• Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) in Review

    “MESSIAH…REFRESHED!” Jonathan Griffith, conductor Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center November 27, 2011 Distinguished Concerts International New York has long been bringing large choruses to this city to perform in concerts with soloists and a fine freelance orchestra. I have heard them before, usually presenting very exciting performances of contemporary works. And today’s performance of Handel’s…

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  • Narek Arutyunian clarinetist in Review

    Narek Arutyunian clarinetist in Review Steven Beck, piano Merkin Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY December 13, 2011 Music is a form of communication, transference of ideas from the player to the audience.  This would seem to be the motivation behind any performance, and yet, many performances fall short of this goal for…

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  • Cuarteto Rústico in Review

    George Anthony Figueroa, violin Ariadna Buonviri, violin Cassandra Stephenson-Sulbarán, viola Jorge Espinoza, cello Hosack Hall, New York Academy of Medicine December 9, 2011 This concert was presented by Musica de Camara, one of whose missions is to present concerts in non- traditional venues, so as to bring great music to under-served communities. Who knew that…

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  • Kotaro Fukuma, Pianist in Review

    Kotaro Fukuma, Pianist in Review Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall December 6, 2011   In a Weill Hall recital presented by New York Concert Artists and Associates, Kotaro Fukuma, who was born in Tokyo but now resides in Berlin, performed a beautifully varied program for a full house audience. The first half consisted of…

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  • Aglaia Koras pianist in Review

    Aglaia Koras pianist in Review Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY November 29, 2011 A large and most enthusiastic audience was on hand for this very demanding recital by Aglaia Koras. Works spanning over 150 years of music history, from Bach to Rachmaninoff were performed. She began with Mozart’s Fantasy in D…

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  • Lloyd Arriola pianist in Review

    Lloyd Arriola, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY November 20, 2011         Continuing the celebration of Franz Liszt’s 200th anniversary, Lloyd Arriola added his Weill Recital Hall debut to the festivities, bringing works to the table that are less than familiar to the average concertgoer. One could dedicate…

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  • Rutgers Pianists in Review

    Rutgers Pianists in Review Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall November 13, 2011   Twelve piano students from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University performed an all-Liszt program, one of so many tributes honoring the composer’s 200th birthday. The pianists hailed from many nations and represented several degree programs at the…

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  • Adam Gyorgy Pianist in Review

     Adam Gyorgy  pianist in Review Stern Auditorium at  Carnegie Hall, New York, NY November 13, 2011    It is a testament to the gifts of Franz Liszt that, well into this year of countless 200th anniversary commemorative concerts, Liszt’s music still emerges as the inexhaustible treasure that it is. Having given several all-Liszt recitals just…

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  • The Stone River Chamber Players in Review

    The Stone River Chamber Players in Review Lynn Rice-See, piano Andrea Dawson, violin Christine Kim, cello Todd Waldecker, clarinet Steinway Hall, New York, NY November 3, 2011     The Stone River Chamber Players is an ensemble-in-residence in the School of Music at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) in Murphreesboro, Tennessee. Four of the eighteen…

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  • Michael Kelly, Baritone in Review

    Michael Kelly, Baritone in Review Jonathan Ware, pianist Merkin Concert Hall, New York, NY October 24, 2011 After the first of the five Schubert songs which began this recital, it was easy to see why Michael Kelly was Joy in Singing’s 2011 Award winner. In “Hoffnung” he exhibited all of the qualities one looks for…

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