Music or performers? (Critic's reply)

Corbin Abernathy, of Voces Novae et Antiquae, complains in a letter that my recent review of For So The Children Come focused solely on the poet and the composer, to the neglect of the performers. He’s right, and he deserves a response.

Tom Purdom

Jan 22, 2008 · Articles · 2 minute read

Orchestra plays Bernstein and Higdon (1st review)

As the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Bernstein festival proceeds, his youthful Jeremiah Symphony, and Schumann’s Second, framed the world premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms. It’s one of the few works I’ve heard in recent years that deserves not only the occasional performance but also a place in the permanent repertory.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Bernstein Jeremiah Symphony, Schumann Second Symphony, Higdon The Singing

Robert Zaller

Jan 19, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Rain: The Beatles Experience' (2nd review)

The late lamented Beatles were introspective (or stoned) and fearful of crowds. These Beatles imitators are extroverted and determined to please the audience, which they certainly do. But what we have here is the louder sound that the public has become accustomed to since the Beatles disbanded.

Rain: The Beatles Experience. Through January 20, 2008 at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Steve Cohen

Jan 19, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Critic's alert: Catch these concerts

If you have a taste for the unusual – or for Mozart -- here are some concerts you won’t want to miss.

Dan Coren

Jan 19, 2008 · Articles · 1 minute read

The trouble with Beatles impersonators (1st review

The four performers in “Rain: The Beatles Experience” have consumed the past 20 years imitating the Fab Four on stage. At what point does a performance devolve into psychosis?

Rain: The Beatles Experience. Through January 20, 2008 at the Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. (215) 893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.

Jim Rutter

Jan 19, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra plays Higdon 'Concerto 4-3'

Could the great Leonard Bernstein possibly be upstaged at the opening night of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s “Bernstein Festival”? Such was the case with Philadelphia composer Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto 4-3, which electrified the almost-sold-out audience at Verizon Hall.

Philadelphia Orchestra. Opening program of the Bernstein Festival: Higdon Concerto 4-3; Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet overture; Bernstein West Side Story Dances

Lewis Whittington

Jan 13, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Voces Novae's "For So The Children Come'

Sophia Lyon Fahs knew what she was talking about when she said fathers and mothers “feel glory in the sight of a new life beginning.” Elizabeth Alexander’s musical adaptation was the most personally moving piece I encountered this past Christmas season.

Voces Novae et Antiquae: Alexander, For So the Children Come. Jody Applebaum, soprano; Jodi Nieman, alto; Peter de Mets, tenor. Robert A.M. Ross, conductor. Through January 6, 2008 at Fleisher Art Memorial,

Tom Purdom

Jan 13, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Piffaro's "Vespers'

Piffaro, Philadelphia’s Renaissance band, gambled a major program on a single work by one Philadelphia composer. Kile Smith gave them one of the major events of the music season.

Piffaro: Smith’s Vespers. The Crossing chorus and vocal solos, with Piffaro Renaissance instruments. Donald Nally, conductor. January 5, 2008 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Communion, 2110 Chestnut St. 215-235-8469 or www.piffaro.com.

Tom Purdom

Jan 13, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra's program gobbledygook

How, Dan Coren wonders, could the Philadelphia Orchestra’s program notes mangle the definition of a simple term like “octave” so badly? And how could they be so misguided about the nature of Mozart’s music? And haven’t you always wondered what “diatonic” and “chromatic” really mean? Read on.

Dan Coren

Jan 01, 2008 · Articles · 6 minute read

Solzhenitsyn plays Brahms

We don’t usually think of Brahms as a composer for the piano. So can an all-Brahms piano program work? Ignat Solzhenitsyn gave the answer in his Curtis Institute recital, and it was, resoundingly, yes.

Ignat Solzhenitsyn: Four piano works by Brahms. December 16, 2007 at Curtis Institute, 1726 Locust St. (215) 893-5252 or www.curtis.edu.

Robert Zaller

Dec 18, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read