Music
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Otello at the Zurich Opera House
Thomas Hampson, Barbara Frittoli and Jose Cura
By: - Jan 09th, 2012Americans turn up their noses at Reggie Theater and Eurotrash, but certainly in Zurich, the directors understand what the implied deconstruction means. The setting may be changed, and the costumes made to match stage time, but the heart of a wonderful story remains the same. Intelligent opera designers understand that jealousy, temptation and the impact of missing handkerchiefs don't change over time. The Zurich Otello mounted by noted British stage director Graham Vick is wonderful.
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Rufus Wainwright's Prima Donna
Urgent Plea For New York City Opera
By: - Jan 04th, 2012Parts of this opera are available in a terrific documentary, Rufus Wainwright, Prima Donna, the Making of an Opera. City Opera plans to give the US premier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, but they have not resolved problems with unions. Rufus's letter tells you all about it.
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The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Channels Bach
All the Brandenburg Concertos Presented with Aplomb
By: - Jan 03rd, 2012The Chamber Music Society knows what it is doing. Under the artistic direction of Wu Han and David Finkley, they have become the go to group of the heavy-duty institutions of Lincoln Center. But while three big houses often paper to get a plausibly filled hall, the CMS is packed. We learned some of the reasons why in their Baroque December.
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The Amore Opera Presents The Barber of Seville
A Delightful Production of Rossini's Legendary Opera
By: - Jan 02nd, 2012Although the Metropolitan Opera is committed to driving audience from live performances in the House by mounting rehearsals for HD broadcasts, where singers often call in performances, opera is live and thriving in America, even though Opera Boston closed. The Amore Opera in New York is heir to the Amato Opera, famous for giving an opportunity to talented young performers and also for mounting unusual fare. The Amore is terrific, under the helm of Nathan Hull.
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Boston First Night Celebratory Party
An Enchanting Happy New Year 2012
By: - Jan 02nd, 2012Fist Night Boston events span numerous artistic activities from art, music, dance, comedy, and theater to ice skating on the Frog Pond, ice sculptures, parade and fireworks. The works of 1,000 various artists in 200 performances and exhibits are offered. A delightful welcoming for 2012.
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The Enchanted Island Live in HD January 21
Joyce DiDonato and David Daniels Shine
By: - Dec 29th, 2011This is first opera Met General Manager Peter Gelb has conceived from stem to stern. The music is not original. Instead it is a mash up of composers from the Baroque period, put together to sound one like the other and provide continuity for a mash up of two Shakespeare plays. The set and costume designers deliver as do the singers.
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Paul Geremia Live At Bull Run
With Marylou Ferrante
By: - Dec 28th, 2011It had been some forty or so years since seeing Paul Geremia perform. During that time he became a cult icon. Even Dave Van Ronk, in his autobiography, speculated that Paul, might be the best blues performer extant. Marylou Ferrante who opened for him is yet to record. That should change soon. We look forward to her future performances and since she resides in the Worcester area..
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Christmas at Carnegie Hall with Bella Hristova
Jaime Laredo Leads the New York String Orchestra
By: - Dec 26th, 2011What better way to end the old year and start the new than a concert led by veteran violinist and conductor Jaime Laredo at Carnegie Hall. In his hands, the young solo violinist and the entire orchestra of the best students in the US shone.
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Cesaria Evora Took Her Final Bow
Cape Verde's Barefoot Diva
By: - Dec 20th, 2011The music world mourns the morna ballads of cape Verdian queen Cesaria Evora. Her unforgettable legacy leaves our world richer. She will be remembered for her barefoot stage arrival, a bit provocative, singing passionately then sometimes stopping for a sip of cognac or a cigarette, transporting her audience from laughter to tears. Before tiptoeing in great discretion and humility to another universe, she leaves us with words of wisdom: “Life goes on, I came towards you, I did my best, I had a career that many would like to have.â€
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The Belle Epoque of Massenet
An Exhibition at Opera Garnier, Paris
By: - Dec 19th, 2011On the occasion of the centennial anniversary of Jules Massenet’s death, an exhibition is being held at the Paris Opera Garnier. Displayed are Jules Massenet’s reconstructed workshop, his glasses, and an inkwell set on his piano/desk, his manuscripts and opera posters.
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Jeff and Jane Hudson
Antique Rockers to Perform at Mass MoCA January 14
By: - Dec 19th, 2011Today Jeff and Jane Hudson are antique dealers with a shop at Mass MoCA. On January 14 their presence at Mass MoCA will explore a different approach. Back in the day they performed as The Rentals and later simply as Jeff and Jane. At least for one night they plan to knock the rust off the pipes and polish their rock n roll shoes. Should be a hoot.
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Iestyn Davies Delights at Carnegie
Foremost Among Countertenors Following David Daniels
By: - Dec 17th, 2011The Weill Hall at Carnegie is intimate and a wonderful acoustical venue. It was a particular treat to hear countertenor Iestyn Davies here after his commanding presence in the Metropolitan Opera's production of Rodelinda and his smashing New York debut at the City Opera.
