Jonathan Blumhofer

Classical Music CD Review: Attacca Quartet’s Adventurous “Fellow Traveler” (Azica Records)

March 16, 2013
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This album manages to impressively realize the depth and versatility of John Adams’s music for string quartet. It also announces the arrival of a phenomenal ensemble that plays with a mix of maturity, adventure, and musical insight: this is a group to follow closely and cheer.

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Classical Music Sampler: March 2013

March 1, 2013
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March is a month to hear amazing pianists – Jeremy Denk, George Li, Charlie Albright, Jeffrey Swann, Wu Han, and Lydia Artymiw – as well as inspiring choruses and unusual chamber music

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Concert Review: Aisslinn Nosky and the Handel and Haydn Society/Harry Christophers

February 25, 2013
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Handel and Haydn artistic director Harry Christophers placed a composer who is familiar, but not always the focus of attention, front and center, and, in the process, reminded us just how good a musician Haydn was.

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Concert Review: Boston Philharmonic Orchestra/Benjamin Zander at Sanders Theater

February 22, 2013
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In the slow third movement, Mr. Zander, the BPO, and the Symphony seemed to really be in sync: the music breathed, sighed, sang, and unfolded at a natural pace that brought out the best in everybody.

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Concert Review: Renée Fleming and Susan Graham at Symphony Hall

February 6, 2013
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In an effort to give the proceedings an intimate, salon feel, the Symphony Hall stage was dotted with a couple of potted plants, three armchairs, and a pair of music stands; the cavernous environ of the space was still very much present, but one appreciated the effort to minimize it, even if only partially successful.

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Concert Review: Discovery Ensemble at Sanders Theater

February 2, 2013
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John Adams’s Chamber Symphony brought out the best in Mr. Lewis as a conductor: it was fun watching him maneuver through the score’s intricate rhythmic patterns and his confidence was reflected by the Ensemble in a brash, involved reading of a far-too-little-heard (in these parts, at least) piece.

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Classical Music Sampler: February 2013

February 2, 2013
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A strong month featuring performances from the celebrated Borromeo String Quartet, vocal group A Far Cry, and new music from Sound Icon.

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Classical Commentary: Breaths of Fresh Air — Discovery Ensemble’s Educational Outreach Programs

February 2, 2013
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Discovery Ensemble is already the local ensemble to watch for their brilliant programming and energized performances. Now add to that their commitment to educational outreach and Boston’s underserved communities.

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Classical CD Review: Two New Releases from BMOP/sound — An Indispensable Label for American Composers

January 24, 2013
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Musical quibbles aside, the performances on both albums from Boston Modern Music Project’s in-house label, BMOP/sound, are top-notch.

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Classical CD Review: “Hywel Davies” — Repetitions of the Undeveloped

January 24, 2013
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To describe the contents of the CD “Hywel Davies” as trivial is to be generous.

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