Víkingur Ólafsson’s bold keyboard presence gave us a composer pressing against the conventions of his time while absorbing everything his ears took in.
Celebrity-Series
Dance Review: “The Just and the Blind” — Shackled, Humiliated, Scared
The Just and the Blind sends a needed and powerful message — it is 2022, we need to wake up!
Classical Concert Review: Pianist Conrad Tao in Recital
During the pandemic months, Conrad Tao – who, in addition to being an exceptional pianist, is also an accomplished composer – has evidently been honing his skills as an improviser.
Jazz Album Review: Miguel Zenón’s Law Years Band & Christian McBride’s New Jawn Band
Two pianoless quartets + two restless leaders = some of the best music of the last few years.
Dance Commentary: Paul Taylor — Now You See It, Virtually
I’ve always believed that dance has a literature, much like music or drama. Dance’s literature consists of both ideas (choreography) and the execution of ideas (performance).
Concert Review: L.A. Philharmonic — Gustavo Dudamel and Yuja Wang
The charmed trifecta of John Adams, Yuja Wang, and Gustavo Dudamel produced a hit, at least to this Boston audience.
Arts Commentary: 2019-20 Classical Music Preview
I’ve compiled a list of twelve concerts (or concert series) that I think will stand among the future season’s highlights.
Concert Music Review: Violinist Itzhak Perlman and Pianist Evgeny Kissin — An Odd Dream Team
A bit surprising — that two megastars choose such meat and potatoes repertoire.
Dance Review: It’s Party Time — Monica Bill Barnes & Company
Monica Bill Barnes, a dancer-choreographer, mime, storyteller and soft satirist, has riffed in the past on the pitfalls of dancing, the vanity of performers, the absurdities of adolescence. Now she’s looking at gender displacements and assertions.
Jazz Concert Review: Mnozil Brass — Music-as-Vaudeville
The seven-man musical wrecking squad from Austria called Mnozil Brass has created a combination circus band, village band, marching band, and vaudeville orchestra.