Classical Music

Arts Interview: Celebrity Series’ Marty Jones Looks Back With Candor

May 26, 2011
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“People often ask what is the biggest change in the arts in Boston over 30 years, and it all has to do with technology. Diminished funding, economic downturns, and 9/11 all changed things. But what’s really driven change is technology.”

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Classical Music Review: Maria Padilla and the indomitable Barbara Quintiliani

May 10, 2011
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The past week saw its New England premiere of “Maria Padilla,” and while it’s received mixed reviews in the press, no one could fault the singing. It’s just that it is a very strange opera, with all signs pointing towards a tragedy, but it all ends happily — for an opera, anyway.

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Classical Music Sampler: May 2011

April 26, 2011
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The month’s international highlights include the Boston Modern Orchestra taking on the music of India, The Cantata Singers finishing up their homage to British composer Ralph Vaughn Williams, and Musica Sacra performing Flemish Choral Music of the High Renaissance. By Susan Miron. Sunday, May 1 @ 1:30 p.m. at MassArt’s Pozen Hall, Boston, MA. The…

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Classical Music Review: Finally Joining the Cult of Tomsic

April 17, 2011
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The audience went wild; Chopin’s Ballades do that to people. Cheering broke out after Dubravka Tomsic played the second ballade, and by the fourth, which starts out quietly like a lullaby and builds up to an all-out, rhapsodic, virtuosic tour de force, the entire audience seemed smitten. Dubravka Tomsic. Presented by the Celebrity Series at…

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Classical Music Review: The Rock Stars of Renaissance Vocal Music

April 4, 2011
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The Tallis Scholars are a beloved Boston fixture, thanks to their relationship with the Boston Early Music Festival, which will have them back on June 17th for their twenty-second annual appearance.

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Classical Music Feature: D’Anna Fortunato and The Music of Our Time

March 30, 2011
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One of the most interesting concerts of the season occurs on April 5th at NEC’s Jordan Hall in Boston, MA. The wonderful mezzo soprano D’Anna Fortunato will perform, with a stellar group of musicians, vocal chamber music of the twentieth century in honor of Gunther Schuller’s 85th birthday.

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Classical Music Review: The Mastery of Guitarist John Williams

March 27, 2011
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Once he managed to get his recalcitrant instrument in tune, guitarist John Williams played each piece with great mastery. One might not remember the names of the composers or even what each composition sounded like, but no one will forget the sheet beauty of his guitar playing

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Classical Music Review: The Astounding Tenor Matthew Polenzani

March 26, 2011
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The world of tenors has expanded exponentially, it would seem, since the days when Luciano Pavoratti and Placido Domingo dominated the big tenor roles and the attention of the media and opera-loving public. Domingo, astonishingly, is still singing brilliantly, conducting, and running an opera company, but recently there have been a good half dozen excellent youngish tenors singing at the Met, including the fabulously gifted lyric tenor Matthew Polenzani.

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Music Review: Masterworks Chorale’s Inspiring Tribute to Music Director Allen Lannom

March 12, 2011
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The Masterworks Chorale sang better than I had ever heard them; perhaps they felt the sense of occasion—this was a piece that meant a great deal to Mr. Lannom, whose thoughts on the composition were featured in the program booklet. By Susan Miron Antonin Dvorák’s “Stabat Mater,” Op. 58, is a classic example of a…

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Classical Music Review: A Killer “Cardillac”

March 1, 2011
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Many musicians know Paul Hindemith (1895–1963) as a somewhat dry composer who wrote a few operas as well as sonatas for every instrument and some half dozen for viola (he played both violin and viola extremely well). But real Hindemith has a cutting lyrical gift, much of  it is on display in his kinky opera…

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