By Márcio Bezerra As the most prestigious musical institution in the Southeast, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra needs no introduction. For 78 years, the orchestra has established itself as a major American ensemble and one hopes that, under the new leadership of Music Director Nathalie Stuzmann, it will be able to expand its musical horizons by featuring a more varied … [Read more...]
Ulysses Quartet effective, unified in diverse program at Duncan’s Stage West
By Ava Figliuzzi The Duncan Theatre's Stage West, a charming, small venue on the campus of Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth Beach, opened its Classical Café Series on Wednesday afternoon (Jan. 11) with the young Ulysses Quartet. Founded in 2015, the Ulysses Quartet has garnered top prizes at the Schoenfeld and Fischoff competitions and held recent fellowship … [Read more...]
At Four Arts, pianist Ax lets Schubert speak for himself
By Márcio Bezerra Acclaimed pianist Emanuel Ax was the feature of a sold-out recital Jan. 8 at The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach. Playing a mostly Schubert program with some touches of Liszt, the venerable artist displayed a total commitment to serving the composers’ intentions, with little space for personal eccentricities. Following Arthur Rubinstein’s … [Read more...]
In Palm Beach, mature work from a grown-up child art star
By Sandra Schulman As an art star from an extremely young age, Alexandra Nechita has matured into a thoughtful, forceful, sophisticated artist. Born in Romania, Alexandra immigrated to the United States before she turned two. She began drawing as a toddler, and by seven had her first solo exhibition in Los Angeles. At 11 she had already sold over $1.5 million of her art, … [Read more...]
Grim energy of ‘Hadestown’ brings Kravis audience to its feet
By Dale King Hadestown, the grim, garishly compelling musical that fuses characters from Greek mythology with imagery from a hellishly demonic industrial underworld, continues through Sunday at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. On opening night Tuesday, a full-house audience rewarded the starkly entertaining performance with a sustained … [Read more...]
Dramaworks reaffirms relevance of ’12 Angry Men’ in searing production
By Sharon Geltner “One man is dead. The life of another is at stake. I urge you to deliberate honestly and thoughtfully. If there is a reasonable doubt --- then you must bring me a verdict of ‘not guilty.‘” The judge’s instructions open Twelve Angry Men, the classic American drama by Reginald Rose, set in a dingy conference room in 1954. The Palm Beach Dramaworks … [Read more...]
‘Aladdin’ is a world of wonders in Kravis run
By Dale King The latest iteration of Aladdin, one of the oldest and most told and retold tales in literary history, is being performed through Friday at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach. The production, based on Walt Disney’s 1992 animated film, is festooned with colorful characters, a pleasing, often powerful musical score and amazing … [Read more...]
Spies, lies and a big art prize: Silva’s newest a thrilling romp through the art world
By Sharon Geltner Gabriel Allon, legendary Israeli spy, has retired. “He was no longer Israel’s avenging angel.” No more violence. Total serenity. A do-over. He settles on in Venice with his beautiful wife and two kids where he paints, enjoys classical music, gourmet home-cooked meals, happy times and a canal view. Soon he looks 30 years younger. But no one reads … [Read more...]
Miami Art Week grows with the crowds
By Sandra Schulman While the main Art Basel Miami Beach fair had more booths than ever last week and reported strong sales despite some VIP preview glitches, the city hosted movie stars and art stars and fashion stars all drawn by the big money art world. Yes, art is the draw, but the real fun is sometimes the oddball people that drop into this glittering bubble. At … [Read more...]
‘Villainous Company’ a taut three-hander for Delray Playhouse opener
By Dale King Delray Beach Playhouse certainly loves a mystery. The venerable showhouse on the shore of Lake Ida opens its 76th season with a production of Villainous Company, a show whose title literally screams that something illicit is afoot. And it certainly is, as the audience gradually, but, in the end, surely finds out in this 90-minute production played with no … [Read more...]