Alfredo Casella (1883-1947).By Greg StepanichThe Italian composer Alfredo Casella was a major figure in European music right up until his death in 1947, but his work rarely if ever gets a hearing today, at least on these shores.All the more reason for a tip of the hat to the organizers of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival, who programmed Casella's Serenata (Op. 46), written … [Read more...]
Weekend picks: July 30-August 2
Gabrielle Chou, a musical triple threat.Music: Earlier this year, the now-defunct Boynton Regional Symphony Orchestra featured a performance by a 13-year-old Hollywood violinist in the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. Gabrielle Chou proved to have a good command of the concerto, demonstrating thorough technique and some attractive elements of personal style. She's a triple threat, … [Read more...]
Music review: Cohesion hard to come by in chamber performances
Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971).By Greg StepanichTwo intimate works vied for contention with one of extrovert character Friday night as the third week of Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival concerts opened, but precious few of either kind of moment were satisfying for long stretches of time.The best performance of the concert at Palm Beach Atlantic University's Persson Hall came … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 23-26
Brian Kovachik won best of show for this ceramic vase.(Photo by Katie Deits)Art: The Gallery at Palm Beach Community College’s Eissey Campus in Palm Beach Gardens currently is featuring Earthly Delights, a multimedia exhibition of art by members of The Palm Beach County Art Teachers Association. The exhibition is composed of recent paintings, sculpture, photography, and mixed … [Read more...]
Music review: Schmitt suite, Septet violinist stand out at chamber fest
Composer Florent Schmitt (1870-1958).By Greg StepanichA standout instrumental performance and two intriguing rediscoveries took pride of place Friday night as the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival opened its second series of concerts.The finest of the two rediscoveries, the Suite en Rocaille, Op. 84, of French composer Florent Schmitt, reanimated a beautiful and unjustly … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 16-19
The Musicians, by Betty Wilson.(Photo by Katie Deits)Art: Opening this Friday at the Clay, Glass, Metal, Stone Cooperative Gallery in Lake Worth will be an exhibit featuring the work of Norm Gitzen, Tracy Rosof-Peterson and Betty Wilson, as well the cooperative's 22 other artists.West Palm Beach artist Betty Wilson creates colorful art in fused glass and clay. Wilson layers … [Read more...]
Music review: Chamber fest opens with engaging voyage of discovery
Composer Bohuslav Martinu (1890-1959).By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- The Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival, which has been sweetening the sweltering summers hereabouts with music since 1992, is notable above all for two things:Its showcasing of the individual instrumentalists whom local audiences normally hear only as part of the area's various symphonic and operatic … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 9-12
Pete Byrne of Naked Eyes.Art: Last month, the Norton Museum of Art launched Art After Dark, a program of nighttime art appreciation and entertainment set for the second Thursday of every month.The first Art After Dark on June 11 was very successful, with more than 540 people making their way to the West Palm Beach museum. Tonight, it's Midsummer Night's Mystery at the Museum, … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival set for 18th summer
The Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival logo.By Greg StepanichThere is some debate, even now, among the founders of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival as to just what the three of them had in mind when they decided to get together and play music one day back in the faraway summer of 1992.Michael Ellert, a bassoonist, said he thought it was just orchestral players meeting to … [Read more...]
Music 2008: A look back at classical’s most memorable
Violinist Vadim Gluzman.By Greg StepanichThe pressure of work earlier this year being what it was, I can't really offer a true "best of" list for 2008. I didn't get to enough of the concerts I wanted to see, and the ones I missed I heard good things about.So allow me to offer this list instead of some memorable performances from 2008:Vadim Gluzman, violin: Earlier this month, … [Read more...]