Music
-
Bearfoot Wows Eagle Hill Audience
Ends Season with Panache
By: - May 16th, 2010Despite changes in personnel, Bearfoot delivered a solid performance and made many new fans. As the band breaks into a country tune, Odessa Jorgensen starts to sing, and all the elements fall into place. Though this opening number and the second piece, the traditional, Single Girl, feel just a little bit rushed, by the third number the pace is settled and feels in the groove. The audience as well has fallen into the wavelength and each number is received with growing applause.
-
Berg's Lulu at the Metropolitan Opera
Fabio Luisi Conducts Brilliantly
By: - May 15th, 2010Frank Wedekind who wrote the two plays Alban Berg used to create his opera, Lulu, one of the most important operas of the 20th century, traveled with the circus. The opera opens with a circus trainer introducing his animals. The last and most prized is Lulu, the subject of the opera. She is not Eve,the temptress, but rather the snake. This all happens before the curtain rises.
-
Mass MoCA Adds to Wilco Festival
Mega Event Planned August 13-15
By: - May 12th, 2010A diverse array of musical guests have been added to the line up of Wilco's first SOLID SOUND FESTIVAL, a three-day festival of music, art, comedy, film and interactivity which takes place at MASS MoCA on August 13 - 15. Joining the Chicago band are Sub Pop's Avi Buffalo and Vetiver; guitarist Sir Richard Bishop; Bennington, VT trio Mountain Man; Portland, ME indie-rockers Brenda; North Adams, MA duo The Books; and Chicago's jazz combo the Deep Blue Organ Trio.
-
Cleveland Rocks
Birth Place of Rock ‘n’ Roll
By: - May 11th, 2010Cleveland claims to be the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll. It is the site for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. It is a global destination for every true rock fan. But yet again I Can't Get No Satisfaction.
-
Passim's Good Lovelies Boston Debut
With Teddy Goldstein, May 14th
By: - May 09th, 2010The Good Lovelies may be quirky and irreverent. They are rock solid musicians with brilliant harmonies and clever arrangements. Their songs fit comfortably into the folk tradition and they are attracting new fans with each performance.
-
Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival
Mario Abney New Talent to Perform
By: - May 08th, 2010Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival Artistic Director and Co-Producer Danny Melnick loves discovering great new jazz talent. Last spring when he was working backstage at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, he heard a young trumpeter named Mario Abney and was “knocked out†by Mario’s playing, music and band.
-
Launching 125th Season of Boston Pops
Keith Lockhart Acknowledges a Great Tradition
By: - May 07th, 2010For 125 years the Boston Pops has been bringing musical enjoyment to everyone. For 125 years people from all walks of life have reveled in top musicians playing a variety of the music that we all love. As someone who has frequented the Pops through conductors Fiedler, Williams and now Lockhart. The gala opening night concert is always a greatly anticipated event.
-
Ballad Singer Bonnie Dobson
Looking Back a New CD
By: - May 07th, 2010Bonnie Dobson, ballad singer and songwriter from Ontario was a feature in folk clubs and folk festivals all across the USA and Canada in the '60s. When she resettled in the UK to take up philosophy, her performances here became rare. Her new CD on Biber Records is a treat.
-
Eagle Hill Cultural Center : Bearfoot
Concert May 15 at Hardwick, Mass.
By: - May 05th, 2010Lovers of Folk, Country and/or Bluegrass music in this area will get their first chance to experience live, this up and coming critically acclaimed band. Originally named Bearfoot Bluegrass, within two years of their formation they were designated Telluride Bluegrass Band Champions. This band originated in Alaska, not the first locale most of us might associate with Bluegrass.
-
Flying Dutchman at Metropolitan Opera
Lori Phillips Makes a Remarkable Debut as Senta
By: - May 04th, 2010The Metropolitan Opera production of the Flying Dutchman is a visual treat-- water, water, everywhere. Readers who appreciate Henry James "The Ambassadors" will see some of the same themes at play here -- the redemption of a man by a woman. The man's failure however to connect in human terms and the ultimate dissolution of his world. Without any knowledge of the plot, the music is transporting. There are performances May 6, 10 and 14.
-
Stravinsky Festival at the New York Philharmonic
Valery Gergiev Conducts
By: - Apr 30th, 2010Stravinsky's music is unimaginably compelling as Valery Gergiev conducts the New York Philharmonic. Oedipus Rex was a new form of musical theater when it was first produced and continues to seem as fresh and vibrant as ever in this performance.
-
Evaluating The Met's Appointment of Fabio Luisi
Warm Welcome from the Opera Community
By: - Apr 29th, 2010James Levine has given so much joy and musical pleasure during his tenure at the Metropolitan Opera. A musician of the highest order, we have all appreciated his insights. No one can replace him. But Fabio Luisi, a classically trained conductor who started as a pianist and accompanist, clearly can convey composers' intent and musicians' best efforts. He will start his new position at the Met this fall. Berkshire Fine Arts has covered him this season.
-
Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival
Al Jarreau and Gladys Knight Headline June 26 & 27
By: - Apr 27th, 2010Freihofer Saratoga Jazz Festival announces the schedule for June 26 and 27. The "Empress of Soul" Gladys Knight, jazz singer Al Jarreau & the George Duke Trio, legendary blues icon Taj Mahal, guitarist extraordinaire Al Di Meola and two piano legends â€" Ramsey Lewis and Ahmad Jamal are some of the great artists appearing at this year’s two-day jazz extravaganza.
