By Robert Croan Placing the works of the Frenchman Hector Berlioz (1803-69) and the German Richard Strauss (1864-1949) side by side, as the South Florida Symphony Orchestra did in this season’s third Masterworks concert (seen Feb. 12 at The Parker), makes good sense, although the two composers were stylistically and geographically disparate, and only barely overlapped in … [Read more...]
Violinist Shoji, conductor Wong make Cleveland Orchestra concert a standout
By Márcio Bezerra The procession of great orchestras at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts Classical Concert Series continued Jan. 27 with the revered Cleveland Orchestra. Featuring two widely divergent works of the standard repertoire, the orchestra, under the direction of guest conductor Kahchun Wong provided refined and, at times, spectacular moments to an … [Read more...]
Pianist Hough offers beautiful Chopin, Liszt to indifferent Four Arts audience
By Márcio Bezerra Distinguished pianist Stephen Hough gave a satisfying piano recital Jan. 26 at The Society of the Four Arts. Known for his sharp intellect, in addition to his fine technical skills, Hough presented a clever program centered on two major romantic works in the key of B minor, alongside some charming salon-music numbers. He started the program with works by … [Read more...]
PB Opera’s ‘Roméo et Juliette’ impresses with fine cast, lovely production
By Márcio Bezerra Palm Beach Opera launched its 63th season with a solid production of Charles Gounod’s perennial favorite Roméo et Juliette. Featuring a handsome set by Opera Utah and dazzling costumes from Opéra de Montreal, the well-attended opening night had all the right ingredients for a satisfying experience, from both dramatic and musical points of … [Read more...]
Muti and Chicago revelatory at sold-out Kravis concert
By Márcio Bezerra The revered Chicago Symphony Orchestra returned to a packed Kravis Center for the Performing Arts for an enlightening Friday evening concert. The first sold-out classical performance in a long time, it featured the Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti, whose conducting was a veritable masterclass of technique and musicianship. The somewhat … [Read more...]
South Florida Symphony’s glittering ‘Candide’ a triumph
By Robert Croan This month, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra attempted one of its most ambitious projects to date — a semi-staged concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 operetta Candide — and came through with flying colors. The local performances (seen in Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater on Jan. 16) were staged with endless creativity by Dan Wallace Miller, … [Read more...]
Fleming’s lovely concert hampered by visual, audio distractions
By Márcio Bezerra With more than 250 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, five Grammy awards, the U.S. National Medal of Arts and even a national anthem performance at the Super Bowl, Renée Fleming surely deserves the title of “America’s Soprano.” Her gorgeous voice and alluring-yet-approachable stage presence were the main reasons the Kravis Center for the Performing … [Read more...]
Curtis Symphony, soloist Chen in glorious form at Kravis
By Márcio Bezerra Among the benefits of the immigration waves of late 19th through early 20th centuries in this country was the building of classical music institutions that still benefit our society. Despite her younger age and lack of governmental support, America has some of the best orchestras, opera companies, and music schools in the world. Of those, none has a more … [Read more...]
Kavakos stellar with PB Symphony; the mics, not so much
By Márcio Bezerra The Palm Beach Symphony continued its parade of world-class performers on Dec. 10 with Leonidas Kavakos performing the Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms at the Kravis Center. It is truly remarkable that, since the arrival of conductor Gerard Schwarz, this “3.0” version of our local orchestra has been able to engage internationally acclaimed soloists … [Read more...]
FGO’s gaming-inspired ‘Magic Flute’ a brilliant take on Mozart
By Robert Croan For her first production as general director and CEO of Florida Grand Opera, Maria Todaro came up with an original, innovative concept of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) by Jeffrey Marc Buchman, in which the protagonists were present-day teenagers playing immersive fantasy role-playing board games --- something like Dungeons and Dragons, according … [Read more...]