Some of the most satisfying concerts of Seraphic Fire’s now-substantial history have included the music of George Frideric Handel. In addition to its regular holiday run-throughs of the Christmas portion of the Baroque composer’s Messiah, there have been revelatory readings of his oratorio Israel in Egypt, and five years ago, a lovely reading by a chamber spinoff of some of … [Read more...]
Late review: In Grieg sonatas, Joshua Bell finds riches
The splendid American violinist Joshua Bell has been making something of a study of the three sonatas of Edvard Grieg in his regular recital tours. Although the Third Sonata is the most well-known of the three, he was very excited about the Sonata No. 2 when he took it out on a tour a few years back, as he told me during an interview at the time; he said in some ways he liked … [Read more...]
Webber review moves, touches at Plaza
By Dale King Few modern composers have been packaged, repackaged, mixed, dubbed, overdubbed, worked and reworked more than Andrew Lloyd Webber. You can probably Google him in dozens of different incarnations. But none of that compares to hearing three dynamic vocalists perform 22 of Sir Andrew’s famous and lesser-known songs on a sparsely decorated stage with just a piano as … [Read more...]
Late review: South Florida Symphony at the Crest
Editor’s note: Here is a late orchestral review from last month. Technical difficulties prevented it from being posted until now: South Florida Symphony (March 11, Crest Theatre, Delray Beach) The South Florida Symphony has had something of a rocky history over the past couple years, with short funding and repeated complaints about overdue payments to its freelance personnel. … [Read more...]
Review roundup: Confident ‘Creation,’ strong ‘Turandot,’ elegant Mozart
Here are capsule reviews of three recent classical music events: Master Chorale of South Florida (Nov. 20, Wold Center for the Performing Arts, Boca Raton) The Creation is one of Franz Joseph Haydn’s finest works, and even in the abridged version the Master Chorale of South Florida presented Saturday night, the beauty and vigor of this oratorio were well in evidence. … [Read more...]