'Let's Hang On': A composer's search for his culture

Who wrote ‘Edelweiss'? One composer's search for his cultural home

I'm an American composer with German roots that I can't shake off (and don't really want to). But I love my sweet land of liberty above all. So what defines my place in America's manufactured culture? What defines yours?

Kile Smith

Dec 11, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

Tempesta di Mare: After the Thirty Years War

Postwar celebration, c. 1650

Tempesta di Mare showcased the neglected German composers who plied their trade in the decades that followed the devastation of the Thirty Years War.

Tom Purdom

Dec 11, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Verdi's "Masked Ball' at the Met

The production that flew too close to the sun

Most critics greeted the Met's new production of A Masked Ball with praise for the singing and catcalls for the production. I'd put it the other way around.

Steve Cohen

Dec 11, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Sarah Shafer, shining new soprano

We heard her first

Which of today's Curtis students will become tomorrow's stars? In the case of the gifted and intelligent soprano Sarah Shafer, it seems obvious.

Dec 09, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra's All-Rachmaninoff concert

A musical aristocrat (in the very best sense)

The Philadelphia Orchestra plays Rachmaninoff as well as any in the world, so why not double down? A risky proposition, you might think— but if great orchestras didn't embrace risky propositions, where would Mozart and Beethoven be today?

Robert Zaller

Dec 08, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

Meiravi Quartet contemplates BartÓ³k

Why listen to BartÓ³k?

Was BartÓ³k's music about the clash of folk culture and the machine age? A new quartet added its bit to an old discussion.

Tom Purdom

Dec 04, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

AVA's "Jubilate': Religion as opera

Taking opera to church

AVA's budding opera stars added operatic flair to the school's annual foray into religious music, performing as if they'd constructed characters who were singing their pieces.

Tom Purdom

Dec 04, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

AVA's suburban "Barber of Seville'

Opera in the 'burbs: Not just another performance

Like everything else in life, opera in the suburbs can be quite different from opera downtown. And sometimes it's even better.

Steve Cohen

Nov 25, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Spanish songs by Lyric Fest (2nd review)

What musicians can learn from politicians

Four artists from the Academy of Vocal Arts sang an all-Spanish program. Given all the talk about America's growing Latin population, it's about time.

Steve Cohen

Nov 20, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra plays "Alexander Nevsky' (3rd review)

What Prokofiev wanted

The wedding of a live orchestra with the film of Alexander Nevsky may be fascinating, but Prokofiev's music really conveys more power when it stands alone, uninterrupted by long pauses for dialogue, sound effects and silent scenes.

Steve Cohen

Nov 20, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read