By Rosie Rogers Palm Beach Opera’s production of Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow last weekend at the Kravis Center made a light and lively, if not technically perfect, closer for the company's 60th season. Directed by Helena Binder and using Sheldon Harnick’s English lyrics, the show compensated for a few flaws with beautiful sets and an able cast. Binder introduced many … [Read more...]
In 40th year, SunFest celebrates the volunteers who make the music happen
Since SunFest unveiled its more youthful pop, hip-hop, and country music-centric 2022 musical lineup in February, there’s been no shortage of opinions about it. Just look at Facebook for proof. Or don’t bother. Yet 40 years after its 1982 inception — and especially after a two-year, COVID-19-necessitated hiatus — it may be time to look backstage, and behind the scenes, of … [Read more...]
Strong Britten, confident Beethoven distinguish Symphonia concert
By Dennis D. Rooney In January, I reviewed the second concert of The Symphonia’s 17th season, conducted by Andrés Cárdenas. At that time, I noted tonal imbalance among the string choirs, with the violins sounding astringent. Sunday’s concert at Boca Raton's St. Andrews School (the third of the season), heard from an identical seat in Roberts Auditorium, offered dull … [Read more...]
PB Symphony’s Mahler and Beethoven a mixed bag at Kravis
By Dennis D. Rooney Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 is no longer a rarity in the concert hall, but some orchestras have yet to perform it, and that included the Palm Beach Symphony until its concert March 7 at the Kravis Center as this season’s fourth Masterworks program. The audience assembled in Dreyfoos Hall was expecting to hear the Portuguese pianist Maria João Pires … [Read more...]
Seraphic Fire tackles challenge of Bach cantata program worthily
By Dennis D. Rooney One of the most memorable aspects of Seraphic Fire’s all-Bach program, which took place Feb. 27 at St. Gregory's Espicopal Church in Boca Raton, was the striking impression made by the large stained-glass sanctuary window behind the singers and players. Two Bach cantatas (Nos. 62 and 147) and the Mass in G minor (BWV 235), composed the program, which … [Read more...]
PB Opera’s ‘Elixir of Love’: A silly love story, beautifully sung and told
By Rosie Rogers One of the most exciting things about opera is the indulgence and relatability of its heightened emotions, and what’s more relatable than the uncertainty of love? Directed by Fenlon Lamb, Palm Beach Opera’s production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love created this relatability by telling a love story that is as earnest as it is silly. Gorgeous lighting … [Read more...]
Miami Chamber Music Society, Joshua Bell team for collaborative concert, plus new dance
Over the years, the Miami Chamber Music Society has presented several collaborations with artists outside the discipline of music, particularly dance. Beginning in 2013, the closing concerts of its annual Mainly Mozart Festival have included newly choreographed dances to accompany Paul Schoenfield’s Café Music and a chamber version of Liszt’s Dante Symphony, among … [Read more...]
Trumpeter Blanchard, set for Boca festival, goes from strength to strength
As anyone who’s followed jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard’s career knows, his upcoming appearance at Festival of the Arts Boca will hardly be his first figurative South Florida rodeo. Following a long run as artistic director for the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz at the University of California Los Angeles, Blanchard took a similar position in the … [Read more...]
On eve of PB Opera’s ‘L’elisir,’ tenor explores poignancy of ‘Una furtiva lagrima’
By Robert Croan Mario Chang has no qualms about touting the Palm Beach Opera production of L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love), in which he will be the star this weekend. (The show runs Friday through Sunday.) “Tell the people that if they stay away they’re missing something very good,” says the Colombian tenor, who will play the central role of Nemorino. “This … [Read more...]
Since 1976, West Palm’s Music Man has kept the bands playing
During the same year Music Man (www.MusicManInc.com) opened on North Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, consider that the United States celebrated its bicentennial anniversary, and Jimmy Carter was elected its 39th president. The average cost of a new house was slightly more than $43,000; average income was $16,000, average monthly rent $220, and gas cost around 59 cents per … [Read more...]