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

Guide to Philadelphia music groups

These days Philadelphia abounds in serious music groups. How is a music lover of limited time and budget supposed to sort them out? Our highly opinionated critic, Tom Purdom, takes a stab at that challenge in the guide that follows. Bookmark this guide, or print it out and stick it on your refrigerator for quick reference, and your musical life is likely to become infinitely richer.

Tom Purdom

Mar 11, 2007 · Articles · 20 minute read

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

Riccardo Chailly and his Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra were in fine form in a program that juxtaposed sunny early Schumann and conflicted mid-period Mahler. Chailly represents the sterner European ethic, which asks performers and listeners alike to put in their time, and so we got a gracious plenty.

Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra performs Schumann and Mahler. Riccardo Chailly conducting. March 4, 2007 at Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center

Robert Zaller

Mar 06, 2007 · Articles · 4 minute read

A composer's education

As a child, I thought of music making as a very private, intimate activity that gave me comfort and a sense of all being right with the world. As an adult, I’m still struggling to shake off that notion and move on to a more mature sharing of ideas through music.

Lloyd Smith

Mar 06, 2007 · Articles · 7 minute read