-
Fabio Luisi Principal Guest Conductor at the Met
An Insurance Policy for Ailing James Levine?
By: - Apr 27th, 2010Is it more than just a coincidence that the Metropolitan Opera has named Fabio Luisi as Principal Guest Conductor? The continuing health issues of artistic director James Levine have raised uncertainties for whether he will return next season. And if so just how much of a role will he assume. There are similar questions being asked at the Boston Symphony Orchestra. And for the coming season at Tanglewood.
-
Cantilena Chamber Choir & Berkshire Lyric Theater
Russian Choral Music May 15 & 16
By: - Apr 26th, 2010The Cantilena Chamber Choir and Berkshire Lyric Theater will present a Russian Choral Music Weekend of concerts and lectures on May 15 and 16. Special guest performers will be New York City Opera tenor Konstantin Stepanov and, from St. Petersburg, Russia, The Konevets Quartet with Igor Dmitriev, Director.
-
Tosca Triumphs at the Metropolitan Opera
Racette, Terfel and Kaufmann Score
By: - Apr 26th, 2010The reviews of Tosca in the fall don't whet the appetite for the new production of Tosca at the Met. But those who braved bad notices and looked forward to a new cast, are richly rewarded by Luc Bondy's new production. Turns out he was not at fault in the fall, except perhaps in thinking he had actors on the set. His ideas sprang into flower and action in April....
-
De Niro, Freeman and Harris at the Pops
Film Stars Narrate Kennedy Tribute May 18
By: - Apr 26th, 2010Acclaimed actors Robert De Niro, Ed Harris, and Morgan Freeman give life to the words of John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy, respectively, when they join conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus for the world premiere performance of The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothersâ€"the centerpiece of the Boston Pops 125th anniversary season celebrationâ€"on May 18, at 8 p.m. (repeated on May 19), at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA
-
The Breeze and I - Champian Fulton
A Gut String Records CD
By: - Apr 24th, 2010Champian Fulton once again gives satisfaction with a collection of classics made new again. As is the custom of other recordings released by Gut String Records "The Breeze and I" was recorded live, the musicians playing together and listening to the mix without headphones
-
Met's Armida by Rossini Live in HD May 1
Renee Fleming as the Wicked Sorceress
By: - Apr 22nd, 2010Torquato Tasso wrote "Jerusalem Delivered" in the16th century and it has been used as the jumping board for more art than any other underlying property in history--except the Bible. It took 193 years for Armida, Rossini's take on the poem, to arrive at the Met. The opera will be broadcast Live in HD on May 1 in a movie theater near you.
-
Janis Ian and Karla Bonoff At the Colonial
Reconnecting with Society's Child
By: - Apr 19th, 2010Few in the audience were ineligible for Social Security. Enthusiasm belied their age as the singer/ songwriters, Janis Ian and Karla Bonoff, ignited a trove of treasured memories.
-
Randy Weston at Berkshire Museum May 29
Pittsfield CityJazz Festival October 8-21
By: - Apr 16th, 2010Jazz pianist Randy Weston has Berkshire roots. He started as a dishwasher at the legendary Music Inn where owner Stephanie Barber discovered him, Weston will perform at the Berkshire Museum on May 29. Ed Bride, the founder of Berkshires Jazz also announces highlights of the annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival October 8-21.
-
Carolina Chocolate Drops at Mass MoCA
Performing on May 29
By: - Apr 16th, 2010This Carolina Chocolate Drops, comprising Robinson plus banjo-player Rhiannon Giddens and multi-tasker Dom Flemons, bring their toe-tapping versions of traditional tunes to North Adams for a memorable Memorial Day weekend concert on Saturday, May 29, at 8 PM with opener The Duke & The King. NPR's Weekend Edition calls the Carolina Chocolate Drops "the hottest thing to hit the old-time music community in decades."
-
Handel at the New York City Opera
Iestyn Davies Is a New Sensino
By: - Apr 14th, 2010When Handel was in Rome,the Pope banned opera. After countless performances in 18th century England, Handel operas were as dead as the opera seria form in which he wrote. The New York City Opera helped revive not only Handel, but the hot show biz style he mounted.
-
BSO's 2010-2011 Season
James Levine Anticipated To Lead Orchestra
By: - Apr 12th, 2010On paper the Boston Symphony Orchestra has planned a full and ambitious season. October 2, when James Levine leads an all-Wagner program with Bryn Terfel on opening night, we will know whether this is wishful thinking. The health of the 66 year Levine impacts not just the BSO but the Metropolitan Opera and the coming season at Tanglewood. For the past three years there has been a scramble to find conductors for concerts he has dropped out of. This grueling schedule assumes his full recovery from yet another surgery,
-
Tanglewood Loosens Up
Crosby Stills & Nash, Herbie Hancock to Perform
By: - Apr 12th, 2010Roll Over Beethoven. Yes, rock is coming back to Tanglewood this summer. Well, kindah, with Crosby, Stills and Nash on September 1. Mid season jazz pianist Herbia Hancock will appear on August 9.
<< Previous Next >>