Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901).By Greg StepanichTime was, and not all that long ago, that the only way South Florida could hear the Verdi Requiem in concert was to wait for the Florida Philharmonic to schedule it or hope that a big touring ensemble would put it on.This year, there have been two major local performances of this 1874 masterwork: Once in January at a … [Read more...]
Opera review: Soprano Taigi shines in PB Opera’s ‘Tosca’
Chiara Taigi and Riccardo Massi in Tosca.By Greg StepanichGood singing can get an opera audience past uninspired acting, but when it comes to the heroine of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, it’s best to have someone who can do both well.And on Friday night, Palm Beach Opera did.In the Italian soprano Chiara Taigi, who opened its current run of Puccini’s “shabby … [Read more...]
Music roundup: Orchestras stand out in Shostakovich, Mendelssohn
Philippe Entremont. (Photo by Alvaro Yanez)By Greg StepanichBoca Raton Symphonia (Sunday, March 20, Roberts Theater, Boca Raton)The Boca Raton Symphonia closed its most recent concert Sunday with one of its better recent performances, one that seemed well-suited to the orchestra’s current period of experimentation and expansion.Philippe Entremont, in his … [Read more...]
Music review: Seraphic Fire’s wonderful ‘St. John Passion’ sets local landmark
By Greg StepanichIt’s true that the Miami-based concert choir Seraphic Fire is a national organization that draws many of its singing members, as well as the personnel for its Firebird Chamber Orchestra, from across the country.But it is also nevertheless true that on Saturday night in a church in Fort Lauderdale, a large audience saw a South Florida musical … [Read more...]
Music review: Boca fest audience was wild about Jackie
Jackie Evancho.By Greg StepanichPerhaps some were thinking of their own daughters, pre-teen rebellion, and others of their granddaughters, out of touch in distant states.Doubtless most had happier ideas in mind, though one thing was clear: The appearance Saturday of Jackie Evancho on the final night of this year’s Festival of the Arts Boca turned an audience of … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: March 11-13
Ray Bolger, Judy Garland and Jack Haley in The Wizard of Oz.The film industry has been one of the best things ever to happen to the symphony orchestra, and tonight at the Festival of the Arts Boca, both will be together again. Restoration specialist John Guberman is bringing the classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz to the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater tonight, to be screened to … [Read more...]
Music review: Montero entertains in vivid style at Boca fest
Gabriela Montero. (Photo by Colin Bell)By Greg StepanichThe Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero has carved out a useful niche for herself as a musician who recalls an earlier tradition of performers who improvised in concert.Her recital Thursday night during the fifth Festival of the Arts Boca ended with four of her improvisations, but it was the rest of her program that … [Read more...]
Opera review: Second ‘Cosi’ cast shows off voices of great promise
Patricia Risley and Joel Prieto in Così fan Tutte. By Rex HearnThis refined, delicate, good-looking production of Mozart’s Così fan Tutte, with swaths of brilliantly lit open spaces, marble statues and lovely costumes, harks back to productions at the Salzburg Festival in 1982 -- even down to the same sunshade beach umbrella.There’s nothing wrong with that: … [Read more...]
Opera review: PB Opera’s ‘Cosi’ well-sung, craftily staged
Sabina Cvilak and Jurgita Adamonyte in Così fan Tutte.By Greg StepanichThe Palm Beach Opera is closing its three-year survey of the Mozart-Da Ponte operas with a somewhat minimalist but well-staged and ably sung production of Così fan Tutte.Friday night found a cast of young, handsome singers working inside a Stephen Lawless reading of the opera that was easy to … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Feb. 5-7
Imagining Elvis as My Daddy (2010), by Kathy Yancey.Art: Just installed at the Florida Atlantic University Galleries is the third iteration of SouthXeast: Contemporary Southeastern Art, a triennial show of works by artists from Southeastern states. This year’s exhibit, chosen from among more than 200 artists by curators and gallery owners from throughout the … [Read more...]