By Márcio Bezerra It was well worth the wait: After 60 seasons, Palm Beach Opera finally staged Giuseppe Verdi’s last opera, Falstaff, in a remarkable production that will remain as one of the highest achievements of the (at times heroic) company’s history. Premiered at La Scala in Milan in 1893, the opera is not as popular as Verdi’s earlier output, not only because it … [Read more...]
NYGASP’s ‘The Mikado’ pleases, but not uniformly
By Robert Croan The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players returned to Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater on March 12 with a pleasant but uneven performance of The Mikado. It was more polished than the company’s 2020 touring performance of The Pirates of Penzance, but a reminder that South Florida currently lacks (and needs) a resident Savoyard company of our own. … [Read more...]
Koch’s searing followup Boca gig cements his stellar reputation
Greg Koch (www.gregkoch.com) refers to himself as "one of the most famous unknown guitar players in the world" on his website. After his show last September at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton, and the recent one there March 11, it may be time for a rewrite. Last year's performance by the singing guitarist, whose trio is rounded out by his son Dylan Koch on drums and Toby … [Read more...]
At Palm Beach Opera, a delightful, irresistible ‘Così fan Tutte’
By Márcio Bezerra It is as if Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a musical Midas: Every musical genre he touched was elevated by him, including opera. Few other composers (one must think as far back as Monteverdi) prepared the way for the advent of modern (19th century) opera as he did. Therefore, it is always a treat when Palm Beach Opera stage one of his masterworks as it … [Read more...]
The best guitarist working today? That might be Greg Koch
To anyone who was there uninitiated, a show last September 22 at the Funky Biscuit in Boca Raton likely proved to be a revelation. The Koch Marshall Trio performed two sets, featuring guitarist/vocalist Greg Koch (www.gregkoch.com), his son Dylan Koch on drums, and Toby Lee Marshall on Hammond organ and backing vocals. A near-capacity crowd sauntered in, mostly musicians in … [Read more...]
Miró Quartet, clarinetist Shifrin mix genres, pleasures winningly at Four Arts
By Ava Figliuzzi Since its formation in 1995, the Austin-based Miró Quartet has been committed to education and innovative, international performances at the world's finest venues. They hold residencies at Chamber Music Northwest in Portland, Ore., Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Washington state, and the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas. The Miró … [Read more...]
Seraphic Fire does right by cantatas of Bach
By Robert Croan Seraphic Fire’s third annual Enlightenment Festival – two weekend programs each performed in four South Florida venues – is devoted to the church cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, some of the most sublime music in the Western civilization canon. It’s also some of the most difficult music for present-day performers, technically and stylistically, but with … [Read more...]
Violinist Porter brilliant, stylish in wide-ranging Flagler recital
By Ava Figliuzzi By the close of violinist Simone Porter's Feb. 14 debut at the Flagler Museum, she had developed a warm rapport with the audience. Alongside pianist Rohan De Silva, well known for over two decades as Itzhak Perlman's accompanist, the duo presented a delightful blend that spanned all corners of the repertoire. A sparkling rendition of Beethoven's first … [Read more...]
Jussen Brothers show off technical wizardry at Four Arts
By Márcio Bezerra From the Mozarts to the Mendelssohns, from the Kontarskys to the Labèques, there have been many famous sibling piano duos throughout music history. The reigning fraternal team of the moment, Dutch brothers Lucas and Arthur Jussen, were in recital Feb. 6 at The Society of the Four Arts in Palm Beach. Despite their somewhat cutesy and over-choreographed … [Read more...]
Viano String Quartet opens Flagler series scrupulously — maybe too much so
By Ava Figliuzzi An impeccable attention to detail by the members of the Viano String Quartet was complemented well Feb. 7 by the pin-drop acoustics of the Flagler Museum's West Room as the group opened the museum's 2023 music series. The young Philadelphia-based ensemble holds a residency at the Curtis Institute of Music and won first prize in the 2019 Banff … [Read more...]