Classical News & Reviews
Mostly Mozart Festival Opens Tomorrow—What To See and Hear
ZEALnyc, July 24, 2017
Summer in New York brings many performances and festivals for which we look forward, from the Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in Central Park to the
An International Opera Festival in HD at Symphony Space
ZEALnyc, July 18, 2017
While many of the major opera houses are on hiatus until their fall seasons begin (at least here locally), there’s no reason you can’t still get your opera fix through some welcomed programming by the stalwart venue on the Upper ...
Bang On A Can Festival Is Making Some Noise Again This Summer in North Adams, MA
By Leonard Bopp, Contributing Writer, July 14, 2017
Thirty years after their debut concert—a day-long marathon concert of experimental music in a SoHo art gallery—the founders of Bang on a Can, the composer trifecta of Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe, and David ...
Review: Lincoln Center Festival's ‘While I Was Waiting’ Explores the ...
By Mercedes Vizcaino, Contributing Writer, July 26, 2017 Now in its 22nd year, The Lincoln Center Festival hosts a myriad of performances from around the globe. Making its North American debut at the festival, While I Was Waiting is a play based on a true story by ...
Jazz Notes: What To Look Out For at This Year's 63...
By Doug Hall, Contributing Writer, July 25, 2017 The Newport Jazz Festival celebrates its 63rd anniversary this summer, promising three full days of exceptional live musical performances across multiple stages at Fort Adams Park in Newport, Rhode Island from Friday, August 4 through Sunday, August 6. Under new artistic ...
New Tenants In the 'Doll's House' Starting This Week
ZEALnyc, July 25, 2017 When we think of a Broadway show, we often think of a musical. Of course there are dramas and comedies, as well as other special event productions, like Michael Moore's upcoming one-man play The Terms of My Surrender, which promises to be a ...
Mostly Mozart Festival Opens Tomorrow—What To See and Hear
ZEALnyc, July 24, 2017 Summer in New York brings many performances and festivals for which we look forward, from the Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in Central Park to the Lincoln Center Festival, bringing the world's theater, music and dance to our own backyard, followed by their Out ...
Art Break: Helene Schjerfbeck and Other Finnish Artists at Scandinavia ...
By A. E. Colas, Contributing Writer, July 24, 2017 Hey, let's face it—summer weather in New York can be challenging. It’s hot, it’s humid, and sometimes it’s just tough to be outside. Sometimes all you want is a half hour in a cool ...
Lincoln Center Goes 'Out of Doors' With a Big Free ...
By Caitlin Leonard, Contributing Writer, July 21, 2017 Lincoln Center's Out of Doors Festival is bringing an other-worldly level of performers for an "only in New York" kind of experience. The festival’s free performances (that's right—FREE) runs July 26 through August 13, and includes a Double Dutch ...
Review: The Elusiveness of Peace Brought To the Fore In ...
By Joshua Rosenblum, Contributing Writer, July 20, 2017 In this era of dismal, seemingly endless intractability in the Middle East, it’s startling to be reminded that, not too long ago, the prospect of peace between Israel and Palestine was tantalizingly close. That reminder, and the horrible ...
Review: Compagnie XY Proves Its Strength Is Working Together
By Sheila Kogan, Contributing Writer, July 20, 2017 Compagnie XY is a French-based circus, but there’s no big top, no trapeze rig, no spangled leotards nor wild animals. Instead, it is a troupe of individuals with extraordinary abilities and exquisite training who develop theatrical programs that ...
Jazz Notes: Passing the Newport Jazz Festival Baton from Founder ...
By Doug Hall, Contributing Writer, July 19, 2017 As the new artistic director of the Newport Jazz Festival, Christian McBride has put his stamp on this year’s lineup for the 2017 performances, adding a mix of incredibly diverse musicians—though, by his own account, he was totally ...
Review: 'Assassins' Chills and Thrills at Encores! Off-Center
By Jil Picariello, Theater Editor, July 19, 2017 For years, I’ve been threatening to write a book entitled Everything I Know I Learned from Musical Theater. I have Andrew Lloyd Webber to thank for my religious education. I listened to Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and ...
Review: Fireworks In Fog as the Fiery Daniil Trifonov Plays Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, July 13, 2017
The young pianist Daniil Trifonov dashed Berkshire tranquility last night in a fierce display of virtuosity at Ozawa Hall on the previously serene grounds of Tanglewood. In Lenox for Mozart with the BSO on
Review: Sixteen-Year-Old Daniel Lozakovich Makes Impressive Debut with BSO at Tanglewood
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, July 10, 2017
After a wet start, heavenly weather accompanied the final days of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s opening weekend at Tanglewood. Under vivid blue skies and aside a gentle breeze, Andris Nelsons ...
