She opened the New York Philharmonic's current season with an infrequently heard song cycle by Olivier Messiaen, and her newest album is a collection of rarities from the verismo composers of the late 19th century. One of the best things about Renée Fleming is her fondness for fresh, interesting repertoire, and the soprano offered ample evidence of this side of her art as she … [Read more...]
Boca Symphonia, violinist make good case for Rorem concerto
There has been no shortage during the past century of American composers who have been willing to write violin concertos. But there has been a dearth of conductors and orchestras who have been willing to turn those concertos into repertory pieces (or at least try). A tip of the hat, then, to Alexander Platt and the Boca Raton Symphonia, who did their bit Sunday afternoon for … [Read more...]
Butcher exhibit at Boca offers insight into our wild places
Many of us may never wade into the alligator- and snake-infested swamps of South Florida or hike into the mountain wildernesses of the West. But through Clyde Butcher’s photographs, we can get a feeling of what we would see and of the great beauty that awaits in our natural environment. Through November 8, visitors to the Boca Raton Museum of Art can vicariously travel from … [Read more...]
Boca club owner hangs on, testifying for the blues
It’s never been easy playing and singing the blues, especially here in South Florida, at the extreme southern end of America. The last couple years have been unkind to area blues fans. First, Musicians Exchange co-founder and blues champion Don Cohen died. Then the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, the finest blues venue in South Florida, closed indefinitely. The all-genre concert … [Read more...]