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An outstanding evening from violinist James Ehnes and conductor Stéphane Denève. (Photo by Jessica Griffin/Philadelphia Orchestra)

Philadelphia Orchestra continues its celebration of John Williams

John Williams, Beethoven, and Ravel, all in good company

'Star Wars' composer John Williams offers a blend of romantic feeling and contemporary verve in his Violin Concerto. The program opened with Ravel’s airy 'Pavane for a Dead Princess,' and continued with Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.
Linda Holt

Linda Holt

Articles 4 minute read
Doctor Dulcamara (Kevin Burdette) peddles his elixir to Nemorino (Dimitri Pittas). (Photo: Kelly & Massa)

Opera Philadelphia's 'The Elixir of Love' ('L'Elisir d'Amore')

Funny and beautifully sung, but where's Donizetti?

Opera Philadelphia's production of 'The Elixir of Love' is funny and beautifully sung. What more do you want? Well, how about fidelity to the composer’s intentions?
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 2 minute read
Billy Bustamante and Jake Blouch meet on a New York City park bench in 'See What I Wanna See.' (Photo courtesy of 11th Hour Theatre Company)

'See What I Wanna See' at 11th Hour Theatre Company (first review)

Shades of 2016 in Michael John LaChiusa's 2005 musical

Objectivity goes out the window in Michael John LaChiusa's fascinating musical exploration of opposing beliefs. The music is complex and well worth our attention.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Tre-Ear (Brian Lee Huynh) and Crane Man (Graham Smith) in A Single Shard. (Photo: People's Light & Theatre Company)

'A Single Shard' at People's Light & Theatre Company

A magical visit to a magical land

An imaginative, visually rich production of Linda Sue Park’s novel, adapted by Robert Schenkkan, is a wise fable for all ages, with a talented multi-ethnic cast.
Mark Cofta

Mark Cofta

Articles 3 minute read
Alleluias for Alan Harler and his successor, Paul Rardin. (Photo: Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia)

Paul Rardin ends first season at Mendelssohn Club with "Alleluias for Alan"

Passing the baton with style

The Mendelssohn Club ends its new conductor’s first season with a salute to the English choral tradition and a pair of Alleluias for his predecessor.
Tom Purdom

Tom Purdom

Articles 4 minute read
Conductor Stéphane Denève. (Photo: SW/Uwe Ditz)

Philadelphia Orchestra Plays Williams, Debussy and Mussorgsky

Stéphane Denève, Yo-Yo Ma, and Stoki the real stars here

They came for John Williams, but stayed for this concert's excellent second half. Among its five selections, conductor Stéphane Denève led Stokowski's crowd-pleasing orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
"Walt Whitman Bridge Construction, 1955." 
(Photo: Philip Taylor)

Hand-Made Mirrors: The photography of Philip Taylor at Temple University

Reflecting Philadelphia's past in hand-made mirrors

Now 91, photographer and lithographic cameraman Philip Taylor donated his collection of documentary photos to Temple University. In them, we see a Philadelphia both long forgotten and strangely familiar.

Pamela J. Forsythe

Articles 3 minute read
What happened to Bradley Manning? (Illustration for BSR by Mike Jackson of alrightmike.com.)

Inis Nua's 'The Radicalisation of Bradley Manning'

How to bully someone into treason

The American Premiere of Tim Price's drama 'The Radicalization of Bradley Manning' tries to psychologically connect the dots from Bradley Manning's childhood and social life to Wikileaks, but doesn't fill in all the blanks.
Mark Cofta

Mark Cofta

Articles 3 minute read
Saoirse Ronan as Abigail: Beware the storm— and the wolf.

Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’ on Broadway

Shaking up a classic

The special effects in Ivo Van Hove’s stunningly radical production of The Crucible threaten to overwhelm Arthur Miller’s eloquent plea for decency and integrity.

Carol Rocamora

Articles 4 minute read
Childs: Doing standup at 90? (Photo: Mark Garvin.)

Jennifer Childs’s ‘I Will Not Go Gently’ (2nd review)

Comedy as an antidote for aging

In I Will Not Go Gently, Jennifer Childs provides plenty of laughs about aging without ever addressing the critical question: How do you do it well?
Naomi Orwin

Naomi Orwin

Articles 3 minute read