Music

1916 results
Page 72
Venus (Hesperus/Phosphorus) reflected in the Pacific Ocean. (Photo by Brocken Inaglory via Creative Comons/Wikimedia)

Lewis Spratlan; Andrew Rudin; Jeremy Gill

Three CDs with Philadelphia connections
Three recent CDs highlight the Philadelphia music scene.

Articles 4 minute read
Boy in a box. (Both photos by Dominic M. Mercier, courtesy Opera Philadelphia)

Fringe 2015: 'Andy: A Popera' by Opera Philly & Bearded Ladies (second review)

Choosing to become Andy Warhol
The pop Andy Warhol was as loud and clear as the rollicking music in the Opera Philadelphia/Bearded Ladies Andy: A Popera.
Margaret Darby

Margaret Darby

Articles 4 minute read
Lederhosen and little hats with feathers. And a brass band. (Photo via Creative Commons/capl@washjeff.edu)

Three kinds of traveler and composer

Oktoberfest
Ideally, as a composer, your eyes and ears are always open; both the different and the same will surprise you.
Kile Smith

Kile Smith

Articles 5 minute read
Members of both the Opera Philadelphia Chorus and the Bearded Ladies appear as a colorful bevy of Marilyns. (All photos by Dominic M. Mercier)

Fringe 2015: 'Andy: A Popera' by Opera Philly and Bearded Ladies

A mishmash of the past and present
What’s wonderful and terrible and lots of fun all at the same time? Andy: A Popera creates a Warholian experience of pop culture, mixing recent pop history with our modern media obsessions.
Naomi Orwin

Naomi Orwin

Articles 5 minute read
Decoding the swamp message is up to you.

Fringe 2015: Pig Iron and Dr. Dog's 'Swamp Is On'

Falling into a psychedelic swamp
The fearless Pig Iron Theatre Company is back, this time with Philadelphia’s own Dr. Dog rock band, in a unique, exotic collaboration.

Carol Rocamora

Articles 3 minute read
The long trip home from war: Gunn and Leonard (Photo by Ken Howard)

Jennifer Higdon’s 'Cold Mountain'

A chilly mountain
The world premiere of Jennifer Higdon's first opera, Cold Mountain, has many fine elements but misses greatness.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read
Kiana takes flight: the author's daughter on her way to the Berklee summer program.

Help! My daughter is a music major!
Despite my best efforts to guide her, my daughter's love for music wore me down. Now I'm hoping for the best.
Maria Thompson Corley

Maria Thompson Corley

Articles 4 minute read
Schweinsbraten mit Kartoffelknödel (photo by Takeaway via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Why telling jokes is like writing music
In comparing the making of music to the making of a joke, I’m not saying that music ought to be funny. The main sense of a sense of humor is funniness, of course, but the best comedians handle all the humors.
Kile Smith

Kile Smith

Articles 5 minute read
A different fate from John McCain’s: Switzer as Col. Jim Thompson in “Glory Denied.” (Photo courtesy of Vulcan Lyric)

'Glory Denied' by Vulcan Lyric

Another victim of Vietnam
At last! Here’s a contemporary opera that has a gripping story, melodic music, intriguing dialogue, and superior singing and acting. This is the best production of the Vulcan summer festival and the most satisfying new opera I’ve seen in 2015.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read
Dangerous plants (“Greenhouse at Night” by sea turtle via Creative Commons/Flickr)

Catán's 'Hija de Rappaccini' by Vulcan Lyric

Good read, bad theater
Mexican composer Daniel Catán was inspired by Claude Debussy — musically and dramatically. This influence was revealed in his Spanish-language opera, La hija de Rappaccini (Rappaccini’s Daughter), in its local premiere.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read