Review: Boston Symphony Orchestra Opens 2017 Tanglewood Season with Drama
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, July 8, 2017
The 2017 Tanglewood season opened last night with stormy drama on and off the stage as Andris Nelsons settles into the longest Berkshire residency since his appointment as BSO music director and the Boston Symphony ...
News from Tanglewood
ZEALnyc, Summer 2017
Young piano sensation Daniil Trifonov gives a fiery, virtuosic recital at Ozawa Hall prior to his Boston Symphony Orchestra appearance playing Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 in C, K. 467.
Tanglewood Opens On Friday and Continues Through Labor Day Weekend
ZEALnyc, with Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, July 6, 2017
Although there have already been a number of concerts and events taking place at Tanglewood, the festival’s official opening concert is on Friday, July 7, when Andris Nelsons conducts The Boston ...
Review: NYCO Celebrates the LGBT Community With ‘Angels in America’
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, June 19, 2017
Commencing a new annual tradition of programming in honor of LGBT Pride in June, New York City Opera recently presented the New York premiere of Hungarian composer Pétér Eötvös’s 2004 operatic ...
Tanglewood Is Making Music Again With Stars Onstage And Up Above
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, June 16, 2017
New York City music lovers have many things to look forward to in the summer “off season.” Concerts in the park and Bargemusic to name just two. But the spiritual heart of the classical music world, ...
Caramoor Has Something For Everyone With This Summer’s Multi-Faceted Festival Lineup
ZEALnyc, June 15, 2017
As we move into summer, we begin the transition from our standard concert hall settings and begin enjoying music and theatrical presentations in the more natural surroundings of, well, nature. Summer festivals are a hallmark of the season ...
New York Philharmonic Goes Outdoors for Their Annual Concert Series in the Parks
ZEALnyc, June 12, 2017
The New York Philharmonic has completed its scheduled 2016-2017 concert season in David Geffen Hall this past weekend with Alan Gilbert as its Music Director before embarking to Shanghai for a series of concerts in July. So this week before ...
Review: Salonen Displays ‘Exquisite Range’ Leading the MET Orchestra at Carnegie
By Jose Andrade, Contributing Writer, June 12, 2017
Late spring/early summer is a special time in New York, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra makes great use of this time flexing their symphonic muscles, presenting orchestral works in New York. On June 3rd, ...
Review: ‘Das Rheingold’ Shines Bright at the New York Philharmonic
By Joshua Rosenblum, Contributing Writer, June 5, 2017
In the end, all the trouble started when the pretty girls made fun of the short, funny-looking guy who had a crush on them. Hurt and angry, he stole their gold. If I can’t have love, he reasoned, at least I ...
Review: Opera On An Aircraft Carrier—’Glory Denied’ By Opera Upper West
By Christopher Johnson, Contributing Writer, June 5, 2017
Perhaps the most fascinating component of this year’s New York Opera Fest was Opera Upper West’s production of Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied on the ...
Review: The MET Orchestra Is a Commanding Force—Even Outside the Opera House
By Joshua Rosenblum, Contributing Writer, June 2, 2017
The MET Orchestra’s popular post-season appearances at Carnegie Hall are a grand opportunity to hear the celebrated ensemble outside of the opera house, center stage, playing symphonic music. Often the ...
Review: Conductor Jakub Hrůša In An Impressive Debut With New York Philharmonic
By Jose Andrade, Contributing Writer, May 29, 2017
An all-Czech program at David Geffen Hall this past Thursday evening featured the debut of Czech conductor Jakub Hrůša leading the New York Philharmonic in works by Antonín Dvořák (Violin Concerto and ...
Rebecca Clarke Is ‘Composer of the Week’ In Upcoming BBC Series
ZEALnyc, May 26, 2017
It seems odd that we are still playing catch-up with highlighting and bringing focus to the accomplishments of the vast majority of female composers, both domestically and internationally, but there you have it. Our media counterparts across ...
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Returns to Carnegie
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, May 26, 2017
If you are a NYC classical music lover, you can save on travel expenses. Talent comes to you. And generally to Carnegie.
One important orchestra begins a three-night Carnegie run next week, following a ...
Rite of Summer Music Festival Begins With A Bang This Weekend on Governors Island
Colonels' Row, Governors Island
http://riteofsummer.com
ZEALnyc, May 25, 2017
Rite of Summer Music Festival returns for its seventh season this weekend on Saturday, May 27 with performances by Talujon Percussion. They will be performing a program entitled “Dark Full Ride,” which includes works by ...
