Yannick and the Orchestra (2nd review)

A child shall lead them, or: 'You've got to see this guy conduct!'

Yannick Nézet-Séguin's childlike enthusiasm transformed his post-appointment debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra into one of the most joyous nights of music making I've ever seen or heard.

Dan Coren

Oct 31, 2010 · Articles · 5 minute read

Dolce Suono plays Danielpour's trio

Danielpour remembers his roots

Dolce Suono premieres a new trio by Richard Danielpour that successfully navigates the rocky territory where art meets politics.

Tom Purdom

Oct 31, 2010 · Articles · 4 minute read

Yannick and the Orchestra: So far, so good (1st review)

Yannick, the hopeful one

In his first test since his appointment, music director-designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin's rhythmic freedom and steady pulse gave the Philadelphia Orchestra the confidence to bloom a bit more than usual.

Oct 30, 2010 · Articles · 3 minute read

Lyric Fest's tribute to Barber's songs

Samuel Barber, songster

Samuel Barber liked to sing, but his songs are often given short shrift. Lyric Fest ably presented the most extensive look at his song output most of us will ever encounter.

Oct 26, 2010 · Articles · 1 minute read

Piffaro's 1616 baptism and ballet

Once upon a time, in Stuttgart

Piffaro's historical productions can't create a full reproduction of the events they're based on. But this simulation of a 17th-Century royal baptism provided some sense of the way their music felt when it was part of the day-to-day life of the court and the street.

Tom Purdom

Oct 26, 2010 · Articles · 4 minute read

Met “Boris Godunov” and its critics

Boris, we hardly knew ye (until now)

The Met's new production of Boris Godunov has been criticized because it's so long. Nonsense. At last we have a restoration of this epic of Russian history as Pushkin put it in words and as Mussorgsky transcribed it into music theater.

Steve Cohen

Oct 23, 2010 · Articles · 5 minute read

The Met's "Das Rheingold' in HD-Live (2nd review)

Here's the gold. Where's the magic?

Das Rheingold scored only a middling success when I saw its live transmission in High Definition. The staging looked expensive but failed to achieve the magic of Lepage's earlier productions.

Steve Cohen

Oct 23, 2010 · Articles · 3 minute read

Philadelphia Harp Music Festival

Crowded program, empty pews

The Philadelphia HarpMusicFest presents able musicians playing attractive programs. All it needs is an audience.

Tom Purdom

Oct 19, 2010 · Articles · 3 minute read

Philadelphia Singers' all-American concert

When composers confront technology

The Philadelphia Singers' new emphasis on American choral music wisely exploits conductor David Hayes's conviction and understanding.

Tom Purdom

Oct 19, 2010 · Articles · 4 minute read

Yo-Yo Ma at the Kimmel (1st review)

Ma's middle-aged crisis, or: Brahms, where is thy sting?

Yo-Yo Ma delivered beautiful tone but neither bite nor flashes of anger in his confusingly bland Brahms. Brahms wants his Sonata No. 1 to both shout and whisper; Ma chose to sit comfortably somewhere in between.

Oct 19, 2010 · Articles · 3 minute read