Ranchos Church 1 (1929), by Georgia O'Keeffe. As the season evaporates, several important shows are closing this weekend or in the next few days:Art: Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities, at the Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach. An important show of paintings and photographs by two leading American landscape artists, which ArtsPaper's Katie Deits said in … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Canadian soprano takes top spot for judges, audience at PB Opera contest
Soprano Yannick-Muriel Noah.By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- A Canadian soprano who gave a powerful rendition of an aria from Verdi's La Forza del Destino walked away Sunday afternoon with the top prize of the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition as well as the hearts of the Kravis Center audience, who declared her their favorite in a text-message poll at the end of the … [Read more...]
Music review: Master Chorale comes home to America in season closer
The Master Chorale of South Florida.By Greg StepanichPOMPANO BEACH -- The Master Chorale of South Florida made a welcome gesture in the direction of music from its own country Friday night with a program of older and newer American classics by Copland, Bernstein and Lauridsen.The performances themselves, which closed the first season of the chorale's concerts under its new … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 23-27
England's Chichester Cathedral.Music: The Master Chorale of South Florida wraps its 2008-09 season with the Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein, proof positive that it was good for the composer to stay away from conducting for a while and write; it was his 1965 sabbatical from the New York Philharmonic that engendered the creation of this classic of contemporary choral … [Read more...]
Music feature: Lynn hosts five days of new music
Composer Joseph Turrin.By Greg StepanichBOCA RATON -- If the conservatory at Lynn University was hoping to say something definitive about the importance of contemporary classical music, then maybe seven world premieres over the next five days will do it.On Thursday, the music division at the Boca Raton college will host its New Music Festival 2009, featuring composer Joseph … [Read more...]
Music review: Boca Symphonia, soloist do contemporary American concerto proud
Composer Jonathan Leshnoff.By Greg StepanichBOCA RATON -- In most ways, the Boca Symphonia is an ensemble that keeps going from strength to strength, as demonstrated Sunday afternoon by its performance of an important new work of American music.The Violin Concerto of Jonathan Leshnoff, a 35-year-old New Jersey-born composer and Peabody Institute graduate now teaching at Towson … [Read more...]
Music review: World premiere adds luster to Seraphic Fire’s Baroque offerings
By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- A world premiere of a good piece of fresh contemporary music was the intriguing counterpart Thursday to a venerable piece from the core repertory as members of the Seraphic Fire choir opened their current series of concerts.Thursday afternoon's concert at the Harriet Himmel Theater in CityPlace was sparsely attended, but the music, even in a … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 16-23
Music: The Italian composer Giovanni Battista Pergolesi died of tuberculosis at the age of only 26 in 1736, but one of his last completed works, a Stabat Mater, is perhaps his greatest. The fine Miami chamber choir Seraphic Fire performs this beautiful work this afternoon at the Harriet Himmel Theater in CityPlace in the first of four concerts it will give over the weekend. … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 9-15
A model wears a Laurance Rassin design.Art: Artist, innovator, entertainer and fashion designer Laurance Rassin will be in town Saturday evening at the Paul Fisher Gallery in West Palm Beach for an exhibit, fashion show and entertainment evening dedicated to his work.Based in New York, Rassin creates paintings by hand and then digitally prints them onto high-end fabrics to … [Read more...]
Music review: Violinist struggles in Rinker recital
Violinist Christina Castelli.By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- Normally, an encore provides a chance for performers and listeners to relax and enjoy the good feelings that have been generated on both sides as the concert stretches on a bit past closing time.For her encore Monday night at the Rinker Playhouse, the American violinist Christina Castelli chose Estrellita, the … [Read more...]