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Browsing: Orchestral

Menuhin Competition Austin 2014 Opens with UT Symphony Concert

By Paul E. Robinson on 23 February 2014 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Violin

by Paul E. RobinsonBerlioz: Roman Carnival OvertureMendelssohn: Concerto for Piano and Violin in d minorIlya Gringolts, violin/Anton Nel, pianoWaxman: Carmen FantasyKevin Zhu, violinSchwantner: Someday MemoriesDutilleux: Sur le même accordOlivier Charlier, violinStravinsky: Firebird Suite (1919)The University of Texas (UT) Symphony OrchestraGerhardt Zimmermann, conductorLong Center for the Performing ArtsAustin, TexasFriday, February 21, 2014I guess it’s fate that a mere conductor in a violin competition should have his name left off the program; sad to say, that was indeed the case for Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann at the Opening Concert of the Menuhin Competition Austin 2014. But it wasn’t quite as bad as all…

Bay/ASO and Jonathan Biss: Under the Influence

By Paul E. Robinson on 12 February 2014 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Piano, Romantic, Violin

by Paul E. RobinsonVaughan Williams: The Lark AscendingSchumann: Piano Concerto in a minor Op. 54Brahms: Symphony No. 2 in D major Op. 73Jessica Mathaes, violinJonathan Biss, pianoAustin Symphony Orchestra/Peter BayLong Center for the Performing ArtsAustin, TXFebruary 8, 2014I have been spending a lot of time lately with Jonathan Biss – not the man himself, but his website. Mr. Biss is a 33-year-old American pianist of great distinction who also writes well about music. Biss has been particularly eloquent on the subjects of Beethoven and Schumann. He is recording all the Beethoven sonatas and has written a book (Beethoven’s Shadow) about…

Uniworld River Cruise: Unexpected “European Jewels”

By Paul E. Robinson on 12 February 2014 Concert Reviews, Opera, Orchestral, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonCLASSICAL TRAVELSRiver Cruise along the Main, the Rhine and the DanubeAugust 2013This past August, Marita and I thoroughly enjoyed the “European Jewels” Uniworld River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. We were not expecting a concentration of musical events on this excursion; rather, we thought it would give us a view of Europe from a new perspective (i.e., docking within walking distance of towns and cities) – and it did, but to our delight, there was glorious music on this cruise as well, often in unexpected places. Up until about 20 years ago, this particular river cruise would not…

Yannick Nézet-Séguin et les grands hommes

By Brigitte Objois on 11 February 2014 Orchestral, Romantic

par Brigitte ObjoisCe dimanche 9 février, à la Maison symphonique, l’Orchestre Métropolitain, sous la direction de Yannick Nézet-Séguin, présentait Métamorphoses et le concerto pour cor no. 2 de Strauss ainsi que la 3ème symphonie « Eroica » de Beethoven.Métamorphoses, œuvre pour 23 instruments à cordes, fut écrite dans une Allemagne dévastée par la guerre et la défaite, puisqu’elle sera achevée en avril 1945. La mention « In Memoriam » de la main de Strauss en marge des dernières mesures, serait un hommage à Beethoven et sa 3ème symphonie dont le compositeur a repris le thème de la marche funèbre du…

Too Many "f"s in DSO/van Zweden New World Symphony?

By Paul E. Robinson on 5 February 2014 Contemporary, Orchestral, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonScott Cantrell is the distinguished long-time classical music critic of the Dallas Morning News. He recently wrote an article titled “Let’s go easier on those fortissimos” (January 31, 2014) in which he criticized Jaap van Zweden and the Dallas Symphony (DSO) for excessive volume in music by Brahms (Piano Concerto No. 2/Symphony No. 4) and Dvorak (New World Symphony). I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Cantrell’s general point that volume levels in music performance have become excessive. Much of the blame for this phenomenon must go to technology; electronically amplified instruments can produce literally ear-splitting volume. With respect…

Video of the Day – Bamberg Symphony New Year’s Concerts – On Two Continents!

By Paul E. Robinson on 2 February 2014 Orchestral, Video of the day

It is a sign of the times that symphony orchestras are seeking new audiences as never before – and finding them. Each year the great Cleveland Orchestra plays fewer concerts at home in Cleveland and more in places such as Miami, Vienna and Lucerne. In early March it will take part in the Menuhin Competition in Austin, Texas. The Philadelphia Orchestra is developing a residency in Beijing, and the New York Philharmonic a permanent presence in Shanghai.What these new patterns have in common is a need for the orchestras involved to serve more people and balance their budgets. But it is significant…

Video of the Day – Claudio Abbado In Memoriam (1933-2014)

By Paul E. Robinson on 24 January 2014 Orchestral, Video of the day

Claudio Abbado’s passing last week was not unexpected – he had been seriously ill for some time – but it came as a heavy blow to those who had known him and admired his work. In that number were thousands of young people who had played in orchestras he had created. And there were many older musicians too who had been devoted to Abbado and his kind of music-making.Abbado was a shy but dedicated and determined man for whom music came first. He was not interested in personal glory, only in serving the music he loved. In that respect and…

Video of the Day – Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Reach Settlement with Management

By Paul E. Robinson on 18 January 2014 Orchestral, Video of the day

Finally, some good news from Minneapolis. The musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra have reached a settlement with their management. Concerts will resume in February.But there is one big unanswered question. When the dispute was at its height music director Osmo Vanska resigned. Will he be asked to return? Will he want to come back?The Minnesota Orchestra is one of the best symphony orchestras in the country. No doubt about it. But how much should its musicians be paid? That was the main issue in the conflict. On its side management pointed to a deficit that was huge and growing larger. It…

Video of the Day – Abbado Conducts Mendelssohn

By Paul E. Robinson on 13 January 2014 Orchestral, Romantic, Video of the day

Claudio Abbado has been in the news lately for his ill health. He has not conducted a concert since last September and his future schedule is very uncertain. In recent years he has drastically cut back his conducting activities due to serious intestinal issues. His main activity has been to lead the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in August every year, give a few concerts and make recordings with Orchestra Mozart, and appear annually with the Berlin Philharmonic.Now comes word that Orchestra Mozart has suspended operations. Both Orchestra Mozart and the Lucerne Festival Orchestra were created expressly for Abbado and would probably…

Sternberg Collection Volume 2

By Paul E. Robinson on 5 January 2014 CD and Book Reviews, Classical, Orchestral, Piano

Schubert/Hoiby: Introduction, Theme and Variations Op. 82 No. 2/Rieti: Capers/Menotti: SebastianVienna State Opera Orchestra/Jonathan Sternberg Pierian 0050 (78 m 35 s)Jonathan Sternberg was music director of the Harkness Ballet in 1966-68. He led performances with the company on tour across the U.S. and in Europe and South America. These recordings were probably made during a tour of Europe in 1967, but they were never released.Leo Hoiby (1926-2011) was an American pianist-composer who often worked with the Harkness Ballet. He orchestrated an obscure piano four-hands piece by Schubert into a sort of concerto movement for piano and orchestra. It is a…

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