Jonathan Blumhofer

Classical Album Review: Paul Huang Performs Korngold & Barber Violin Concertos

June 19, 2026
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A polished, detail-rich account of two lyrical concertos, distinguished more by clarity and refinement than by risk or fire.

Arts Commentary: The Kennedy Center and the Boston Symphony Orchestra — A Tale of Two Crises

June 18, 2026
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A court-ordered reset in Washington and a self-inflicted rupture in Boston expose deeper failures of leadership, transparency, and trust.

Classical Album Review: “Guitar America 250 — Revolutionaries and Rockstars”

June 15, 2026
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Guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan’s ambitious survey reframes the American story through guitar, poetry, and protest.

Classical Music Album Reviews: Semyon Bychkov and Paavo Järvi conduct Mahler

June 8, 2026
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Orchestral splendor meets interpretive risk in two Mahler releases.

Arts Commentary: In Memoriam, Michael Tilson Thomas (1944-2026)

June 6, 2026
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Early promise, enduring vision, and a lifetime of well-timed reinvention.

Classical Album Review: Beyond “East Meets West” — Anne-Sophie Mutter’s Crosscurrents

May 24, 2026
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Anne-Sophie Mutter’s latest album sidesteps easy binaries, pairing Widmann’s mercurial Beethoven study with works by Chin, Darvishi, and Adès in performances of striking authority.

Book Review: “Defending the Music” – A Bracing Voice from a Bolder Critical Age

May 23, 2026
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This substantial collection of the writings of classical music critic Michael Steinberg evokes a time when critics educated, provoked, and helped build cultural life.

Classical Album Review: Edward MacDowell’s Piano Concerto No. 2 & Orchestral Works

May 18, 2026
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A persuasive case for MacDowell’s orchestral voice, led by pianist Xiayin Wang and conductor John Wilson.

Book Review: “The Sound of Utopia” — Music in the Shadow of Power

May 16, 2026
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Michael Krielaars’ portrait of Soviet musicians reveals art shaped—and warped—by fear, ideology, and longing.

Classical Music Album Review: The Neave Trio’s “In Her Hands”

May 2, 2026
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The Neave Trio’s new album is as well recorded as it is programmed and played.

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