Music

Concert Review: TV on the Radio — A Reassuring Return

August 1, 2025
Posted in , , ,

Despite the passing years, personal loss, and shifting musical roles, Wednesday’s 80-minute set proved that everything’s indeed ok with TV on the Radio.

Opera Album Review: A World-Premiere Recording of a Sprightly Three-Act Operatic Comedy from 1882

August 1, 2025
Posted in , , ,

By Ralph P. Locke Joachim Raff’s energetic and characterful Die Eifersüchtigen hits its mark, in its first production ever. Joachim Raff: Die Eifersüchtigen (The Jealous Ones) Serafina Giannoni (Donna Rosa), Raìsa Ierone (Donna Bianca), Mirjam Fässler (Ninetta), Benjamin Popson (Don Claudio), Batthias Bein (Beppino), Balduin Schneeberger (Don Giulio), Martin Roth (Don Geronimo). Orchestra of Europe,…

Concert Review: John Williams’ Piano Concerto Pays Homage to Jazz Legends

July 30, 2025
Posted in , , ,

John Williams’s concert music may be intended to enrich and edify, but there’s always room for a little fandom, particularly on occasions like this. At 93, and after a lifetime of firsts, the composer deserves every accolade.

Festival Review: Newport Folk 2025 — Signs of Fresh Hope

July 30, 2025
Posted in , , ,

Newport Folk Festival will likely never deliver cameos as ground shaking as those in 2022, when stars aligned for Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon to grace separate tributes. But it doesn’t have to, given that there’s so much talent already on site.

Classical Album Reviews: Price & Dvorak Piano Quintets and Shostakovich Preludes & Fugues

July 27, 2025
Posted in , , ,

Pianist Yulianna Avdeeva’s recording of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Preludes & Fugues is a testament to that rarest of syntheses: a total identification of a musician with her repertoire. Pianist Marc-André Hamelin and the Takács Quartet release an album that, on so many levels, is simply a joy.

Concert Review: Amy Beach’s Piano Concerto Revived on the Esplanade

July 26, 2025
Posted in , , ,

Music by Amy Beach, Leonard Bernstein, Florence Price, John Harbison, and John Williams: this Boston Landmarks Orchestra concert had a little something for everyone.

Opera Album Review: A Near-Forgotten Czech Opera Via a Vivid 1959 Recording Available in Stereo!

July 26, 2025
Posted in , , , ,

The world-renowned tenor Ivo Židek leads a spirited cast, and reminds us how involving opera can be when sung by native speakers.

Classical Album Reviews: Jordi Savall Conducts Schumann and Bruckner and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s “The Planets & Earth”

July 25, 2025
Posted in , , ,

What business has a period orchestra got playing the music of Anton Bruckner? And why can’t conductors and orchestras just leave Gustav Holst’s “The Planets” alone?

Concert Review: Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra Plays Prokofiev and Berlioz

July 23, 2025
Posted in , , ,

Mother Nature provided singular and poetic assistance during Sunday’s afternoon outing at Tanglewood.

Musician Interview: Talking to Folk-Rock Troubadour Steve Forbert

July 23, 2025
Posted in , , ,

It’s difficult to say if Steve Forbert sounds youthful now or if he has long since fully grown into his always expressive and distinctive voice. Or both.

Recent Posts

Popular Posts

Categories

Archives