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Ivan Ženatý, violin, and James Vaughan, piano in Review
Ivan Ženatý, violin, and James Vaughan, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall December 3, 2012 When excellent Czech violinist Ivan Ženatý strides onstage with his pianist James Vaughan, one is in for an evening of artistry, probably whatever the program; presented by Mid-America Productions in an all-Czech program in Weill Hall, the duo…
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Seunghee Lee, Pianist in Review
Presented by MidAmerica Productions Alice Tully Hall, New York, NY November 24, 2012 The arts are in a jumble, but America remains the coveted destination for those who seek higher education and a head start in a classical performance career. As college costs aspire to reach the stars, so do many of our foreign students,…
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Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) in Review
“Messiah…Refreshed!” Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY): Distinguished Concerts Orchestra, Distinguished Concerts Singers International, Jonathan Griffith, Music Director; Penelope Shumate, soprano; Doris Brunatti, contralto; Jorge Garza, tenor; Liam Moran, bass. Avery Fisher Hall; Lincoln Center, New York, NY November 25, 2012 Written in the space of 24 days in 1741, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah is…
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Musica de Camara Orchestra in Review
Musica de Camara 33rd Anniversary Concert Roselin Pabón, guest conductor; The Virtuosi Percussion Ensemble, guest artists Merkin Concert Hall; New York, New York November 20, 2012 Celebrating its 33rd anniversary, the Musica de Camara orchestra presented a concert playing the works of Latin composers and featuring a commissioned work having its World Premiere. A very…
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Park Avenue Chamber Symphony in Review
Park Avenue Chamber Symphony David Bernard, Conductor Terry Eder, Piano All Saints Church, New York October 28, 2012 Where do musically inclined Manhattanites go to exorcise their day-job demons when they would prefer following a conductor to watching one through binoculars? The City offers a handful of choices compared with the array of amateur and…
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Quotes from Famous Composers, Opera Singers, Instrumentalists, and Conductors
As a boy, I mesmerizingly lost myself in books. After all, words mean things, and we are all judged, in part, by the words we use. In those pre-internet days, frequently I hung out at my library, eager to learn what was going on – both near and far. As a budding pianist, one thing…
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Kyung-Hye Baek in Review
Kyung-Hye Baek, piano Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York October 15, 2012 If musical career-building were analogous to cooking, Kyung-Hye Baek might be said to have “the recipe.” Among the sought-after ingredients these days – conservatory studies (a doctorate from Peabody), the requisite recital and orchestral performances (various appearances in Korea, the…
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Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet in Review
Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet Presented by MidAmerica Productions Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall October 6, 2012 Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet gave us a lot to obsess about during the concert—mainly how good they are. Sangster is an excellent saxophonist, and moreover, the group he assembled performed with both an infectious energy and…
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The Schulman-Zito Duo in Review
The Schulman-Zito Duo Louise Schulman, viola; Bill Zito, guitar An Italian in Vienna- Duos by Mauro Giuliani WMP Concert Hall, New York, New York August 21, 2012 Violist Louise Schulman and Guitarist Bill Zito, both critically acclaimed musicians as soloists, joined forces in 2001. The Schulman-Zito duo has taken advantage of the unique timbres of…
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CD in Review- Sophia Agranovich, piano
Liszt: Un Sospiro; La Campanella (arr. Busoni); Rhapsodie Espagnole; Sonata in B Minor Sophia Agranovich, piano Armonioso ($25.24) www.sophiagranovich.com 61 minutes Engineer: Sean Swinney Recording Dates: October 13 and 22, 2011 Franz Liszt needs few plugs to keep his name alive. Arguably the most comprehensive virtuoso performer, composer, charismatic stage personality, career strategist, and altruistic…