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Classical Music

Listening During Covid, Part 11: Making Classical Music New in All Kinds of Ways

Two exquisite sopranos bring us refreshing songs, arias, and cantatas; and a noted Broadway composer and a remarkable Black librettist offer a searing opera about police brutality.

By: Ralph P. Locke Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Opera, Review Tagged: Carolyn Sampson, Chen Reiss, Fanny & Felix Mendelssohn: Arias, Gordon Hawkins, Jeanine Tesori, Jewish Chamber Orchestra Munich, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Lieder, Onyx, Overtures, Pentatone, Ralph P. Locke, Tazewell Thompson, Trennung: Songs of Separation

Classical Album Review: Orion Weiss’s “Arc 1” — Crafting a Strong Sense of Impending Doom

The album serves up exceptional stuff, even if the program’s a touch macabre and pianist Orion Weiss’s well-written liner notes make uncomfortable connections between the world of pre-World War 1 Europe and our own pandemic-riddled age.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Arc 1, First Hand Records, Orion Weiss

Opera Review: “Champion: An Opera in Jazz” — Fought to a Draw

The cast for this Boston Lyric Opera production was first-rate, and composer Terence Blanchard has worked in a wide variety of jazz styles and shifts gears to keep the score swinging throughout.

By: Con Chapman Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Opera, Review Tagged: Boston-Lyric-Opera, Champion: An Opera in Jazz, Con Chapman, Emile Griffith, Michael Cristofer, Terence Blanchard

Classical Album Review: The Claremont Trio’s “Queen of Hearts”

What might be the most impressive feature of this disc: everything on it was written for The Claremont Trio since 2008. The album stands as a shining testament to their adeptness as an ensemble as well as their curiosity as musicians.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Andrea Lam, Emily Bruskin, Julia Bruskin, Queen of Hearts, The Claremont Trio, Tria Records)

Classical Music Review: Osvaldo Golijov’s “Nazareno”

Nazareno is bright, often joyous, and easy on the ears. That ought to count for something.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Gonzalo Grau, Jonathan Blumhofer, London-Symphony-Orchestra, LSO Live, Nazareno, Osvaldo-Golijov, Simon Rattle’, St. Mark Passion

Classical Album Review: Violinist Lea Birringer plays Sinding and Mendelssohn

Violinist Lea Birringer’s performance of the Christian Sinding selections are impressive. Her Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, though, is missing drive, excitement, and passion.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Christian Sinding, Lea Birringer, Rubicon

Classical Album Review: “When There Are No Words…” — Do Music and Politics Mix?

When There Are No Words presents six pieces written between 1936 and 1980 by composers responding (at least seemingly) to contemporaneous political events and situations.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: "When There Are No Words", Alex Klein, Cedille, Phillip Bush

Classical Album Review: “Opalescent” from the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

Opalescent’s overriding aspect is celebratory – but from a variety of angles.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: LAGQ Records, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Opalescent

Book Review: “Every Good Boy Does Fine” — A Career in Music, Elucidated With Brilliance

Pianist Jeremy Denk is a sensitive and articulate polymath who can elucidate his ideas about music with wit, humor, and style.

By: Stephen Provizer Filed Under: Books, Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Every Good Boy Does Fine, Jeremy Denk, Stephen Provizer, Steve Provizer

Opera Album Review: The Boston Early Music Festival — One of the Best Recordings Ever of a Baroque Opera

The Boston Early Music Festival returns in person — and in a world-premiere recording of a German Baroque opera.

By: Ralph P. Locke Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Antiochus and Stratonica, Christoph Graupner, Paul O'Dette, Ralph Locke, Stephen Stubbs, The Boston Early Music Festival

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