A compelling reading of an important 20th-century organ concerto was a highlight Sunday afternoon (Nov. 23) of the opening concert of the 2025-26 season by The Symphonia, an event that made the most of its strings-only makeup with interesting repertoire choices. The concert, held at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church right behind Mizner Park in Boca Raton, was led by the chamber … [Read more...]
The season in classical music, 2025-26: New and familiar faces on tap for robust concert offerings
Although the upcoming season in classical music does not resemble in breadth of offerings the South Florida seasons of 30 or even 20 years ago, its core, centered around a few key venues, has remained solid and reliably compelling. The same is true of the 2025-26 season, which sees the return of major orchestras and soloists on tour, and absorbing offerings from homegrown … [Read more...]
Dead tribute band Crazy Fingers teams with Boca Symphonia for free concert
As the year 1970 approached, an up-and-coming British hard rock band called Deep Purple had a crazy idea. With a soaring new vocalist in Ian Gillan and a bassist/producer in Roger Glover replacing Rod Evans and Nick Simper, respectively, even fans forget that the new lineup’s first release wasn’t its 1970 breakthrough studio album Deep Purple in Rock. Rather, it was the … [Read more...]
2023-24 Season in Classical: Season looks abundant across genres and venues
Even with the loss of one orchestra’s Palm Beach County concerts (the Atlantic Classical Orchestra, which will stick to Stuart and Vero Beach this time around), the upcoming classical season is hard to complain about, with its roster of major ensembles and performers, several world premieres, and a deep lineup of compelling music across the genre spectrum. Here’s how that … [Read more...]
Symphonia’s opener not very fiery, but Cárdenes offers excellent Mozart
By Dennis D. Rooney The Symphonia opened its new season at St. Andrew’s School’s Roberts Auditorium on Nov. 13 with a program that featured guest conductor Andrés Cárdenes, who was also the soloist in the program’s final selection, Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 (in A, K. 219), which has the nickname “Turkish” due to an A minor episode in the finale that emulates Janissary … [Read more...]
Strong Britten, confident Beethoven distinguish Symphonia concert
By Dennis D. Rooney In January, I reviewed the second concert of The Symphonia’s 17th season, conducted by Andrés Cárdenas. At that time, I noted tonal imbalance among the string choirs, with the violins sounding astringent. Sunday’s concert at Boca Raton's St. Andrews School (the third of the season), heard from an identical seat in Roberts Auditorium, offered dull … [Read more...]
Festival of the Arts Boca set for live return
By Dale King The big tent that covers the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton is back in place. The newly painted stage doors are prepared to open shortly to ignite nearly a dozen evenings of dancing, music and speeches by famed lecturers and authors. Food booths vending hot dogs, beer, soda and other audience snacks are ready to go. The 16th Annual Festival of the … [Read more...]
Cárdenes leads Symphonia in substantive string concert
By Dennis D. Rooney A modest audience, socially distanced, heard a program Jan. 8 of Paganini, Vivaldi and Schubert played by 25 members of The Symphonia under the direction of Andrés Cárdenes, the co-founder and artistic and music director of the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival of Miami, a program geared toward educating young musicians. He is also on the faculty of … [Read more...]
Season Preview 2021-22: The season in classical music
The classical season looks mostly normal this year, with COVID protocols in place and venues opening back up. There are a host of major artists and groups coming to the county this year, from established veterans to exciting new talents. Although some usual season players are missing as of this writing (the Flagler Museum has not yet said whether its chamber music series … [Read more...]
Arts briefs: Symphonia taps Willis as chief conductor
BOCA RATON — Grammy-nominated conductor Alastair Willis has been named principal conductor and artistic adviser of The Symphonia Boca Raton. Willis has been a guest conductor with The Symphonia for the past several seasons. He also served as principal conductor for the orchestra’s “New Directions” concert series in 2019. He also is music director of the South … [Read more...]