• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Donate

The Arts Fuse

Boston's Online Arts Magazine: Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Theater, and more

  • Podcasts
  • Coming Attractions
  • Reviews
  • Short Fuses
  • Interviews
  • Commentary
  • The Arts
    • Performing Arts
      • Dance
      • Music
      • Theater
    • Other
      • Books
      • Film
      • Food
      • Television
      • Visual Arts

Bis

Classical Album Review: United Strings of Europe’s “Renewal”

A young ensemble, the USE is a technically accomplished one and, regardless of the interpretive strengths or weaknesses of each reading, the group’s sheer skill level is evenly impressive.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, Julian Azkoul, United Strings of Europe

Classical Album Review: “Scenes from the Kalevala”

This disc highlights various, early-20th-century works inspired by the Kalevala, the Finnish creation epic. It is a fantastic demonstration of creative programming and invigorating orchestral performance.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, Dima Slobodeniouk, Finland, Kalevala, Kimmo Korhonen, Scenes from the Kalevala, The Lahti Symphony Orchestra

October Short Fuses – Materia Critica

Each month, our arts critics — music, book, theater, dance, and visual arts — fire off a few brief reviews.

By: Bill Marx Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Short Fuses Tagged: A Story That Happens, Allen Michie, Bill-Marx, Bis, BMOP/sound, Dalkey Archive Press, Dan O'Brien, Deutsche Grammophon, Fear & Fantasy, Gerald Peary, Gil-Rose, Hard Luck Love Song, Jason Isbell, Jason M. Rubin, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Jonathan Blumhofer, Justin Corsbie, Justin Hayward, Kristy Edmunds, Krystian Zimerman, La Reine de Saba, Luz, Mark Favermann, MASS MoCA, Mauricio J. Rodriguez, Nico Muhly, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Odyssey Opera, Paul Robicheau, Pentatone, Vapors of Morphine

Classical Album Review: Escher String Quartet — Barber & Ives String Quartets

Here is an outstanding recording from the Escher String Quartet of music by two stylistically divergent 20th-century American composers, Samuel Barber and Charles Ives.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, Escher String Quartet, Jonathan Blumhofer

Classical Album Review: Saint-Saëns Symphonies courtesy of the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège and Jean-Jacques Kantorow

A welcome entry in complete sets of Camille Saint-Saëns’ five symphonies — a composer of his caliber deserves a wealth of viewpoints.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège

Classical CD Review: A Vibrantly Harrowing “Bluebeard’s Castle”

If this is your first Bluebeard’s Castle, Susanna Mälkki’s recording makes for a fine, occasionally inspired, introduction.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bela-Bartok, Bis, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Mika Kares, Susanna Mälkki, Szilvia Vörös

Classical Album Review: Minnesota Orchestra plays Mahler 10

There’s much to admire in the color, character, and urgency of the Minnesotans’ playing and the overall strong direction from conductor Osmo Vänskä.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, MAHLER, Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä

Classical CD Reviews: Beethoven Chamber Music, Part 1 – Goerne & Lisiecki Lieder, Paul Lewis plays the Bagatelles, and Frank Peter Zimmermann plays Violin Sonatas

Three new discs do right by Beethoven’s chamber music.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Music, Review Tagged: Beethoven Chamber pieces, Bis, Deutsche Grammophon, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Goerne & Lisiecki, Harmonia Mundi, Jan Lisiecki, Matthias Goerne, Paul Lewis

Classical CD Reviews: “Clytemnestra,” Max Reger’s “Der Einsiedler,” and Richard Strauss “Lieder”

Soprano Ruby Hughes’ album is fine, well played, sung, and programmed; baritone Christoph Prégardien delivers vocal works by Mahler, Alexander von Zemlinsky, and Max Reger with warmth; soprano Diana Damrau is in her glorious prime singing the songs of Strauss.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Bis, Christoph Prégardien, Diana Damrau, Ruby Hughes, Solo Musica, Warner Classics

Classical CD Reviews: “Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition,” Morton Gould “Symphonettes,” and Lindberg conducts Bernstein

Lovers of American music, don’t miss Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition ; Lindberg’s recording of Leonard Bernstein’s first two symphonies lacks a compelling command of the musician’s singular voice; the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra tackles four pieces by Morton Gould.

By: Jonathan Blumhofer Filed Under: Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review Tagged: Arthur Fagin, Aspects of America: The Pulitzer Edition, Bis, Christian Lindberg, Leonard Bernstein, Morton Gould, Naxos, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Pentatone

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search

Popular Posts

  • Rock Album Review: The Tedeschi Trucks Band’s “I Am The Moon” — Nothing If Not Ambitious Crescent gives us the first five songs of the I Am The... posted on May 30, 2022
  • Theater Review: “1776” — Still an Egg in the Theatrical Incubator This revival of 1776 tries to strike a culture wars bal... posted on June 5, 2022
  • Television Review: “Shoresy” — A Spin-off That Falls Short The Canadian sports comedy Shoresy works as its own ser... posted on June 7, 2022
  • Album Review: Drummer Bill Bruford’s “Making a Song and Dance” — Adventures Galore Legendary percussionist Bill Bruford’s recorded output... posted on May 31, 2022
  • Book Review: “Translating Myself and Others” — The Air We Breathe The cumulative effect over the course of Jhumpa Lahiri'... posted on June 15, 2022

Social

Follow us:

Follow the Conversation

  • Mark Favermann June 27, 2022 at 2:45 pm on Visual Arts Commentary: Two Books and a Play — Creating Architectural LiteracyAccording to The NY Times, Straight Line Crazy, the play by David Hare about the contentious urban planner Robert Moses,...
  • Bill Marx, Editor of The Arts Fuse June 27, 2022 at 9:57 am on Theater Review: “Common Ground Revisited” – Revivifying HistoryJust wanted to add my assent to this wise statement: Theater can touch an audience at a deep emotional level,...
  • Ruth Faris June 26, 2022 at 10:16 pm on Film Review: The Devil and “Elvis”Nicely written, makes me want to see it, thanks Tim!
  • Norm June 26, 2022 at 7:03 pm on Film Review: The Devil and “Elvis”Any doubts about seeing the film dispelled by your cool review.
  • Joan Lancourt June 26, 2022 at 6:15 pm on Theater Review: “Common Ground Revisited” – Revivifying HistoryI think Jacqueline Houton hit the nail on the head when she says "a scene or two from the past...

Footer

  • About Us
  • Advertising/Underwriting
  • Syndication
  • Media Resources
  • Editors and Contributors

We Are

Boston’s online arts magazine since 2007. Powered by 70+ experts and writers.

Follow Us

Monthly Archives

Categories

"Use the point of your pen, not the feather." -- Jonathan Swift

Copyright © 2022 · The Arts Fuse - All Rights Reserved · Website by Stephanie Franz