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Reminiscent of a medieval abbey: Liza Malamut and Erik Schmalz play medieval straight trumpets in the courtyard of Germantown’s Miraculous Medal Shrine. (Photo by Sharon Torello.)

Piffaro presents ‘The Bells and Whistles of Utrecht’

Streaming with bells on

Piffaro and carilloneur Janet Tebbel are ringing all the bells in their excellent season opener, which makes the most of video. Gail Obenreder reviews.

Gail Obenreder

Nov 03, 2020 Articles 4 minute read

A state historical marker across the street from 212 North 12th Street commemorates Sigma Sound Studios achievements. (Photo by Aaron M. Cohen.)

Champions of Philly’s music legacy fight to save the site of Sigma Sound Studios

Honoring the Philly sound

The building that gave birth to the legendary Philadelphia sound moves one step closer to becoming a historic landmark. Aaron M. Cohen talks with leaders of a grassroots preservation movement.

Aaron Cohen

Oct 27, 2020 Articles 6 minute read

Spreading interpretive wings: Lawrence Brownlee performs in the inaugural offering from the Opera Philadelphia Channel. (Photo by Dominic M. Mercier.)

Opera Philadelphia presents ‘Lawrence Brownlee & Friends in Philadelphia’

Stylishly produced and eminently thoughtful, ‘Lawrence Brownlee & Friends in Philadelphia’ sets a high bar for the Opera Philadelphia Channel, the company’s new streaming endeavor. Cameron Kelsall reviews.

Cameron Kelsall

Oct 26, 2020 Articles 4 minute read

When the lyrics fly as well as the music: The Commodores onstage. (Photo by Carl Lender, via Wikimedia Commons.)

When do music and words become art? Here’s a top 10 from composer Kile Smith

What I’ve learned from pop lyric settings

Do lyrics serve the music, or vice versa? Sometimes, in pop music, you don’t have to decide. Listen to Kile Smith explain 10 times that pop songs mixed music and words into pure art.

Kile Smith

Oct 19, 2020 Articles 6 minute read

Masks didn’t hurt the stylings of Natalie Zhu and Clancy Newman. (Photo by Margaret Darby.)

The German Society of Pennsylvania presents Natalie Zhu and Clancy Newman

How does a concert on video compare to a live one?

A concert at the German Society with cellist Clancy Newman and pianist Natalie Zhu provided a unique opportunity to compare a live concert with a video version. Margaret Darby reviews both.

Margaret Darby

Oct 12, 2020 Articles 5 minute read

Artist Rejik Anadol’s digital creation accompanied the orchestra’s rendition of Beethoven’s 7th. (Image courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents ‘Sight/Sound/Symphony’

Streams for eyes and ears

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s second Digital Stage stream, ‘Sight/Sound/Symphony,’ added another success to its 2020 season, including an orchestra-commissioned world premiere by Carlos Simon and visual design by Rejik Anadol. Linda Holt reviews.

Linda Holt

Oct 12, 2020 Articles 3 minute read

Yannick Nézet-Séguin and soprano Angel Blue, filmed at the Mann Center, made music while observing COVID precautions. (Photo by Jeff Fusco.)

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Our World NOW: An Opening Night Celebration

The Philadelphia Orchestra takes the digital stage

A scaled-down Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2020 opener offered a distanced yet defiant celebration of music and new energy for social justice, with works by Coleman, Rossini, Verdi, Mozart, and Steve Martin. Linda Holt reviews.

Linda Holt

Oct 03, 2020 Articles 3 minute read

Who is Lilith today? (Image courtesy of Apartment 20.)

Philly Fringe 2020: Apartment 20 presents ‘Lilith and Her Demons’

Lilith, the concept album

Apartment 20 adapts Enid Dame’s collection of poems ‘Lilith and Her Demons’ into a song cycle for the 2020 Fringe Festival, exploring how and where we see the Lilith of Jewish folklore today. Melissa Strong reviews.

Melissa Strong

Sep 15, 2020 Articles 3 minute read

Image and voice evoke distance and longing: The Crossing teams with Roots in the Sky for ‘In Nature.’ (Image courtesy of The Crossing.)

The Crossing presents ‘In Nature’ and ‘One Day I Saw’

Fresh airs

A pandemic doesn’t stop the artists of The Crossing, who continue to innovate across necessary spaces. The group’s latest interdisciplinary works include ‘In Nature’ and ‘One Day I Saw.’ Gail Obenreder reviews.