Boreyko conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra

The Russian conductor Andrey Boreyko brought an interestingly offbeat program to town, as well as a somewhat wayward beat of his own. Boreyko’s gyrations were so distracting that I had to avert my eyes in the end to hear the music.

Philadelphia Orchestra. Andrey Boreyko, conductor; Piotr Anderszewski, piano. April 12-14, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Broad and Spruce Sts. (215) 893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Robert Zaller

Apr 17, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Beaux Arts Trio plays Schubert and Shostakovich

The opening of Schubert’s Notturno did everything it’s supposed to; the opening of Shostakovich’s Second Piano Trio didn’t. You can’t play Shostakovich’s music if you can’t work your way into the tensions that harry a creative artist trapped in a society dominated by the tragedies of war and the whims of a capricious tyrant.

Beaux Arts Trio: Schubert Notturno, Shostakovich Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Turnage A Slow Pav

Tom Purdom

Apr 10, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

Philomel and Piffaro do the Hapsburgs and Louis XI

Most history texts will tell you the Hapsburgs married their way to the top. But how many historians could play the music composed for one of those marriages?

Philomel: “The Princess and the Flea: A New Look at Music and Manners in the Court of Louis XIV.” March 23, 2007 at Christ Church, Second and Market Sts. (215) 487-2344 or www.philomel.org.

Piffaro and Parthena: Music by Or

Tom Purdom

Apr 10, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Lucinda Williams discovered (belatedly)

Discovering the singer Lucinda Williams has exerted an Elvis-like impact on this classical critic’s musical taste. Although her latest album, West, is disappointing, Williams remains an extraordinary creative force: the thinking person’s country/rock star.

Dan Coren

Apr 05, 2007 · Articles · 6 minute read

Abramovic and Stillman at Bach Festival

Charles Abramovic soothed most of my biases in favor of historical instruments when he accompanied flutist Mimi Stillman during the Bach festival. I don’t make a fuss about the instrumentation when music of this quality is played by musicians of this caliber, with a full understanding of the issues raised by modern instruments.

Bach Works for Flute. Mimi Stillman, flute; Charles Abramovic, piano. March 17, 2007 at First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street.

Tom Purdom

Mar 31, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

AVA's "Jubilate!'

An unexpected bit of jubilation opens Jubilate!, the annual program of religious music presented by the Academy of Vocal Arts. But the finale raises questions. Can we listen to a contemporary song about the Second Coming in the same way we listen to a 19th-Century setting of the Latin Mass?

Jubilate!: Rossini’s Stabat Mater, other works. AVA Resident Artists soloists, New Jersey MasterChoir, David Anthony Lofton conductor. March 11, 2007 at Chu

Tom Purdom

Mar 22, 2007 · Articles · 5 minute read

Eschenbach's last hurrah

After a season marked by staid and timid programming, Christoph Eschenbach is going out in 2007-08 with a spectacular blend of tradition and novelty. With Charles Dutoit in the wings, apparently poised to take the Orchestra back to the musical equivalent of the Eisenhower administration, I fear next season may be the last Orchestra season like this for a long time.

Dan Coren

Mar 19, 2007 · Articles · 3 minute read

AVA's 'Vanessa'

As a great American opera, Vanessa deserves to be overshadowed by Porgy and Bess. But AVA’s production offered outstanding voices, direction and piano accompaniment.

Vanessa. By Samuel Barber and Gian Carlo Menotti. Presented February 23-27, 2007 by Academy of Vocal Arts at Helen Corning Warden Theater, 1920 Spruce St. (215) 735-1685 or www.avaopera.com.

Steve Cohen

Mar 18, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra 2001 and New Philadelphia Classical Symphony

Do these settings add anything to the poems? In this case, the answer is a definite yes. Luis Prado’s music has the same impact as a reading by a good actor.

Orchestra 2001: Kim, Three Poems in French; Prado, Two Poems of Joan Hutton Landis (Jodie Karin Applebaum. Soprano). Ligeti, Violin Concerto (Jennifer Koh, violin, James Freeman, conductor). February 25, 2007 AT Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St. (215) 922-2190 or

Tom Purdom

Mar 13, 2007 · Articles · 7 minute read

Orchestra plays Shostakovich and Mozart

Ingo Metzmacher’s eclectic program with the Philadelphia Orchestra included a radiant performance of Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto with Gil Shaham, and a welcome if not fully idiomatic reading of Shostakovich’s long-suppressed Fourth Symphony.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Weber Overture to Der Freischütz; Mozart Violin Concerto No. 5; Shostakovich Symphony No. 4. Ingo Metzmacher, conductor; Gil Shaham, violin. March 8-10, 2007 at Verizon Hall

Robert Zaller

Mar 13, 2007 · Articles · 6 minute read