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Continuum: Spotlight on Georgia
Continuum: Spotlight on Georgia Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY May 9, 2010 Continuum, now in its 44th season under the direction of founders Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs, appears to be more vital than ever. A recent program focusing on new works by composers from the Republic of Georgia underscored this impression. We heard four…
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Richard Strauss Duo Recital
Richard Strauss Duo Recital Sharon Cheng, soprano and Michael Fennelly, piano Jennifer Grimaldi, soprano and Max Midoit, piano Bechstein Piano Centre, New York City May 4, 2010 What a pleasure it was to hear two fine sopranos, accompanied by two sensitive pianists, skillfully performing the glorious songs of Richard Strauss in a well-lit intimate setting.…
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Enhake Quartet
Enhake Quartet Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY May 3, 2010 An evening of works by five living composers was presented by the Enhake Quartet from Florida State University on May 3rd. The members of this foursome, all impressive soloists and adept chamber musicians, made strong cases for each of the compositions on…
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Dan Franklin Smith, piano
Dan Franklin Smith, piano Musica de Camara Museum of the City of New York May 2, 2010 Dan Franklin Smith is a pianist that any composer should feel lucky to have as an advocate. In “A Musical Tapestry for the Beginning of the 21st Century,” a program featuring eight composers ranging in age from their…
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The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony All Saints Church, New York, NY May 2, 2010 The program was perfect: it had a central idea, which was music from or inspired by France. But even though the works were nicely tied together, they were also satisfyingly well-contrasted from one another. Bizet’s Symphony in C was composed by…
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Hiroko Sasaki, piano
Hiroko Sasaki, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY April 28, 2010 One of this writer’s fondest memories was the distinguished debut of a young Japanese-born pianist, Hiroko Sasaki, on May 8, 2003 (my review of that Weill Hall concert appeared in volume 10, No. 3 of this journal). Ms. Sasaki has…
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Victor Goldberg, piano
Victor Goldberg, piano Pro Musicis Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY April 21, 2010 Victor Goldberg is an excellent pianist with a formidable technique, a powerful tone, and a romantic soul (and a distracting habit of tossing his hands way up). Russian-born, he has studied, performed and won competitions in Europe, Israel…
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Daniel Cho, violin
Daniel Cho, violin Sunglee Victoria Choi, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY April 20, 2010 Daniel Cho played with a robust, confident sound at his New York recital debut, sponsored by the Korea Music Foundation; he displays a technique that is comparable to many top professionals today. Winner of the 2009…
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Choral Chameleon
Choral Chameleon Vince Peterson, Artistic Director Sanctuary of the Fourth Universalist Society, New York, NY April 18, 2010 Choral Chameleon is a nineteen-voice chamber chorus whose mission “is to engage listeners in a diverse and innovative musical experience through its integrative concert programming and education outreach.” Their early-evening concert was titled “Hymns for the Amusement…
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Yoonjung Han, piano
Yoonjung Han, piano Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York, NY April 16, 2010 Gold medalist at the 2008 World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, South Korean pianist Yoonjung Han recently presented her debut recital at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. A feeling of celebration and anticipation of the moment filled the auditorium. Having made her…