The United States has a long, rich choral music tradition that extends from the Moravians to William Billings, from spirituals to Morten Lauridsen. And now there are a number of prominent younger composers diligently adding to this repertoire. Minnesota-based Jake Runestad, who is only 29, is among these creators, and his new cantata, The Hope of Loving, had its world premiere … [Read more...]
Miami’s Naked Stage relocating to West Palm’s Clematis Street
It has been a rough year for theater companies in Palm Beach County, with the demise of Boca Raton Theatre Guild, Women’s Theatre Project, Delray Square Performing Arts and the Plaza Theatre, as well as the move away by Slow Burn Theatre from Boca to the Broward Center. Suddenly, though, there is some positive news with the announcement that Miami’s Naked Stage Theatre Co. is … [Read more...]
Miami Summer Music Festival bounces back from no-show with high spirits, strong Mahler
The opening concert of the second-ever season of the Miami Summer Music Festival opened in good news-bad news fashion, with the worst intelligence coming at the very start: No Deborah Voigt. The celebrated soprano, who was to open the season Saturday night at Barry University’s Shepard Broad Performing Arts Center, begged off, citing stomach flu and promising to appear for … [Read more...]
Fine Orff, messy presentation from Master Chorale
Everything about the Master Chorale of South Florida looked professional until the concert began at the Wold Performing Arts Center of Lynn University on Feb. 22. A choir member took the mic to appeal for funds: What the funds were used for was not explained. Better to capture the names and addresses of the packed audience and mail out an appeal and tell the people why. Next, … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Aug. 17-18
Film: So many films claim to be “based on a true story,” and Lee Daniels’ The Butler is one that bases itself very loosely on the biography of Eugene Allen, an African-American who served presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan. From his lofty perch in the White House, he had a unique view of the evolving civil rights situation in the country, and that is the heart of this … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Nov. 3-4
Film: Melanie Lynskey: You may have seen her in supporting roles in such movies as Up in the Air, Win Win or Perks of Being a Wallflower, but she finally gets a leading role in an independent film worth your attention called Hello, I Must Be Going, a Sundance Festival favorite that plays the Mos’Art Theatre in Lake Park this week. Lynskey is the reason to see the flick, which … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2012-13: The Broward-Miami art scene
The visual arts season in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties is as contradictory as ever, refusing to be slotted into any tidy categories. The art soon pouring into museums and galleries gives as much attention to the natural world as it does to the imagined and synthetic realms, and shows by venerable artists open concurrently with exhibits introducing the newly minted and … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2012-13: New leadership at MCB raises dance stakes
Although Ballet Florida is now long-gone, the world of South Florida dance is seeing other big changes, most notably the arrival at Miami City Ballet of a new director following the sidelining and then departure of the company’s founder, Edward Villella. But there are small, scrappy companies hereabouts making their marks in the dance world, and the major area venues are … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: March 10-14
Festival of the Arts Boca: The operatic world, unlike what many casual observers may think, is flush with youthful activity, as young singers try to scale the heights of musical Parnassus and see the stages of the world. Last night, the Boca Symphonia performed the soundtrack of the 1942 classic Casablanca with a showing of the film, but tonight the orchestra and conductor … [Read more...]
Miami City Ballet bringing varied dance quartet to Kravis
For three weeks about three months ago, the Miami City Ballet played Paris to loud, raucous standing ovations. One lasted a full 10 minutes, according to founding artistic director Edward Villella. To Villella, and many of his dancers, this was a defining point in his career. One of the programs that brought down the house at the Paris Opera will be performed Friday at the … [Read more...]