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Baroque Collection by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
18th Century Music Here and Now
By: - Dec 14th, 2011David Finckel and Wu Han are funny, warm, talented and consummate musicians too. This is the magic mix for institutions bringing classical music into the present and future. It is not hard to see why his contemporaries loved CPE Bach for his daring, turbulent music, which agitates with volcanic harmonies and distinctive rhythms.
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Opera Notes: Faust in HD December 10
Broadcast to the Clark and Mahaiwe
By: - Dec 09th, 2011The production is so disappointing that we simply are not going to comment. Some of the singing can not be called singing. But Jonas Kaufmann in the title role and Rene Pape in his iconic Mephistopheles role, make this Gounod Faust from the Metropolitan Opera worth watching.
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The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Brings Us Bach
John Harbison Selects Unfamiliar Cantatas
By: - Dec 07th, 2011John Harbison is familiar to Bostonians as the conductor of Emanuel Music, which has a commitment to perform all of Bach's 200 cantatas in cycles. At Alice Tully Hall, four of them were presented for an unusual and exciting evening.
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The Barra MacNeils at Clark Art Institute
A Celtic Holiday Concert
By: - Dec 05th, 2011The Barra MacNeil band from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia has performed and recorded for the past 25 years. They returned to the Clark Art Institute after a lapse of seven years. The sold out audience delighted in a traditional Christmas celebration. Now and then we joined in with the merry singing.
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Occupy Wall Street Occupies the Metropolitan Opera
OWS Shouted Out Over a Dozen Times Before Act III of Faust
By: - Dec 04th, 2011Occupy Wall Street was banned from the Lincoln Center Plaza, city owned property leased to Lincoln Center, on December 1, as Philip Glass read from the Ghandi libretto in front of the Met. On December 3, a protester succeeded in getting into the house and calling out his message, by and large favorably received by audience claps, but quelled by Met staffers.
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Stephanie Blythe Joins the New York Festival of Song
Stephen Blier's Humorous and Touching Take on Goyishe Christmas
By: - Dec 02nd, 2011Assimilation is not the point. Celebrating a national holiday that is more culture than religion is something all Americans do, some with more angst and guilt than others. Noel anxiety was part of this evening's fun.
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The Collegiate Chorale Performs Moise et Pharaon
An Unexpected and Glorious Rossini Opera on the Exodus
By: - Dec 01st, 2011This not often performed opera brought down houses in Naples and Paris when it was first put on in various versions. Stendhal, who hated Biblical subjects and the lead soprano, attended to laugh and ended up extraordinarily moved. So was the audience at Carnegie Hall.
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Ian Bostridge and Thomas Ades at Carnegie Hall
Blissful Music Making
By: - Nov 29th, 2011Taking on the challenge of the dark and painful places of life, tenor Ian Bostridge and pianist (composer and conductor) Thomas Ades presented an evening of wrenching beauty.
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Opera Notes: Jesus Christ Superstar and More
Rodelinda at Neighborhood Theaters on December 3
By: - Nov 29th, 2011It is heartening to think that people who love and make opera, even if they don't know what they are doing or saying, come up with dramas that heightened our every day. Rodelina at the Clark and Mahaiwe December 3rd, followed by Faust on December 10. Both poperas are bound to be fun.
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Orpheus Doesn't Look Back
Boston Early Music Festival Presents French Rarity
By: - Nov 28th, 2011Marc-Antoine Charpentier wrote an adaptation of the Orpheus myth, but the third act is missing. The BEMF's Gilbert Blin shot-gun weds it to another work, and the result is delightful.
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The Guthrie Family Rides Again at the Colonial
Thanksgiving Tradition Continues in Pittsfield
By: - Nov 22nd, 2011At one point I counted 13 Guthrie Family members on stage all at the same time. There may have been more, but some were small and scampered around a bit. The first time I and most of the audience heard Arlo, was also the first time we heard Alice’s Restaurant. Within a short time, Arlo had the entire room in the palm of his hand.
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Opera Notes from New York and Chicago
What is Opera? The Metropolitan and Lyric Operas Disagree
By: - Nov 22nd, 2011A new production of Faust is coming up at the Met, and the company held a discussion on Monday with the artists responsible. It was very revealing. In the heartland, Ariadne Auf Naxos, the great Strauss opera about the role of music in life, spelled out in every detail that music drives the form. Why should this even be a subject for debate?
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Santyagraha by Philip Glass
Gandhi Inspired Opera Sung in Sanskrit
By: - Nov 21st, 2011The genius of Philip Glass, viewed as our greatest living composer, is to create transformative, trance inducing meditations on the greatest figures in our history and culture. Mahatma Gandhi, and his twenty year non violent struggle against racism in South Africa informs the opera Satyagraha. This past weekend we experienced an absorbing but frustrating experience of the opera Live in HD at the Clark Art Institute.
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