By Robert Croan The Adagio movement of Schubert’s String Quintet in C Major is one of the most sublime, transfixing moments in all music. The entire work, composed shortly before the composer’s early death in 1828, is one of the greatest achievements in the chamber music genre. It’s dramatic, it’s anguished, it’s pugnacious, it’s soul-searching, and it’s very, very difficult … [Read more...]
‘Rigoletto’ at PB Opera, second cast: Brilliant singing, smart staging
Saturday’s performance of Rigoletto by the Palm Beach Opera was one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. It reached the realms of the divine on occasion. Verdi’s knack of capturing Victor Hugo’s dramatic essence in music and song of this father-daughter relationship is a mark of his genius. Jay Lesenger’s direction made the action crisp and the story easy to understand. … [Read more...]
‘Rigoletto’ at PB Opera, first cast: Chioldi stuns as jester in effective production
A magnificent central role performance and some marvelous supporting voices made Palm Beach Opera’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto one to admire and remember. Returning to this 1851 mega-hit after an absence of nine years, the troupe’s A-cast mounting was led by baritone Michael Chioldi, who should be close to considering Palm Beach Opera his home company. His … [Read more...]
Mendes, ‘Pink Panther’ close Boca Fest in engaging fashion
By Dale King Festival of the Arts Boca wrapped up its 11th annual celebration of artistic, cultural and musical endeavors Sunday with a concert by South American jazz performers Sérgio Mendes and Brazil 2017, completing the 10-day installment of lectures, song, instrumentalists, one film and an opera. The 76-year-old Brazilian keyboardist whose high-amped, bossa … [Read more...]
Despite noisy venue, amplification, Chang triumphs at Boca fest
By Dennis D. Rooney Presented as part of Festival of the Arts Boca, now in its 11th season, the March 10 concert featuring violinist Sarah Chang took place in an open-air structure at the north end of Mizner Park that was covered with a plastic tent. I have never found the experience of hearing classical music outdoors to be enjoyable. Its textures and sonorities require … [Read more...]
Violinist Benedetti taking career (and Marsalis concerto) to new level
Last week, as she prepared for her Florida tour with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Nicola Benedetti was having a little trouble getting used to her instrument again, particularly the bow. “It’s like a cello bow right now. Or a double bass,” she said, speaking by phone from her home base in London. That’s because she had just gotten off the road after a 13-concert … [Read more...]
Perlman, at 71, plays to perfection at Broward Center
By Robert Croan A recital by Itzhak Perlman is inevitably a journey into perfection: virtuosity of the highest order, the sweetest tone imaginable, impeccable intonation, absolutely even scalework, mature musicianship and a pleasant stage persona to boot. At 71, the superstar Israeli-born violinist continues to provide all this and more in large measure. It would seem … [Read more...]
St. Petersburg Piano Quartet ends Flagler season with assured Mozart, Brahms
By Dennis D. Rooney Mozart may not have written the very first piano quartet, being preceded in a way by J. C. Bach, Schobert and others, but he definitely was the first to write piano quartets in which all the voices are equal, and the indicated keyboard instrument is a pianoforte in the modern sense. In 1785, Mozart received a commission from the Viennese publisher … [Read more...]
Late review: Despite flaws, Berlioz ‘Roméo’ marks a Lynn milestone
Guillermo Figueroa has been an advocate of the music of Hector Berlioz for decades, and in his time as the conductor of the Lynn Philharmonia, he’s pursued that advocacy with presentations of major works by the composer. A season ago, it was the song cycle Les Nuits d’Éte, and on Feb. 25, it was his hard-to-classify “dramatic symphony,” Roméo et Juliette. Joined by three … [Read more...]
Late review: Albright, at the Four Arts: Plenty of fingers, not enough heart
Charlie Albright is one of those tremendously gifted people who has conquered the world of music and academics with equal aplomb, holding a bachelor’s in pre-med and economics (Harvard) and a master’s in music (New England Conservatory). Now in his early 20s, the Centralia, Wash., native has already had a long and impressive career, playing with major orchestras and … [Read more...]