Capanna and Maneval works at Curtis

The sonata today: Dull copy, lively music

The differences between Robert Capanna and Philip Maneval demonstrated, once again, the difference between the music that composers turn out today and the academic music that audiences endured for too many years of the 20th Century.

Tom Purdom

Jun 17, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Michael Ching's "Slaying the Dragon'

Can't we all just get along?

Michael Ching's Slaying the Dragon, based on the true story of a friendship between a Ku Klux Klansman and a rabbi, generates plenty of good feelings. But it lacks the essential ingredient in opera: dramatic conflict.

Steve Cohen

Jun 17, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Spratlan's "Hesperus' by Network for New Music and The Crossing

Spratlan's afterlife, with a dash of irony

For Hesperus Is Phosphorous, Lewis Spratlan created musical settings of three witty prose vignettes on the afterlife taken from Sum, an odd little international bestseller by the neuroscientist David Eagleman.

Tom Purdom

Jun 11, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Il Postino' by Center City Opera

Is there a Hispanic in the house?

Center City Opera Theater has launched an ambitious initiative to mount Hispanic opera productions. It got off to a good start this month with Daniel Catán's Il Postino. Just one quibble: Il Postino isn't very Hispanic. Il Postino. Opera by Daniel Catán; conducted by Andrew M. Kurtz; Leland Kimball directed. Center City Opera Company production May 17-20, 2012 at Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut St. (215) 238-1555 or www.operatheater.org.

Steve Cohen

May 26, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Of composers and bridges

Imagining early music: What I've learned by crossing bridges

Once no bridges crossed the Delaware River; now 120 do. There's a lesson here for composers like me, since we build bridges all the time.

Kile Smith

May 22, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Tempesta di Mare's survival formula

Thriving through 9/11 and recession too: Secrets of musical survival

Tempesta di Mare finished its celebration of its successful completion of ten full seasons— an achievement based on its founders' application of a secret formula, known to a select few.

Tom Purdom

May 22, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Tempesta di Mare's tenth birthday festival

Tenths for Tempesta's Tenth

For its tenth anniversary, Tempesta di Mare demonstrated that the Baroque repertoire is so rich and varied that you can assemble two meaty concerts even when you limit your selections with a gimmicky rule invented for a special occasion.

Tom Purdom

May 15, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Vox Ama Deus plays Beethoven

A new way to hear Beethoven

Why would a small ensemble like Vox Ama Deus take on two pieces normally reserved for major orchestras? For a very good reason, it turns out.

Tom Purdom

May 15, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Chestnut Street Singers and the "Midnight Sun'

Amateurs in the best sense

Philadelphia's newest volunteer chorus consists of 14 voices without a leader, a payroll or any accompaniment. This month they demonstrated that they're up to the challenge.

Tom Purdom

May 08, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Back to the future: Youth and the Orchestra

Back to the Orchestra's future: One musician's story

As the Philadelphia Orchestra's audience dwindles, much has been written about the need to reach out to young audiences. But how exactly does this process work? Let me demonstrate the long-range effect of vigorous youth music programs on a single individual: me.

Clarence Faulcon

May 06, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read