Review: Perahia Brings His ‘Colossal Artistry’ to Carnegie Hall With ‘Electric’ Results
By Joshua Rosenblum, Contributing Writer, May 22, 2017
The celebrated pianist Murray Perahia was the first North American to win the prestigious Leeds Competition in 1972 when he was 25. Since then, he has accumulated numerous other accolades, a large ...
Review: Kyung Wha Chung Is ‘Unequalled’ Making History at Carnegie Hall
By Christopher Johnson, Contributing Writer, May 19, 2017
As predicted, it was quite an evening. Looking like God’s soldier, her magnificent ...
Violinist Kyung Wha Chung Prepares for a Series of Firsts at Carnegie Hall This Week
By Christopher Johnson, Contributing Writer, May 15, 2017
Bach’s modestly-titled Six Solos for Violin without Bass Accompaniment are the Mount Everest of that instrument’s literature, ventured again and again in the safety of the studio—there are ...
Review: The Met Woos and Wins With Its Season Finale of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, May 14, 2017
Franco Alfano’s Cyrano de Bergerac entered the repertoire of the Metropolitan Opera in 2005, at the championing of Placido Domingo, and in Francesca Zambello’s expertly directed production ...
Music and Cocktails at The Miller Theater—Now That’s a Happy Hour!
ZEALnyc, May 12, 2017
Looking for a way to relax after a hard day at the office? Or maybe a way to hear a little music? Or maybe a place to have a drink? How about combining all these needs into ‘one-stop shopping’? The Miller Theater at Columbia ...
Review: Long-Forgotten ‘Los Elementos’ Lives Again—Olé!
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, May 5, 2017
New York City often sees American premieres, but scarcely after such long periods of neglect as endured by Los Elementos, a one-act opera composed by largely forgotten Spanish court composer Antonio ...
Review: A Taut ‘Der Fliegende Holländer’ Helmed By Nézet-Séguin
By Jose Andrade, Contributing Writer, May 3, 2017
The Metropolitan Opera’s season premiere of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer on Tuesday, April 25 was full of electricity, amply generated by incoming Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin ...
Jennifer Rowley—A Rising Star (and one to keep your eye on)!
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, May 1, 2017
Jennifer Rowley is the very definition of a star on the rise. But, in an age when people become famous merely for being famous, this is the rarest of stars in an even more rarefied arena: a true operatic diva. ...
Review: ‘Babes in Toyland’—A Nostalgic Delight with MasterVoices at Carnegie Hall
By Sheila Kogan, Contributing Writer, April 28, 2017
A concert version of Babes in Toyland was presented at the exquisite Carnegie Hall on Thursday evening. First produced in 1903, the Victor Herbert operetta is considered a landmark because it was a ...
Review: Natalie Dessay Brings Artistry of the Highest Order to Carnegie Hall
By Christopher Johnson, Contributing Writer, April 27, 2017
It’s Natalie Dessay’s world; you and I just live in it.
Dessay is one of the sovereign communicative artists of our era, whose every moment onstage seems fully lived and completely expressed. ...
Review: The ‘Next Generation’ Is Showcased By the NY Phil
By Brian Taylor, Contributing Writer, April 23, 2017
Three vital young musicians, as a group representing a younger demographic from which this audience might be accustomed to hearing en masse, helmed a concert by the New York Philharmonic that was ...
Tanglewood Is Building For the Future—Literally
By Doug Hall, Contributing Writer, April 21, 2017
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer home away from Boston, Tanglewood Music Center, is located in the Berkshire Hills, between Stockbridge and Lenox, MA. Recently an exciting and eagerly awaited announcement ...
Review: The Met’s New ‘Rosenkavalier’ Moves Timelessly Forward with a Timeless Renée Fleming
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, April 14, 2017
After nearly fifty years, the Metropolitan Opera has staged a crisp, colorful, audacious and ultimately elegant new production of Richard Strauss’s touching comedy, Der Rosenkavalier. And in it the ...
A Superstar Makes a Life Change — a Conversation with Soprano Renée Fleming
By Mark McLaren, Editor in Chief, April 12, 2017
Tomorrow night, the opera superstar Renée Fleming comes to the Metropolitan Opera House in what will be her final performances as the Marschallin in Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. Fleming, ...
Review: San Francisco Symphony Is ‘Gripping and Wondrous’ at Carnegie Hall
By Joshua Rosenblum, Contributing Writer, April 10, 2017
In 1940, Béla Bartók and his family fled Hungary and fascism for the United States. By 1943, he was impoverished, in poor health, and in despair over his composing career. Fortunately for all of us, ...