Allan Glassman and Michele Capalbo in Otello.By Rex HearnShakespeare’s tragedy Othello was the basis for the libretto Arrigo Boito wrote for Giuseppe Verdi, who at the time Boito approached him about the opera was 71 years old and considered himself retired.But three years later, in February 1887, Otello had its triumphant premiere at La Scala, and this work plus Verdi's final … [Read more...]
Opera review: ‘Otello’ decent but spotty at PB Opera
Soprano Sabina Cvilak.By Greg StepanichFor its first staged production of the season, the Palm Beach Opera on Friday presented a decent, if unremarkable, production of what is often considered Giuseppe Verdi's finest opera.Otello, which for the composer marked a bold advance toward a seamless fusion of music and drama, requires a kind of singing and acting that it only got … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Jan. 22-28
A teaset by John McCoy.Art: For the past 36 years, John McCoy has been teaching visual arts and art history to students at Florida Atlantic University. Many of his students now have successful art careers, and some of them have come together to celebrate McCoy's ceramics work in a retrospective exhibition.The list of exhibitors for John McCoy and Friends reads like a Who’s Who … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Cleveland Orchestra contract talks stall on eve of Miami stay; Palm Beach Opera comes to iPhone
Violinist Leila Josefowicz. (Photo by Deborah O'Grady)Cleveland Orchestra could strike as early as Jan. 18Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new developments.The Cleveland Orchestra, which is less than three weeks away from its Miami residency, could go on strike as early as Jan. 18, union officials said late Wednesday, according to the orchestra.That would … [Read more...]
Music review: PB Opera’s Beethoven sometimes messy, but packs a wallop
Mezzo-soprano Michaela Martens and soprano Ruth Ann Swenson sing during the finale of Beethoven's Ninth at the Kravis Center on Friday night.By Greg StepanichSeeing the gigantic forces arrayed on the stage of the Kravis Center, one couldn't help wondering whether the audience was about to hear a performance of the Mahler Eighth Symphony.But all those people were there Friday … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Dec. 11-15
Ann Curry, before one of her photosat the Palm Beach Photographic Centre.(Photo by Bill Antaleck)Art: Emotionally moving and dynamic color and black-and-white photographs by NBC's Ann Curry are currently featured at the newly reopened Palm Beach Photographic Centre. The exhibit, titled Empathy, will be on display through Jan. 21. Curry was at the Centre last Friday and Saturday … [Read more...]
ArtsPreview 2009-10: The season in opera
Carl Tanner as Otello. (Illustration by Pat Crowley)By Greg StepanichThe coming opera season has been scaled back somewhat in both of the major local companies, but opera devotees will still have plenty to look forward to.In addition to the seven local productions, there will be five others from two different trunk companies, and 11 high-definition broadcasts of live … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Canadian soprano takes top spot for judges, audience at PB Opera contest
Soprano Yannick-Muriel Noah.By Greg StepanichWEST PALM BEACH -- A Canadian soprano who gave a powerful rendition of an aria from Verdi's La Forza del Destino walked away Sunday afternoon with the top prize of the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition as well as the hearts of the Kravis Center audience, who declared her their favorite in a text-message poll at the end of the … [Read more...]
ArtsPaper Interview: Conductor Eve Queler forges ahead
Eve Queler conducting. Eve Queler may perhaps be the most acclaimed conductor to lead the popular Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition in some years. The internationally renowned conductor and founding music director of American’s leading opera-in-concert organization, Opera Orchestra of New York (OONY), will be on stage at the Kravis Center at 3 p.m. Sunday.Queler has a … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 23-27
England's Chichester Cathedral.Music: The Master Chorale of South Florida wraps its 2008-09 season with the Chichester Psalms of Leonard Bernstein, proof positive that it was good for the composer to stay away from conducting for a while and write; it was his 1965 sabbatical from the New York Philharmonic that engendered the creation of this classic of contemporary choral … [Read more...]