Middleman Karl

Karl Middleman

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since September 13, 2011

Karl Middleman is artistic director of the Philadelphia Classical Symphony.

Known as an extremely versatile musician, Karl Middleman is familiar to classical music audiences as a conductor of many orchestras and choirs. The Suddeutsche Zeitung in Munich acclaimed Karl Middleman's conducting as “resolute and impressive.†“Energetic, vivid, and hugely satisfying,†praised the Turkish Times.

A career educator, he has served on the faculties of Arcadia University, Cabrini, Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community Colleges. Currently he teaches at Temple University.

Recently he served as Arts Advocate and Trainer for the ‘Classroom Arts Project' of Partners in Distance Learning, as well as Scholar in Known as an extremely versatile musician, Karl Middleman is familiar to classical music audiences as a conductor of many orchestras and choirs. The Suddeutsche Zeitung in Munich acclaimed Karl Middleman's conducting as “resolute and impressive.†“Energetic, vivid, and hugely satisfying,†praised the Turkish Times.

A career educator, he has served on the faculties of Arcadia University, Cabrini, Philadelphia and Montgomery County Community Colleges. Currently he teaches at Temple University. Recently he served as Arts Advocate and Trainer for the ‘Classroom Arts Project' of Partners in Distance Learning, as well as Scholar in Residence for the South Jersey and Philadelphia Jewish Community Centers. Currently he is a Commonwealth Speaker for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council. His “Dvorak in America,†TV program for PHC will be broadcast on Pennsylvania Cable Network in December 2011.

He is a regular workshop leader for Pendle Hill Retreat Center, where he teaches courses on music and aesthetics.

In 1994 Middleman initiated a series of legendary concerts with the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, mixing scholarship with showmanship. Middleman's thematic concerts with that ensemble are noted for their spirited intellectual inquiry and for the bold, revelatory ways they reframe the essential classical music experience for seasoned as well as novice listeners.

He is a recipient of many awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. His artistry has been recently cited in 19th-Century Music and Philadelphia Magazine, from which his work with the Classical Symphony was twice awarded "Best of Philly."

By this Author

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Page 1
Kristen Choi as Suzuki, Yunah Lee as Cio-Cio-San, and Aleksey Bogdanov as Sharpless in the Glimmerglass Festival's 2014 production of ‘Madame Butterfly.’ (Photo: Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival.)

The 2014 Glimmerglass Opera Festival, part two

A new take on ‘Madame Butterfly’

Francesca Zambello may well be a model for opera directors in the 21st century. Her direction of Madame Butterfly hints at some of the reasons why.
Karl Middleman

Karl Middleman

Articles 5 minute read
Christian Bowers as Clyde Griffiths in the Glimmerglass Festival's new production of Tobias Picker's "An American Tragedy." (Photo: Karli Cadel/The Glimmerglass Festival)

The 2014 Glimmerglass Opera Festival

Deserted, abused, drowned, abandoned

In the summer, you have to leave Philly to enjoy opera. The Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York is a worthwhile destination.
Karl Middleman

Karl Middleman

Articles 6 minute read
Bard's multi-talented Leon Botstein: A role model for Yannick? (Photo: Steve Pyke.)

Lessons for Philadelphia from the Bard Music Festival

How to resuscitate Classical music: Ten lessons from the Bard Summer Festival

Thousands of visitors flock to Bard College every August for Bard's famous summer music festival. What's the big draw, and what lessons can Philadelphians learn from Bard's success? The real attraction is the promise of intellectual discovery.
Karl Middleman

Karl Middleman

Articles 8 minute read