Chestnut Brass turns 30

The globetrotting Grammy winner that resurrected the special sound of 19th-Century brass instruments returns to the city of its origin for a 30th anniversary celebration.

Chestnut Brass Company: Works by Praetorius, Weber, Morton, Rossini, Clark, Conner, Foster, Gershwin, Berlin, Vierk, Schickele, Krzywicki, Higdon. Bruce Barrie and John Charles Thomas, trumpets; Marian Hesse, horn; Larry Zimmerman, trombone; Jay Krush, tuba. February 18, 2008 at Ethical Society, 1906 S. Ritte

Tom Purdom

Feb 26, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

The tango and young musicians

Can a pair of tangos tell us something about the direction of our culture? You don’t need Rudolf Valentino when musicians play the tango the way Mimi Stillman and Astral’s young artists play it.

Dolce Suono: Piazzolla, Canto un Tango. Mimi Stillman, flute; Allan Krantz, guitar. February 13, 2008 at First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St. (267) 252-1803 or www.dolcesuono.org.

As

Tom Purdom

Feb 26, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Orchestra plays Mozart and Strauss

How could you expect Mozart's greatest symphony to make sense as an opener, in the shadow of an imposing mountain journey? In the hands of Charles Dutoit and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Jupiter has never sounded so insignificant. But Strauss’s Alpine Symphony was fantastic.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Mozart, Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter); Strauss, An Alpine Symphony. Charles Dutoit, conductor. Feb. 21-23, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (2

Be'eri Moalem

Feb 23, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra's 2008-09 season

Charles Dutoit announces a new Orchestra season that achieves levels of stodginess unheard of in Philadelphia since the reign of Eugene Ormandy. The Chamber Orchestra may offer better alternatives.

Dan Coren

Feb 23, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Opera Company's "Cyrano' (4th review)

David DiChiera’s Cyrano succeeds if you’re satisfied with an opera that uses music to tell a story. But it sacrifices the quixotic character who first stirred my adolescent soul.

Cyrano. Opera by David DiChiera (music) and Bernard Uzan (libretto). Opera Company of Philadelphia production through February 17, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 732-8400 or www.operaphilly.com.

Tom Purdom

Feb 19, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Opera Company's "Cyrano' (3rd review)

David DiChiera’s Cyrano is a charming opera, with music that’s pleasantly melodic but not immediately memorable. Don’t expect a masterpiece and you’ll have a good time.

Cyrano. Opera by David DiChiera (music) and Bernard Uzan (libretto). Opera Company of Philadelphia production through February 17, 2008 at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 732-8400 or www.operaphilly.com.

Steve Cohen

Feb 16, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Gilbert leads the Orchestra (3rd review)

Ten years ago, when he was a student, I concluded that Alan Gilbert possesses the basic qualities a conductor should posses. With one qualification, I stand by that assessment.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Hillborg Exquisite Corpse; Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion; Nielsen Second Symphony. Emanuel Ax and Yoko Nozaki, piano; Alan Gilbert, conductor. February 7-9, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or

Tom Purdom

Feb 16, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Johannes Quartet at Seaport Museum

The Johannes Quartet’s playing is almost scientifically accurate. Their rhythmic precision, intonation and adherence to the score is remarkable. You could call it the Robert Bork/errand boy approach to music: Just follow the composer’s orders, literally.

Johannes Quartet: Bartok Quartet No. 4; 
Beethoven Quartet in F Minor, Op. 95 (Serioso); 
Salonen, Quartet;
 Mendelssohn Quartet in D Major, Op. 44, No. 1. February 13, 2008 at Independence Sea

Be'eri Moalem

Feb 16, 2008 · Articles · 6 minute read

Gilbert conducts the Orchestra (2nd review)

The Orchestra’s February 9 program looked a bit scary even for me, a composer and lover of new music. But this concert turned my expectations upside down.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Hillborg Exquisite Corpse; Bartok Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion; Nielsen Second Symphony. Emanuel Ax and Yoko Nozaki, piano; Alan Gilbert, conductor. February 7-9, 2008 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org

Be'eri Moalem

Feb 12, 2008 · Articles · 6 minute read

Opera Company's "Cyrano' (2nd review)

David DiChiera’s Cyrano is still an operatic work-in-progress. It deserves a future life if only for its lofty ambitions.

Lewis Whittington

Feb 12, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read