Music

Author Interview: Kevin Mattson on a Genuine Culture War — Punks versus Reagan

March 20, 2021
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The real culture war in 1980s America was waged by young people who were trying to create their own culture and jealously rejected corporate culture along the way.

Classical Album Review: Hilary Hahn’s “Paris” — A Thrilling Ride

March 19, 2021
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Violinist Hilary Hahn’s blend of musical curiosity, expressive savvy, and technical excellence doesn’t often appear in one person.

Jazz Album Reviews: Benoît Delbecq and Satoko Fujii — Resilience Made Beautiful

March 18, 2021
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A couple of adventurous pianists decided, as their latest solo releases confirm, to use forced isolation as a spur to inspiration.

Jazz Album Review: Charles Lloyd & the Marvels — Still Telling Genre-Blurring Stories

March 17, 2021
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It’s rare to find a band that so naturally assimilates its individual voices to strike a collective palette.

Rap Review: M.I.A. — Her “AIM” Is Still True

March 15, 2021
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The Sri Lankan rapper’s outspoken support for refugees — the focus of her 2016 album — remains relevant as the United States and the rest of the world continue to grapple with immigration reform.

Music Appreciation: Exit Daft Punk

March 13, 2021
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Few bands have shown themselves to be as infectious about their art — and for so long.

Classical Music Album Review: Gil Shaham & The Knights Play Beethoven and Brahms

March 12, 2021
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These two performances showcase a group of instrumentalists whose collective musicianship is electrifying: full of just the right combination of wonder, play, and discovery this much-loved repertoire needs in order to sound fresh and truly come to life.

Jazz Concert Review: Maria Schneider with the NEC Jazz Orchestra

March 11, 2021
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Radiating a shaman-like mysteriousness, Maria Schneider prowled the performance space, calling forth dark twists and turns from the collective while summoning anguished expressions from the soloist.

Cultural Commentary: Arts Institutions, Unions, and the Pandemic

March 11, 2021
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It behooves audiences to be aware of how workers in the arts organizations they frequent are treated and whether management is operating in good faith.

Opera Album Review: An Opéra-Comique from 1832 Shines Again in a Superb Recording

March 10, 2021
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Performed 1600 times in Paris, then forgotten, Hérold’s brilliantly witty, Le pré aux clercs shines again in a splendid recording.

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