Jonathan Blumhofer
The Schumann First formed the capstone to conductor Asher Fisch’s conspicuously satisfying Boston Symphony Orchestra subscription series debut program
Violinist Yevgeny Kutik delivered a performance of the Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto that mined the piece’s subversive character but never shied away from its extroverted nature.
What one really wishes is that the Seattle Opera’s Ring Cycle had been released as a DVD.
Feel free to disagree, add to them, come up with your own list, etc. Above all, enjoy!
Tim Page on a generous sampling of Virgil Thomson’s best music criticism – trenchant, outspoken, oftentimes delightfully clever, and always assured.
The conceit of this disc is both nostalgic and old-fashioned.
With its Opera Annex productions – presenting unfamiliar operas in unconventional performance spaces – Boston Lyric Opera really seems to have found its niche.
Under Michael Tilson Thomas’s leadership, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra’s sound has been refined and tightened; its repertoire has grown to embrace American music of all stripes.
Saturday’s attendance hopefully warms the hearts of the BSO’s management. Not only was the house very full, but the assembly also included a healthy proportion of younger heads.

Music Commentary: Notable Classical Performances of 2014
It’s fun to recall what’s been played locally since January and be reminded just how rich the greater Boston area’s classical music scene really is.
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