A scene from The Passenger. (Photo by Brittany Mazzurco-Muscato) Florida Grand Opera’s current production of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s Holocaust opera The Passenger is more than just a show that opera devotees and fans of the arts in general should make sure to see in its brief run this week at the Ziff Ballet Opera House. The Passenger is a milestone for FGO’s 75th season in … [Read more...]
At FAU Festival Rep: ‘She Loves Me’ sparkles, ‘Royal Family’ drags
In an effort to attract an audience to its Festival Rep, a South Florida summertime tradition for the past 17 years, Florida Atlantic University usually includes a musical as one of its two productions performed in rotating repertory. And the company of current theater students, recent graduates and a couple of professional guest artists often manages to pull off the musical … [Read more...]
‘Human Capital’ finds a thriller in the heart of the rot
Italian writer-director Paolo Virzi adapted an unusual source material for his latest film, the Academy Awards Best Foreign Language Film submission Human Capital. It’s based on an American neo-noir of the same name by Stephen Amidon, its cruel, suburban-set machinations of fate and avarice reimagined in Brianza, an upper-class enclave north of Milan. It’s here that its … [Read more...]
‘Love Is Strange’: An exquisite, realistic couple story
There are no opening credits in Ira Sachs’ new film, Love Is Strange; we just get to it. An older man who we quickly recognize as John Lithgow wakes up in the morning, crawls out of bed, takes a dutiful, glum shower, and begins what seems like an ordinary day. He can’t find his glasses, which bothers him greatly, and by the reaction of his partner, played by Alfred Molina, … [Read more...]
Violinist Lee gives Rinker audience Szymanowski, Ives to remember
The classical music world these days is replete with fine young female violinists, and one of the most promising ones I’ve heard visited the Rinker Playhouse on Feb. 17. Kristin Lee, a South Korea-born American of just 27 years who is a protégé of Itzhak Perlman, appeared in the Kravis Center’s Young Artists series, accompanied by the splendid pianist Kwan Yi. She chose a … [Read more...]
Violinist Perlman to open Festival of the Arts Boca
BOCA RATON -- Violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman will open the 8th Annual Festival of the Arts Boca in early March, festival officials said today. The legendary Israeli-born violinist is one of the best-known classical musicians in the world, and is an annual visitor to South Florida, giving three recitals this week in West Palm Beach and Miami. He also appeared twice previously … [Read more...]
For Deborah Voigt, a time of giving back and looking ahead
On Deborah Voigt’s Twitter feed, amid the family and dog pictures and shout-outs to friends, you’ll find the occasional reference to her most familiar public identity. “The women of the young artist program sang me the hojotohos!!” she writes about her late October visit to South Florida to be honored as the special guest of the Florida Grand Opera. “Hojotoho” is the cry … [Read more...]
Sundays: One tall skim latte, hold the brains
By Myles Ludwig Never met a zombie. Not likely to, either. So far, I’ve managed to ease over those gruesome speed bumps of immortality for most of my life, but now I’m surrounded by them. They’re everywhere. They’re after us, stalking our channels, our movies, even our TV commercial with their awkward stomps, leprous peeling flesh, grasping outstretched hands and an … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Aug. 2-4
Music: For most of its 25-year existence, Fort Lauderdale’s Symphony of the Americas has presented summer programs in Broward and Miami-Dade counties and abroad, particularly Panama, where conductor James Brooks-Bruzzese grew up. This weekend, it plays one of its final Summerfest concerts Saturday night at the Crest Theatre at the Delray Beach Center for the Arts. Musicians … [Read more...]
Pianist Feltsman provides poetry at Four Arts
The piano is easy to play badly, and hard to play well, and when it comes to playing well, there are a wide variety of approaches that could fit comfortably under that description. But true master pianists have one great attribute that others lack, and that’s control. When a player can control every element of his or her performance so that the interpretation comes vividly to … [Read more...]