By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH — A moving portrayal of a man done in by his desire for revenge and a soprano of great promise added distinction to a compelling evening of entertainment as the Palm Beach Opera opened its 46th season Friday at the Kravis Center with Verdi's Rigoletto.This is a production that looks good, sounds crisp, moves along smartly, and was distinguished … [Read more...]
Archives for December 2008
Film: “Frost/Nixon”: A knockout political sparring match
By Hap ErsteinRon Howard has already made a boxing film (Cinderella Man), but it pales next to the verbal sparring match he conjures up in Frost/Nixon, a crafty, visceral and cerebral adaptation of Peter Morgan’s stage play on the taped television interviews between surface-slick British talk show host David Frost and disgraced ex-President Richard Nixon.Morgan is probably best … [Read more...]
Weekend Arts Picks
Classical music: This weekend and into next week, it's a celebration of the life and work of Ludwig van Beethoven, whose 238th birthday is marked next Tuesday. Over at the Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach at 3 p.m. Sunday, the Goldstein-Kaler-Peled Trio plays three of the master's piano trios: the early Trio in B-flat (Op. 11), the Ghost (in D, Op. 70), and the Archduke … [Read more...]
Music preview: Delray Quartet to launch first CD
By Greg StepanichDELRAY BEACH — The Delray String Quartet will launch its fifth season this Sunday afternoon with music by Antonin Dvorak and Mozart in the first of five concerts that will include, in February, the world premiere of the String Quartet No. 3 by the Miami-based composer Thomas Sleeper.But there will be another milestone to mark on that first concert: The release … [Read more...]
Art Basel, Day 3: Experts see better days for art ahead
Women Resting on Metal, by sculptor Tatiana Blanco.(Photos by Katie Deits)By Katie DeitsMIAMI BEACH — On one of my last visits to Art Basel this week, I took a tour of the booths in the convention hall to see what had been sold, what new works had been placed, and just see whether there was anything interesting I might have missed before.I counted three Barack Obama portraits … [Read more...]
Music review: Chiara Massini, harpsichordist
By Greg StepanichDELRAY BEACH — In a brief American debut before a small audience Saturday night at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Delray Beach, the Italian harpsichordist Chiara Massini offered a program of 17th- and 18th-century music that showcased a strong technique and a freewheeling interpretive approach.Massini's recital included music by J.S. Bach, J.J. Froberger, … [Read more...]
Theater review: “Sleuth” at Maltz Jupiter: Gimmick and riddle-laced detective challenge
By Hap ErsteinComing close on the heels of its production of the farce Noises Off, Anthony Shaffer’s Sleuth is the second straight play performed at Maltz Jupiter Theatre that takes great timing, precision and skill to pull off.Like Noises Off, the northern Palm Beach County company’s Sleuth has its shortcomings, but gets enough right that it is still well worth seeing. In both … [Read more...]
Art Basel, Day 2: A touch of Palm Beach
Representing West Palm Beach's Gavlak gallery is Nelson Hallonquist, who stands between two paintings by José Alvarez. (Photos by Katie Deits)By Katie DeitsMIAMI BEACH -- Amid the immensity of this city's convention hall, where works by more than 2,000 artists are being displayed by more than 250 of the top … [Read more...]
Art Basel, Day 1: The shock of the new
John Miller's The Totality of an Object (2008)By Robyn Deits EckersleyMIAMI BEACH -- 11:57 a.m., and the waiting crowd had already started to fidget and heckle the security guards to let them into the much-anticipated Art Basel show.After several impatient sighs and exaggerated looks at wristwatches, the mob was granted access, herded through the entryway like cattle.My … [Read more...]
Film review: “Milk”: Likely Oscar cream rising
By Hap Erstein“My name is Harvey Milk, and I want to recruit you.”That is the frequent opening line recited by a gangly gay man with a twinkle in his eye, a perennial political candidate out to defuse hostilities toward homosexuals as well as show his gay brethren that they too can gain some governmental power.The movie is called simply Milk, named for the activist, community … [Read more...]