Jonah Kim.By Greg StepanichThe cellist Jonah Kim has spent several years concertizing and living in South Florida, including studies at Lynn University, all the while building a wider career from two other home bases in New York and Prague.Tuesday night’s closing concert of the Stringendo School for Strings faculty series at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Persson … [Read more...]
Music review: Passionate Brahms performances marred by piano tuning
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).By Greg StepanichAnyone who’s been to an arts camp or summer festival has heard that sound before – enthusiastic, friendly voices loudly acclaiming a performance by members of the team.Tuesday night at Palm Beach Atlantic University’s Persson Hall, the applause from a home-court crowd was heard for two aggressive performances by … [Read more...]
Music review: Masterful Bach opens Stringendo series
James Buswell.By Greg StepanichPerhaps it was Johannes Brahms who said it best:“Using the technique adapted to a small instrument the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings,” he wrote to Clara Schumann, describing the celebrated Chaconne of J.S. Bach. “If I could picture myself writing, or even conceiving, such a … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Feb. 11-13
Film: It is a complaint have heard so often I can anticipate it returning every Oscar season: “Where can I go to see the short subjects, both animated and live action, that are nominated for an Academy Award?” The answer used to be a big shrug, but now you can head to Emerging Cinemas. This week, at the funky art cinema called Mos’Art in Lake Park, you can see … [Read more...]
ArtsPaper Interview: Age of Philippe begins at Boca Symphonia
Philippe Entremont.(Illustration by Pat Crowley)By Greg StepanichThe French pianist Philippe Entremont was born in 1934 in Rheims, France, to two musicians, and found fame early, entering the Paris Conservatoire at 12 and winning first prizes in solfège, chamber music and piano performance by the time he was 15.He made his American debut in 1953, … [Read more...]
Music review: French-accented chamber program brings vigor to Ibert trio
Jacques Ibert (1890-1962).By Greg StepanichAt its most important, the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival is about discovery, in hearing something worthwhile that its musicians have brought out of the libraries or fresh off the stocks for its loyal audience of nearly two decades.In the first installment Friday of its third week of concerts, the musicians returned in … [Read more...]
Music review: Atlanta Symphony violinists do right by Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953).By Greg StepanichSergei Prokofiev didn’t write a great deal of chamber music, but his two string quartets, two violin sonatas (one originally for flute) and piano quintet are marvelous works, and worthy of the repertory status that only the violin sonatas currently appear to have.The same goes for the Sonata for Two Violins (in C, … [Read more...]
Music review: Violist shines in Telemann at Stringendo concert
Violist Stanley Konopka.By Greg StepanichA violist for the Cleveland Orchestra made a persuasive case for the power and versatility of his instrument Tuesday night during a performance of a Telemann concerto at Palm Beach Atlantic University.Stanley Konopka, who has been assistant principal viola of the Cleveland since 1993, was one of two members of that orchestra … [Read more...]
Music review: Piano fest wraps with three names to watch
Pianist Gen Tomuro.By Greg StepanichLike better-known programs of its ilk, the young International Certificate of Piano Artists program is a good way for rising stars of the classical piano to get expert advice, and for aficionados of the art to catch some rising stars.Thursday night at the DeSantis Family Chapel on the campus of Palm Beach Atlantic University, the Palm Beach … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Sept. 25-28
Norman Gitzen with The Sound of Miami.Art: Award-winning Lake Worth sculptor and master builder Norman Gitzen has been chosen to participate in Miami GuitarTown, a public arts project featuring 10-foot-tall fiberglass Gibson Les Paul model guitars that are painted by local and national artists. The enormous guitars will be showcased throughout Miami in parks, landmarks and … [Read more...]