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That loosened tie, that rakish hat angle… and a striking resemblance to Don Knotts.

Frank Sinatra reconsidered

The patron saint of insecurity

The multifaceted entertainer Frank Sinatra connected with multitudes of devoted fans for many reasons. But his highly touted voice was the least of them.

Dan Rottenberg

Dec 16, 2014 Articles 7 minute read

Guitarist Allen Krantz will play at Laurel Hill Mansion on August 5. (Photo courtesy of the artist.)

Amerita Chamber Players with Allen Krantz

A perennially welcome guest

The Amerita Chamber Players shared a program with one of Philadelphia’s most popular guests. Don’t despair if you missed it.

Tom Purdom

Dec 16, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Dolce Suono: Music of Spirit, Longing, and Passion

Five friends on a Sunday afternoon

The Dolce Suono Ensemble presented a program that created the perfect mood for a chamber music concert.

Tom Purdom

Dec 09, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Gabriel Fauré combines tone color with a strong sense of form.

The Variation String Trio debuts a David Ludwig fantasy

The Ludwig-Fauré-Bach connection

The Variation String Trio joined pianist Natalie Zhu in a program that teamed a new piece by David Ludwig with a masterpiece for the same instrumental combination.

Tom Purdom

Dec 02, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “The Peasant Dance”

The Johannes Quartet at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Death and war and a Czech barn dance

The Johannes Quartet delves into two intense, highly emotional pieces, and then ends with a foot-stomping dance by Dvořák.

Tom Purdom

Nov 25, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

H. Leslie Adams: a composer who commissions himself.

H. Leslie Adams, 26 Piano Etudes

Remembering why we play

We need not be afraid of delving into new music; all communication of the soul didn't cease in the 19th century, or even the 20th.

Maria Thompson Corley

Nov 25, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

Jacobs (left) with Yannick conducting: Look, Ma, no hands! (Photo: Neil Santos)

Philadelphia Orchestra’s organ concert

Battle of the bands? No, a conversation

Organ music never enjoyed as spectacular a presentation in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Orchestra gave it earlier this month.

Steve Cohen

Nov 22, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

The viola is no joke. (Photo by aethir via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Astral Artists and the Chamber Orchestra spotlight the viola

All kidding aside

The accidents of the scheduling process produced two consecutive concerts that spotlighted the viola and proved, once again, that viola jokes are a baseless and vile calumny.

Tom Purdom

Nov 18, 2014 Articles 4 minute read

Is it time to bring the orchestra experience into the 21st century? (Performance at the Bolshoi Theatre, 1856)

The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Janáček and Mahler

To app or not to app

The Philadelphia Orchestra’s new real-time app may or may not be a good idea, but the real issue is the product itself, not the marketing efforts that surround it.

Tom Purdom

Nov 11, 2014 Articles 3 minute read

Gustav Mahler, photographed in 1907 at the end of his period as director of the Vienna Hofoper.

Nézet-Séguin conducts Mahler (third review)

Could we all use a resurrection? Mahler thought so

Mahler weaves between grief and excitement throughout the symphony. There is no conductor better than Nézet-Séguin in working with these changes, and he is excellent with liturgical and choral music as well. So the last two movements proved to be glorious in his hands.

Victor L. Schermer

Nov 06, 2014 Articles 5 minute read