Victoria Livengood first discovered the power of Gian-Carlo Menotti’s opera The Consul as an 18-year-old student at the University of North Carolina. Having received a full vocal scholarship after auditioning for the choir to fill an hour elective in what was supposed to be a pre-law curriculum, she came home to Thomasville one weekend to show her parents the first song she’d … [Read more...]
FAU’s Kultur Festival celebrates Jewish culture through the arts
Aaron Kula put the finishing touches on his final composition for the sixth annual Kultur Festival concert — called 2nd Avenue Jazz’n Jive — 30 minutes before a reporter arrived to talk to him. The concert, performed by the Klezmer Company Orchestra (KCO), is the centerpiece of the eight-day festival at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, which celebrates Jewish … [Read more...]
Seraphic Fire concert shows greatness of American choral foundation
There’s something profoundly satisfying about hearing early American choral music, even if the listener doesn’t identify with the white Protestant tradition that informs it. Drawing on the modes of the British Isles and harmonized in a plain-lumber, honest-nails fashion, it speaks to our national history in a way that calls up images of hardworking, straightforward people in … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: April 7-10
Theater: Fresh from its Carbonell win for the best production of a play in 2011 (All My Sons), Palm Beach Dramaworks opens its first foray into the works of South Africa’s Athol Fugard, Master Harold … and the boys, the first of what producing director William Hayes expects will be an annual exploration of plays on the theme of racial conflict. Written in the midst of his … [Read more...]
Lynn Phil’s Mozart, Mahler mark important step forward
Since the Florida Philharmonic’s disappearance eight years ago, the local listener’s need for big orchestral ensembles has been filled by guest orchestras from outside Florida or overseas, the New World Symphony orchestral academy in Miami Beach, and the larger college groups such as the Frost Symphony at the University of Miami. Although Palm Beach County has several fine … [Read more...]
Kravis’ 2011-12 season features fare for low, high brows
You’ve heard of the three Bs -- Bach, Brahms and Beethoven? Well, the Kravis Center has announced that next season it will present the three Ls -- Larry the Cable Guy, Larry King and a tribute show called Elvis Lives. Uh, didn’t the Kravis used to be a center for the performing arts? The West Palm Beach complex will be celebrating its 20th anniversary season beginning this … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Oct. 8-11
Theater: Palm Beach Dramaworks opens its new season by continuing to take the high road, giving its audience “theater to think about,” the triangular comedy Candida by the all-too-rarely produced in South Florida George Bernard Shaw. Kim Cozort stars in the title role, the wife of a “moralist and windbag” reverend, who attracts the romantic attentions of a young, blithering … [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...]
Lynn Phil opens season with strong Prokofiev
You can't get a majority of people to like Schoenberg, it seems, even 100 years later, but that should not obscure the main impression left Saturday night by the Lynn Philharmonia -- that this is an orchestra that keeps going from strength to strength. The Lynn orchestra, like all such student groups, has a continually changing roster, but the ensemble's quality has grown … [Read more...]