By Márcio Bezerra Distinguished pianist Stephen Hough gave a satisfying piano recital Jan. 26 at The Society of the Four Arts. Known for his sharp intellect, in addition to his fine technical skills, Hough presented a clever program centered on two major romantic works in the key of B minor, alongside some charming salon-music numbers. He started the program with works by … [Read more...]
Legendary drummer Appice, now of LWB, to play two Vanilla Fudge shows in Boca
Before he became a western Lake Worth Beach resident, drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice (www.carmineappice.net) was part of one of the all-time great live shows in South Florida. At the venue formerly known as the Hollywood Sportatorium in 1977, the New York City native played an out-of-control concert with Rod Stewart while touring in support of the vocalist’s rocking, Tom … [Read more...]
PB Opera’s ‘Roméo et Juliette’ impresses with fine cast, lovely production
By Márcio Bezerra Palm Beach Opera launched its 63th season with a solid production of Charles Gounod’s perennial favorite Roméo et Juliette. Featuring a handsome set by Opera Utah and dazzling costumes from Opéra de Montreal, the well-attended opening night had all the right ingredients for a satisfying experience, from both dramatic and musical points of … [Read more...]
Beast Mode Trio does South Florida proud with powerful rock-jazz fusion
Power trio. It’s a tag generally applied to rock acts like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, or Rush. Piano trio. It’s a tag generally applied to jazz acts led by the likes of Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, or Chick Corea. Beast Mode Trio (beastmodetrio.com) is a South Florida collective that split the differences during its 70-minute show for a three-quarter capacity … [Read more...]
Muti and Chicago revelatory at sold-out Kravis concert
By Márcio Bezerra The revered Chicago Symphony Orchestra returned to a packed Kravis Center for the Performing Arts for an enlightening Friday evening concert. The first sold-out classical performance in a long time, it featured the Music Director Emeritus for Life Riccardo Muti, whose conducting was a veritable masterclass of technique and musicianship. The somewhat … [Read more...]
South Florida Symphony’s glittering ‘Candide’ a triumph
By Robert Croan This month, the South Florida Symphony Orchestra attempted one of its most ambitious projects to date — a semi-staged concert version of Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 operetta Candide — and came through with flying colors. The local performances (seen in Broward Center’s Au-Rene Theater on Jan. 16) were staged with endless creativity by Dan Wallace Miller, … [Read more...]
Fleming’s lovely concert hampered by visual, audio distractions
By Márcio Bezerra With more than 250 appearances at the Metropolitan Opera, five Grammy awards, the U.S. National Medal of Arts and even a national anthem performance at the Super Bowl, Renée Fleming surely deserves the title of “America’s Soprano.” Her gorgeous voice and alluring-yet-approachable stage presence were the main reasons the Kravis Center for the Performing … [Read more...]
Florida drummer’s new fusion trio comes to Boca club
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be drummers in South Florida. Miami-born Jonathan Joseph has toured and recorded with vocalists Ricky Martin and Joss Stone — two pop artists with oversized name recognition — but even that hasn’t made him a comparable star despite his own oversized technique, taste, and speed around the drum kit. The 58-year-old Port St. … [Read more...]
Curtis Symphony, soloist Chen in glorious form at Kravis
By Márcio Bezerra Among the benefits of the immigration waves of late 19th through early 20th centuries in this country was the building of classical music institutions that still benefit our society. Despite her younger age and lack of governmental support, America has some of the best orchestras, opera companies, and music schools in the world. Of those, none has a more … [Read more...]
Kavakos stellar with PB Symphony; the mics, not so much
By Márcio Bezerra The Palm Beach Symphony continued its parade of world-class performers on Dec. 10 with Leonidas Kavakos performing the Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms at the Kravis Center. It is truly remarkable that, since the arrival of conductor Gerard Schwarz, this “3.0” version of our local orchestra has been able to engage internationally acclaimed soloists … [Read more...]