Chamber Orchestra spotlights McGill and Mackey

If Mozart used Twitter

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia paired the rising young clarinetist Anthony McGill with a world premiere by Steven Mackey, whose career straddles the worlds of rock and the Big Five orchestras.

Tom Purdom

Feb 14, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Dolce Suono: Mahler and Schoenberg

The not-so-odd couple

Mahler the traditionalist and Schoenberg the atonal apostate actually liked and respected each other. But at this concert, Shulamit Ran's Moon Songs spoke to me above all.

Tom Purdom

Feb 07, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Tempesta di Mare's "Italians in Vienna'

When Italy conquered Austria

Tempesta di Mare's “Italians in Vienna” raises an interesting question: Who was greater— Vivaldi, or the Hapsburg Emperor Leopold I? Tempesta di Mare: “Italians in Vienna.” Vivaldi, Concerto for Two Flutes in C, and Perche son molli; Caldara, Concerto for Cello in D Minor; Parsile, Le sofferte; Jommelli, Trio No. 6 for Two Flutes and Cello in D; Fux, Trio Sonata in A; Badia, La Fenice. Michael Maniaci, soprano; Emlyn Ngai, concertmaster. February 4, 2012 at Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St. (215) 755-8776 or www.tempestadimare.org.

Tom Purdom

Feb 07, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Verdi's "Oberto' by AVA

Before Verdi was Verdi

Verdi demonstrated amazing talent in this first effort, staged when he was 26 years old. Credit AVA's Christofer Macatsoris for beating Muti and Levine to the punch.

Steve Cohen

Feb 06, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

Nicola Luisotti leads the Orchestra

Leaping Luisotti, or: The return of the hyperkinetic conductor

Guest conductor Nicola Luisotti opened his debut performance with the Philadelphia Orchestra with the hokiest of Stokowski's Bach transcriptions. More substance emerged in the Shostakovich Violin Concerto and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, but Luisotti's podium antics didn't enhance his otherwise straightforward readings.

Robert Zaller

Feb 04, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

Leila Josefowicz at the Perelman

Unexpected pleasures

From de Falla to John Adams, the violinist Leila Josefowicz explored the world beyond the standard repertoire. I ended up getting my biggest satisfactions from the three pieces I had least looked forward to.

Tom Purdom

Jan 31, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra 2001 at Trinity Center

What inspires composers?

Orchestra 2001 ranged across the spectrum of modern musical styles, with the usual hits and misses, depending on your personal biases.

Tom Purdom

Jan 31, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Peter Serkin at Curtis

A family affair at Curtis

Beethoven's sublime Diabelli Variations, one of the summits of Western art, capped Peter Serkin's benefit recital at the Curtis Institute, his alma mater. With family members both in attendance and on the program, it was in every sense a successful homecoming.

Robert Zaller

Jan 31, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Nézet-Séguin conducts Mahler (2nd review)

Yannick's first big test

Yannick Nézet-Séguin returned to his new Orchestra on a flying visit but with a weighty load: Mahler's titanic Sixth Symphony, which shared the program with Bach's Fifth Brandenburg Concerto. The lightly scored Bach was a bit swamped in Verizon Hall's cavernous spaces, but Mahler's mightiest score amply filled it in a disciplined and expressive reading.

Robert Zaller

Jan 28, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Nézet-Séguin contemplates Mahler (1st review)

Yannick channels Stokowski (not to mention Mahler)

Yannick Nézet-Séguin sees next year's Philadelphia orchestra season as a homage to Stokowski's centennial here. But Yannick may be even gutsier than Stokowski in some respects. Consider his exuberant embrace of a Mahler work that Stokie avoided.

Steve Cohen

Jan 28, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read