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...]
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...]
Delray Playhouse serves up sharp thriller with ‘Deathtrap’
By Dale King For a play that focuses largely on murder, Deathtrap is really a pretty fun show. Not good clean fun, though. This chilling whodunit penned by Ira Levin (Rosemary’s Baby, Stepford Wives) now playing at the Delray Beach Playhouse does involve the spilling of substantial theatrical blood. What’s probably most enjoyable about Deathtrap is the fact that it … [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...]
Festival of the Arts Boca set for live return
By Dale King The big tent that covers the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton is back in place. The newly painted stage doors are prepared to open shortly to ignite nearly a dozen evenings of dancing, music and speeches by famed lecturers and authors. Food booths vending hot dogs, beer, soda and other audience snacks are ready to go. The 16th Annual Festival of the … [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...]
LW Playhouse’s ‘Mousetrap’ delivers Christie’s goods, deftly
By Dale King If Agatha Christie murder mysteries are your cup of tea, grab a mug of Earl Grey – hot – and take a seat among the many audience members at the Lake Worth Playhouse for a run of Christie’s top-notch tale, The Mousetrap. A talented cast that delivers the playwright’s goods with aplomb keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The old English drawing room set … [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...]