From left: Mike Guggino, Graham Sharp, Woody Platt,Nicky Sanders and Charles Humphrey III of Steep Canyon Rangers. By Bill MeredithMost bands don't become successful overnight, especially in a niche musical sub-genre like bluegrass.Take the Steep Canyon Rangers, for example, the quintet of guitarist Woody Platt, mandolinist Mike Guggino, banjo player Graham … [Read more...]
Art review: Hudson River painters captured glory of a rising nation
Adirondack Mountains, N.Y. (1870), by Asher Brown Durand.By Jenifer M. VogtIn the final room of the exhibit Hudson River School Masterpieces from the New-York Historical Society, now on view at The Society of the Four Arts through Sunday, there are two striking portraits of the men considered to be the fathers of the movement: Thomas Cole and Asher Durand.One … [Read more...]
Music roundup: A fine young violist, two admirable quartets
Peijun Xu.(Photo by Greg Stepanich)Peijun Xu (Feb. 10, Steinway Gallery, Boca Raton)If the concertgoing world doesn’t fully appreciate the variety that a viola can bring to a recital, that won’t be the fault of Peijun Xu.The Shanghai-born musician performed two local recitals this week for the Kronberg Academy, an organization based in that German town near … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Jan. 28-30
Bust of an Angel (c. 1304), by Giotto di Bondone.(Courtesy The Reverenda Fabbrica of St. Peter, Vatican City State)Art: As it did a few years back, the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art is host this weekend to a major show of Catholic artwork, this one called Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art. Fort Lauderdale is one of only three cities … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Jan. 14-16
Panel of St. Edmund, early 16th century, English.Art: This is the last weekend to catch Object of Devotion: Medieval English Alabaster Sculpture From the Victoria and Albert Museum, showing through Sunday at the Society of the Four Arts.This national touring collection of 60 alabaster panels and sculpture from the 15th and 16th centuries is the … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Dec. 3-5
Sara Bareilles.Pop music: Fresh off her third Grammy nomination, announced Wednesday in Los Angeles, Sara Bareilles plays Boca Raton’s Mizner Park on Saturday night on a bill with Michael Franti and Spearhead, the always barefoot social-justice singer’s dub-ska outfit. The two acts are playing as part of WRMF-97.9 FM’s annual No Sno … [Read more...]
ArtsPreview 2010-11: The season in Palm Beach art
A soundsuit by Nick Cave, at the Norton Museum of Art.(Photo by James Prinz)By Gretel SarmientoThis coming art season is to art lovers what the 24-hour gym is to procrastinators: the end of the Excuse. If you typically shy away from museums out of fear of being bored to death, don’t.There’s plenty to choose from, which means something is bound to delight … [Read more...]
Music feature: Authentic bluegrass, by way of Switzerland
Jens Kruger, Joel Landsberg and Uwe Kruger of the Kruger Brothers. By Bill Meredith The decline of major recording labels may be the most famous byproduct of the online music retail and radio booms. But another result has been the cross-pollination of genres, the categorical descriptions that were largely created for now-dwindling record stores and musical airwaves in … [Read more...]
Music feature: Wu Han prepares ‘most special’ Schubert for Four Arts
David Finckel, Wu Han and Philip Setzer.(Photo by Christian Steiner)By Greg StepanichIf Wu Han had another 50 years, she says, she might follow the traditional path of the professional piano trio: End your career with performances of the two piano trios of Franz Schubert.“As a piano trio, we’re doing it backwards,” the Taiwanese-born pianist said last week. “We’re not doing it … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: Lynn opens new concert hall; venues set 2010-11 classical series
The inside of the center.(Photo by Greg Stepanich)Lynn University on Thursday opened its new $14.9 million concert hall, adding a much-needed venue for theater and music in south Palm Beach County.The Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center, which took about 18 months to build, features a 752-seat hall with adjustable acoustic panels, a video studio, plus scene … [Read more...]