
Tanglewood, Bard Summerscape, Monadnock, the Clark, and all the others
By: - Jun 19th, 2007A guide to the major music festivals of the Berkshires and environs with links to all schedules.
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Cutbacks in Classical Music Coverage Worry Critics
Staff cuts, reallocations, and a firing in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and New York
By: - Jun 12th, 2007Reductions in staff and the firing of a senior highly respected reviewer, Peter G. Davis, by New York Magazine, reflect a worrisome trend.
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Handel's Israel in Egypt by the Berkshire Bach Society Reviewed
A Choral Masterpiece D.O.A. at the Mahaiwe Theater in Great Barrington
By: - May 13th, 2007James Bagwell and the Berkshire Bach Society delivered a lifeless performance of Handel's choral masterpiece "Israel in Egypt" marred by poor intonation and ensemble.
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Handel's Grand Oratorio,
James Bagwell to conduct
By: - May 10th, 2007This large-scale performance of Handel's choral masterpiece promises to be the highlight of the final weekend of the spring season in the Berkshires.
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Upshaw and Kalish at Bard, Brahms in Boston, Handel in Williamstown...and Art History
An Embarras de Richesse in Music and Art
By: - Apr 23rd, 2007Music and art lovers face a wealth of important and pleasurable event this coming weekend.
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The VU on View
A new exhibition in New York on The Velvet Underground
By: - Apr 22nd, 2007The VU, the quintessential NYC band, is commemorated with this major exhibit of posters, recordings, photos, artifacts and ephemera. But to a Massachusetts club operator who booked the Velvets many times, it also details their close ties to that state.
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Beethoven, Fidelio, part II: a Major New Recording by Colin Davis and the LSO
A fresh approach to Beethoven's Fidelio
By: - Apr 19th, 2007A must-have recording: Sir Colin Davis leads the London Symphony Orchestra, Christine Brewer, John Mac Master, and a first-rate cast in a widely -acclaimed live concert performance from 2006.
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The VU On View
A new exhibition in New York on The Velvet Underground
By: - Apr 18th, 2007The history of the most important rock band ever to come out of New York is depicted in this extensive show of memorabilia, recordings, artifacts and ephemera commemorating the 40th anniversary of the release of their first LP. But as a Massachusetts club operator who was close to the band points out, the material also reveals their strong ties to the state.
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Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra: Sibelius and Beethoven's Fidelio
and some remarks on the present state of classical recordings
By: - Apr 18th, 2007The London Symphony, releasing their own recordings on LSO Live, have set a new standard for orchestral recording, bringing stellar performances by Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Rostropovich, and Frühbeck de Burgos to a larger audience.
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Beethoven, Fidelio, part I
James Levine, the Boston Symphony, and a dream cast set a new standard for Boston opera in concert
By: - Apr 02nd, 2007James Levine, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, and a dream cast headed by Christine Brewer and Johan Botha, presented a memorable Fidelio.
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Master Pianist Garrick Ohlsson plays Beethoven Sonatas at the Colonial Theater
Help! The Colonial needs a piano!
By: - Apr 02nd, 2007Garrick Ohlsson's played four Beethoven Sonatas with his usual mastery in spite of an undersized piano of poor quality
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An Outstanding Meistersinger at the Metropolitan Opera
James Levine and consistently fine cast in Richard Wagner's comic masterpiece
By: - Mar 19th, 2007The Metropolitan Opera's beautiful production Wagner's "Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg" is graced with a consistently excellent cast of singers.
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Patti Smith and the Dance Group Streb
Institute of Contemporary Art Performances
By: - Mar 06th, 2007The New Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston features performances by poet/ rocker, Patti Smith and the dangerous dance company Streb.
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Richard Giarusso and the Aoede Consort Triumph in Schütz'
Superb performance of Heinrich Schütz's choral masterpiece
By: - Feb 21st, 2007Williamstown Early Music and the Aoede Consort of Troy, New York, present seventeenth century church music in performances of the highest caliber.
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Albany Symphony Orchestra plays new Greek music and Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony at the Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield
The Colonial Theatre's superb acoustics and a mixed concert
By: - Feb 18th, 2007The Albany Symphony Orchestra played for the first time in the wonderful Colonial Theatre, offering pleasing new pieces by young Greek composers, but disappointing Beethoven.
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Tanglewood 2007 Preview
Tanglewood 2007 tickets go on sale Sunday, February 11
By: - Feb 09th, 2007James Levine will conduct eleven concerts in an ambitious season, which includes a wealth of opera performances, several distinguished musicians from the Netherlands, and Hesperion XXI.
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Sir Colin Davis Conducts Vaughn Williams and Beethoven with the BSO
A Rare Performance of Vaughn Williams's Sixth Symphony and Beethoven's Familiar Pastoral
By: - Jan 28th, 2007Sir Colin and the BSO were at the very top of form for Vaughn Williams stark postwar symphony and Beethoven's Pastoral Reflections
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Sir Colin Davis and Imogen Cooper Return to the BSO with Mozart and Haydn
Energetic symphonies and a probing Mozart C Minor piano concerto
By: - Jan 24th, 2007Sir Colin Davis and Imogen Cooper delighted the matinée audience at Symphony Hall with symphonies by Mozart and Haydn and a memorable reading of Mozart's great concerto.
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Berkshire Bach Ensemble's
A 15-year-old Berkshire tradition moves to Colonial Theatre
By: - Jan 05th, 2007Kenneth Cooper's lively and idiosyncratic versions of Bach's Brandenurg Concertos brighten up New Year's in the Berkshires.
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James Brown: Said It Loud, Black and Proud
Remembering the Godfather of Soul
By: - Dec 26th, 2006Recalling the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, who is dead at the age of 73. He calmed the nerves of Boston after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King when his performance at Boston Garden was broadcast live on WGBH and repeated all that weekend.
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Williamstown Early Music Presents Seven Times Salt
Holiday Concert by English Consort Band with Allison Mondel, Soprano
By: - Dec 23rd, 2006Playing a colorful array of instruments the brilliant Seven Times Salt offered Yuletide songs and dances ranging from Britain to the Mediterranean.
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The Weilerstein Trio play Mozart, Shostakovich, Dvorák...and Piazzolla at Williams
A fiery Berkshire evening from a family ensemble
By: - Dec 10th, 2006The Weilersteins, trio in residence and the New England Conservatory of Music, show a thrilling new approach to chamber music.
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Classical Music for the Season in the Berkshires: a Preview
A wealth of holiday concerts from early music to contemporary local composers
By: - Dec 08th, 2006The Messiah from Albany Pro Musica, Mozart Opera from the Albany Symphony, Williamstown Early Music, and the Berkshire Bach Ensemble highlight the season.
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Anita Belle Colton O'Day: October 18, 1919 - November 23, 2006
Remembering a Jazz Legend
By: - Nov 29th, 2006Considering the tough life of drugs and booze it is amazing that Anita O'Day survived into her late 80s. Recalling hanging with her at Sandy's.
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