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Gilbert’s Seamless Schumann
Gilbert’s Seamless Schumann On December 30th, 2009, The New York Philharmonic, with Alan Gilbert conducting, gave one of the greatest performances of Schumann’s Second Symphony you will ever hear. Why? Not only was it executed with a beautiful, polished sound by all the sections in the orchestra, but the interpretation was extremely honest to the…
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Quintessential Gershwin at the Philharmonic
Quintessential Gershwin at the Philharmonic On December 31st, 2009, conductor Alan Gilbert wisely let the New York Philharmonic do their thing (and that swing) in Gershwin’s “American in Paris”, as the orchestra—due to its long history with the work– can possibly play it like they play Bernstein’s “Candide Overture”: that is without a conductor. But…
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Continuum
Continuum Canadian Music – The New Individualists Americas Society, New York, NY December 8, 2009 In the first concert of its 44th New York season, Continuum did one of the things it does best: explore important, talented composers who are relatively unknown in this country. Music of Canada was presented in a program entitled “Northern…
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The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony
The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony David Bernard, conductor Drew Petersen, piano All Saints Church, New York, NY December 6, 2009 In a program called “Cinematic Genius”, the conductor David Bernard explored concert pieces that were later incorporated into film. Johann Strauss’s “On the Beautiful Blue Danube” seems far-fetched for a film about outer space, but…
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Piano Concertos with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra
Piano Concertos with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Symphony Space, New York, NY December 1, 2009 The young presenting organization, New York Concert Artists and Associates (est. 2008), continued its work in an ambitious evening that included the Brahms Piano Trio in C Major, Op. 87, Mozart’s Piano Concerto in B-flat…
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Michail Lifits, piano
Michail Lifits, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY November 23, 2009 Pianist Mikhail Lifits is on quite a winning streak. At his recent solo recital as First Prize winner of the Hilton Head International Piano Competition, his impressive biography did not even list his top prize in the Busoni Competition, which…
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Yoko Suzuki, piano
Yoko Suzuki, piano Frank and Camille’s Piano Salon, New York, NY November 20, 2009 Appearing in the United States for the first time, pianist Yoko Suzuki played an excellent recital of Spanish music. Tokyo-born, Ms. Suzuki received her Masters degree at the Marshall Academy in Barcelona (where she currently resides) and has performed regularly in…
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Orlay Alonso, piano
Orlay Alonso, piano The Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York, NY November 8, 2009 In an exciting and varied program, Orlay Alonso captivated his audience with a solo recital that showed his communicative gifts, both in his personable style in addressing the audience and his projective performances. It was a joy to be in…
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Aglaia Koras, piano
Aglaia Koras, piano Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY November 5, 2009 Pianist Aglaia Koras suffered through a car accident on her way to her concert on November 5th, so it wouldn’t be fair to go into detail about technicality, memory or specifics of her program. It must be said, however, that…