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Browsing: Classical Music

The Sacred Spirit of Russia in Texas

By Paul E. Robinson on 8 February 2013 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Scena Jazz

by Paul E. RobinsonCraig Hella Johnson and soloists of the Conspirare Company of VoicesMusic by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Gretchaninoff, Kastalsky, Martynov, Ippolitov-Ivanov and othersConspirare Company of VoicesCraig Hella Johnson, conductorSt. Martin’s Lutheran ChurchAustin, TexasFebruary 2, 2013St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in downtown Austin was miraculously transformed into a Russian Cathedral last weekend as Conspirare presented a concert of Russian Orthodox liturgical music. It was astonishing to hear the 41 voices of the Company of Voices singing their hearts out with total command of both the language and the style of the music.Conspirare’s artistic director and conductor, Craig Hella Johnson, (photo: right) has boundless…

Bronfman, Bay and the ASO Bring Austin to its Feet with Brahms!

By Paul E. Robinson on 15 January 2013 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonBrahms: Tragic Overture Op. 81Britten: Sinfonia da Requiem Op. 20Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor Op. 15Yefim Bronfman, pianoAustin Symphony (ASO)/Peter BayLong CenterAustin, TexasJanuary 12, 2013What a year 2013 is going to be for commemorative celebrations! Verdi and Wagner will be honoured on the occasion of the 200th anniversaries of their births in 1813, and Benjamin Britten for the 100th anniversary of his birth in 1913. In Britten’s case, the actual birth date is November 22, but conductor Peter Bay couldn’t wait that long. I don’t blame him; Britten’s greatness only grows with each passing…

Beethoven & Britten at the Movies

By Paul E. Robinson on 21 December 2012 Classical, Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral

by Paul E. Robinson From left to right: Mark Ivanir, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener A Late Quartet Director: Yaron Zilberman Cast: Philip Seymour Hoffman/Christopher Walken/Catherine Keener/Mark Ivanir Music: Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 131 Moonrise Kingdom Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Bruce Willis/Bill Murray/Ed Norton/Frances McDormand Music: Britten: Noyes’ Flood/Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra/Songs for Friday Afternoons/A Midsummer Night’s Dream (excerpts) Films about classical music composers and performers are nearly always risible in the extreme. Think Song Without End (1960) with Dirk Bogarde as Liszt or Humoresque (1946) with John Garfield as an unlikely virtuoso…

James Ehnes Plays Bach

By Paul E. Robinson on 10 December 2012 Baroque and Early, Video of the day, Violin

Canadian violinist James Ehnes is no longer “an exciting young talent” but an international star. He plays regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors and his recordings invariably receive the highest praise. One of his most recent recordings in which he plays both Bartok Violin Concertos and the Viola Concerto (Chandos 10690) has had rave reviews.In this video Ehnes plays Bach’s Preludio and Gigue from Bach’s Partita No. 3 for Unaccompanied Violin. The performance was recorded in the studios of radio station WQXR in New York.Paul E. Robinson

Austin Symphony Takes Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring “Beyond the Score”

By Paul E. Robinson on 8 December 2012 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonStravinsky: Le Sacre du printemps (the Rite of Spring)Gerard McBurney, narratorRobert Faires, actorRick Rowley, actorAustin Symphony/Peter Bay, conductorDell Hall, Long Center for the Performing ArtsAustin, TexasFriday, November 30, 2012For major orchestras, Stravinsky’s Le sacre du printempshas become standard fare, but for second and third tier orchestras it is still a huge challenge, for both technical and financial reasons: for the players, the rhythms and harmonies are difficult; for managers and boards, the costs for additional players and extra rehearsal time are not easy to swallow. The Austin Symphonyis a part-time per service orchestra, which nonetheless manages to play consistently…

Gunther Schuller: A “Renaissance” Musician Tells All!

By Paul E. Robinson on 25 November 2012 Interviews, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonGunther Schuller: a Life in Pursuit of Music and BeautyUniversity of Rochester Press: Rochester, 2011664 pagesIn the fall of 1959, I made my third visit to New York City. I was an ambitious young bass player making a pilgrimage to the ‘Big Apple’ to play for one of the most respected of bass teachers anywhere at that time, Frederick Zimmermann of the New York Philharmonic. Fred and I got on very well and, in time, became the best of friends. I remember vividly that when I saw him in 1959, Fred was consumed with excitement about a new…

DSO/van Zweden Record LBJ Concert Drama in Dallas

By Paul E. Robinson on 19 November 2012 Concert Reviews, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonSteven Stucky: August 4, 1964Indira Mahajan/Kristine Jepson/Vale Rideout/Rod GilfryDallas Symphony Orchestra and Chorus/Jaap van ZwedenDate of recording: May 6, 2011 (live)Place of recording: Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, TexasDSO Live DSOL-4 (72 m 21 s)In Texas, especially in Austin where he lived most of his life and where his library is located, 36th President of the United States ((1963-1969), Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ), is a legendary figure. The Johnson ranch, just outside the capital, is visited by thousands every year, and the library hosts major speakers and conferences. LBJ was a native son of Texas who became president of the…

DSO, van Zweden & Co. Present Britten’s Prayer for Pacifism

By Paul E. Robinson on 15 November 2012 Chamber Music, Classical, Concert Reviews, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonOlga Guryakova, sopranoIan Bostridge, tenorDietrich Henschel, baritoneChildren’s Chorus of Greater DallasDallas Symphony ChorusDallas Symphony OrchestraJaap Van Zweden, conductorPaul Phillips, conductor (chamber orchestra)Myerson Symphony CentreDallas, TexasNovember 9, 2012By the late 1930s Germany, out to build its empire, had taken over Austria and Czechoslovakia. By September 1, 1939, when Germany attacked Poland, it had become clear to the rest of the world that Germany would not be satisfied until it had conquered the whole of Europe and the Soviet Union, just as Japan was on a track to crush China and the whole of Asia. There is not much…

This Week in Toronto (Nov. 5 – 11)

By Paul E. Robinson on 4 November 2012 Chamber Music, Opera, Piano, This Week in Toronto

Canadian soprano Edith Wiens gives masterclass at University of TorontoNow that both the Canadian Opera Company and Opera Atelier have wrapped up their successful fall seasons, operatic offerings aren’t as plentiful this week. However, I can heartily recommend the masterclass given by retired Canadian soprano Edith Wiens. A native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and the daughter of a Mennonite preacher, Wiens graced the international concert and opera stage for a quarter century, delighting audience with her crystalline tone and aristocratic stage presence. I had the pleasure of interviewing her two years ago in Munich, on occasion of her receiving the Opera…

MISQA: Spells Tradition

By La Scena Musicale Team on 15 August 2012 Chamber Music, Interviews, Strings

By John DelvaIn its third year, the Montreal International String Quartet Academy (MISQA) unites some of the foremost young string quartets from around the world to hone their skills through the guidance of experienced chamber musicians and concert performances. For its director, André J. Roy, the oral tradition—the sharing of knowledge between teacher and student—is one of the academy’s main focuses. This is not surprising seeing how many who have met the viola teacher highlight his affability. With prestigious faculty that includes Gerard Schultz and Günter Pichler of the Alban Berg Quartet, Michael Tree of the Guarneri Quartet, Paul Katz…

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