What was Mozart thinking?

Throughout his life Mozart remained basically clueless when it came to understanding other people’s musical capabilities or perceptions. Beethoven’s struggles endowed him with empathy for the lesser musicians who performed his pieces. But was Mozart capable of intentionally writing an easy piece? I don’t think so.

Dan Coren

Dec 19, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

Peter Serkin at Perelman

Peter Serkin isn't a pianist for all seasons or tastes. But he gives a master class on musical style through the centuries, with Beethoven’s mightiest sonata as both pivot and climax.

Peter Serkin: Piano recital. December 12 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, (215) 569-8080 or www.philadelphiachambermusic.org.

Robert Zaller

Dec 16, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

OCP's "Cinderella' (third review)

Who cares if this tacky popcorn fired and misfired with its overdone Formica accents? Vocally (and orchestrally) it was as solid as Florentine marble.

La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Opera by Gioacchino Rossini. Directed by Davide Livermore; conductor Corrado Rovaris. Opera Company of Philadelphia production through November 19, 2006, at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. 215-893-3600 or www.operaphilly.com.

Lewis Whittington

Dec 12, 2006 · Articles · 2 minute read

AVA's "Barber of Seville'

Some fine voices revive the ancient craft of vibrato. But does The Barber of Seville need a complicated exposition through unorthodox staging? Or does that clutter matters unnecessarily?

Il Barbieri di Seviglia (The Barber of Seville). Opera by Gioacchino Rossini; directed by Kay Walker Castaldo. Academy of Vocal Arts production through December 2, 2006 at Centennial Hall (Haverford College) and Commerce Bank Arts Centre. 215 735-1685 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 02, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

OCP's 'Cinderella' (2nd review)

Rossini didn't take it seriously, So why should the Opera Company?

Close your eyes and you’ll love the sound of this production. Open your eyes and you may not. Mostly, I liked it. The cast is one of the most even, most competent the OCP has presented in recent years.

La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Opera by Gioacchino Rossini. Directed by Davide Livermore; conductor Corrado Rovaris. Opera Company of Philadelphia production through November 19, 2006, at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. 215-893-3600 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 02, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Orchestra's Shostakovich/Mahler bill

Conductor Christoph Eschenbach and soloist Alisa Wellerstein were looking over their shoulders in Verizon Hall the other night— and so were Mahler and Shostakovich.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Shostakovich First Cello Concerto with Alisa Wallerstein; Mahler Fourth Symphony; Christoph Eschenbach conducting. November 24, 2006 at Verizon Hall. Broad and Spruce Sts. 215-893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Robert Zaller

Dec 02, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

OCP's 'Cinderella' (2nd review)

Close your eyes and you’ll love the sound of this production. Open your eyes and you may not. Mostly, I liked it. The cast is one of the most even, most competent the OCP has presented in recent years.

La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Opera by Gioacchino Rossini. Directed by Davide Livermore; conductor Corrado Rovaris. Opera Company of Philadelphia production through November 19, 2006, at Academy of Music, Broad and Locust Sts. 215-893-3600 or

Steve Cohen

Dec 02, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Natalie Zhu plays Mussorgsky

Even in the thoroughbred world of concert pianists, very few have what it takes to play the piano version of "Pictures at an Exhibition" in concert. But Natalie Zhu took the piece beyond virtuosity to something approaching the mystical.

Natalie Zhu, piano recital. November 15, 2006, at Fleisher Art Memorial. Presented by Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, (215) 569-8080 or www.philadelphiachambermusic.org.

Dan Coren

Nov 22, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

Opera Company's 'Cinderella' (1st review)

The Opera Company has updated Rossini’s 1817 farce to the 1950s, with multi-screen pop-art images that should appeal to all those 21st-Century multi-taskers in the audience. The problem is that most of the farcical elements are pointless. The production is redeemed not by its gimmicks but by the sonorous tenor voice of Lawrence Brownlee as Prince Ramiro.

Cinderella. Opera by Gioacchino Rossini. Directed by Davide Livermore; conductor Corrado Rovaris. Opera Comp

Dan Rottenberg

Nov 14, 2006 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra sans Muti

The Orchestra's heralded Muti concerts went on without Muti, but Neeme Järvi proved a most capable replacement. What he lacked in hair power, Järvi made up for in maestro-strokes, eliciting forceful elegance from the full orchestra.

Philadelphia Orchestra. November 2, 2006 concert at Kimmel Center, Verizon Hall, Broad and Spruce Sts. 215-893-1900 or www.philorch.org.

Lewis Whittington

Nov 08, 2006 · Articles · 1 minute read