Pay to play on the Kimmel's organ

Contrary to what you read in the Inquirer, the Kimmel's "Pay to Play" organ event was no mere public-relations exercise. It was a showcase for a serious but often disrespected constituency: organists and composers of organ music.

Dan Coren

Jun 03, 2006 · Articles · 7 minute read

The Kimmel organ's debut

It was a pleasure to find a full and enthusiastic house at a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. But it took a novelty act to do it. The Kimmel organ’s debut concert itself was a sedate affair, notwithstanding the Gallic charm of Olivier Latry.

Philadelphia Orchestra. Christoph Eschenbach conducting, Olivier Latry, organist. May 11-13, 2006. at Kimmel Center. www.philorch.org.

Dan Coren

May 29, 2006 · Articles · 5 minute read

OCP's 'Marriage of Figaro'

Due to budget constraints, the new watchword at the Opera Company of Philadelphia is “conservative.” That’s a blessing for some operas— like this Mozart masterpiece— that simply need to be held up to the light.

The Marriage of Figaro. By Mozart; Opera Company of Philadelphia production directed by Robert Driver, conducted by Corrado Rovaris. May 5-21, 2006, at Academy of Music, (215) 893-3600 or www.operaphilly.com.

Daniel Webster

May 22, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Penn's student orchestra shines

Yet another surprising source of good symphonic music— this from students who don’t even attend a conservatory.

Penn Symphony Orchestra. Brad Smith, conductor. At Irvine Auditorium, April 23, 2006. www.sas.upenn.edu/music.

Dan Coren

Apr 26, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Why I canceled my Orchestra subscription

The Philadelphia Orchestra has never sounded better. Nevertheless, after scrutinizing our Friday “B” Orchestra series for 2006-07 and the competing Kimmel series schedule, we had to decide if the Orchestra was really worth more than $800 of our disposable income.

Dan Coren

Apr 26, 2006 · Articles · 7 minute read

Curtis Opera's 'Albert Herring'

Britten's serio-comic work blossoms when presented with the care that Curtis musicians manage to wrap and deliver their performances.

Albert Herring. By Benjamin Britten, directed by Chas Rader-Shieber. Curtis Opera Theatre production at Prince Music Theater, April 14-15, 2006. www.curtis.edu/html/50300.shtml#3

Daniel Webster

Apr 24, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Shostakovich rediscovered (except in Philadelphia)

He speaks to us now as the representative artist of his time, a composer whose work uniquely documents both the vast tragedy of his century’s suffering and his own private anguish. Yet his centennial year has passed with little notice in Philadelphia, where Shostakovich was once uniquely welcomed.

Robert Zaller

Apr 24, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

The music and the money

So much money and so much work to produce a great concert? At the Orchestra, yes. At Astral Artistic Services, no.

Dan Coren

Mar 31, 2006 · Articles · 6 minute read

Anna Moffo's unique appeal

The soprano Anna Moffo, who died March 10 at the age of 73, was no dynamo on an opera stage. But that was precisely the secret of her appeal.

Dan Rottenberg

Mar 18, 2006 · Articles · 3 minute read

Jonathan Biss at the Perelman

Nature may have endowed Jonathan Biss with huge hands and good looks, but what came across above all was his genuine feeling for the music.

Jonathan Biss, pianist: Works by Beethoven, Spratlan, Schoenberg and Schumann. Presented by Philadelphia Chamber Music Society at Perelman Theater, Verizon Hall, Feb. 28, 2006. www.pcmsconcerts.org.

Dan Rottenberg

Mar 01, 2006 · Articles · 2 minute read