Mendelssohn Quartet's farewell concert

Three ages of man, one last time

The Mendelssohn String Quartet, disbanding after 30 years, played a program of early Mendelssohn, early middle Bartok, and late Beethoven to a capacity house. Whatever the reasons for the Quartet's separation, they were in full communion for this finale. Their intimacy and feel for inner balances will be missed.

Robert Zaller

Dec 08, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Legally Blonde' in Wilmington

Do blondes have more fun? Affirmative

Legally Blonde”“ the Musical doesn't aim to be serious or exploratory, so sophisticated theatergoers might pass it by. If you do, it's your loss.

Steve Cohen

Dec 08, 2009 · Articles · 2 minute read

"Harold and the Purple Crayon' at the Prince

Imagination triumphs again

Crockett Johnson's 50-year-old paean to the childish imagination is well served here. Every kid's attention was focused raptly on the stage, thanks to a remarkable non-stop combination of music, dance, animation and puppetry.

Dan Rottenberg

Dec 07, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

Jason Reitman's "Up In the Air' (1st review)

A farewell to stereotypes

Up in the Air is that rare find nowadays, a movie for grown-ups—specifically, grown-ups who are dealing with real economic hardship in the year 2009.

Judy Weightman

Dec 05, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

"Book of Basketball' by Bill Simmons

The devil in the details

In a book of grand scope, Bill Simmons purports to resolve most of basketball's historic armchair controversies. As one who personally witnessed pro basketball's earliest days, I wish this young cub had paid closer attention to detail before claiming the mantle of ultimate authority.

Robert Liss

Dec 04, 2009 · Articles · 6 minute read

David Thomson's "Moment of Psycho'

Just imagine if he'd liked the film!

Through its first half, David Thomson's incisive study of Psycho reads almost like a novel. Then Thomson confesses that he's not all that fond of Alfred Hitchcock's horror classic, and he contends that Hitchcock himself lost interest about halfway through the film.

Andrew Mangravite

Dec 04, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

BalletX Fall Series: Three premieres

A mixed bag from BalletX

Of the three premieres offered by BalletX, Alex Ketley's mesmerizing Silt spoke volumes about the human condition. Meredith Rainey's tedious They Break felt like a walk through a museum; and Matthew Neenan's lighthearted Last of the Year left the audience laughing.

Dec 01, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Birth of the Cool': Barkley Hendricks at Pennsylvania Academy

From North Philly to Renaissance Italy

Barkley Hendricks was born in North Philly, trained at PAFA and Yale, and traveled in Italy and North Africa. The results of this unique combination of influences are on display in his retrospective, “Birth of the Cool.”

Judy Weightman

Dec 01, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

The Academy's acoustics: A forgotten treasure

Let's set the record straight: The Academy's maligned acoustics

Conventional wisdom holds that the Philadelphia Orchestra “has never had a hall worthy of its sound.” Not so. From the Orchestra's founding in 1900, the Academy of Music's acoustics drew nationwide raves from musicians, conductors, audiences and architects alike— until the Academy's stewards began tampering with it in 1960.

Steve Cohen

Dec 01, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra plays Mozart and Bruckner (2nd review)

From one extreme to another

Guest conductor Jaap van Zweden proved he could jump from the small-scale grace of Mozart to the somber massiveness of Bruckner.

Tom Purdom

Dec 01, 2009 · Articles · 2 minute read