Peter Burwasser

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since May 12, 2020

Peter Burwasser is a writer in Philadelphia. He is a critic for Fanfare magazine and is the program annotator for Curtis Opera Theater.

Peter Burwasser is a writer in Philadelphia. He is a critic for Fanfare magazine and is the program annotator for Curtis Opera Theater. In the past he has been a contributor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pew Charitable Trusts and Philadelphia Music Makers Magazine, and was the long time classical music critic for Philadelphia City Paper. Peter is a board member and the past president of the Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia and is a current trustee of the Presser Foundation.

By this Author

17 results
Page 1
Philly composer Scott Ordway has released new works for voice and cello. (Photo by Amanda Greene.)

‘Girl in the Snow’ and ‘Nineteen movements for unaccompanied cello’ by Scott Ordway

Music of memory, dreams, and love
Philadelphia composer Scott Ordway’s music is featured on two new recordings on the Acis label, including ‘Girl in the Snow,’ a beautiful song cycle, and a large work for solo cello. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Reviews 3 minute read
A parade of musical characters: a practice session of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet at the conference in 1980. (Photo by Alice Berman.)

‘The Music of Friends’ by David W. Webber

American classical music grows up
Since 1946, Vermont’s Chamber Music Conference has been an important part of American musical life, attracting many Philadelphia luminaries. A new book, ‘The Music of Friends,’ tells the story. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
This offering from longtime composer colleagues James Primosch and John Harbison has some major musical contributions. (Image courtesy of Albany Records.)

Albany Records presents ‘Descent/Return: Music of John Harbison and James Primosch’

A musical friendship
An album of music for solo piano and songs for soprano includes works by long-time Penn faculty member James Primosch, as well as music from one of his revered mentors, John Harbison. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Boldly harnessing the organ at Notre Dame Cathedral: composer Gerald Levinson with organist Olivier Latry rehearsing for the 2013 premiere of ‘Au Coeur de l’Infini.’ (Photo by Nanine Valen.)

‘Now Your Colors Sing’ by Gerald Levinson

A 48-year suite
A new double album from Swarthmore-based composer Gerald Levinson is a retrospective of a leading light of the Philadelphia new-music scene and beyond, bursting with bright hues and grand sonorities.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Texture, wit, and whimsy: Andrew Rudin in the early 1970s, when he was composing the works now on ‘Synthesizer Pioneer.’ (Image courtesy of the artist.)

‘Synthesizer Pioneer: The Early Electronic Music of Andrew Rudin’ from Centaur Records

When the Moog was young
‘Synthesizer Pioneer’ from Centaur Records offers a survey of the quirky music for Moog Synthesizer from veteran Philadelphia composer Andrew Rudin. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Composer Kile Smith makes a time machine out of music in his new recording. (Image courtesy of the artist.)

The Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble presents Kile Smith’s ‘Canticle’

Delicate ecstasy
Composer and longtime BSR contributor Kile Smith demonstrates his mastery of choral music in a new recording, ‘Canticle,’ now available on CD or for download. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Pianist Clipper Erickson brings Philly flavor to his latest recording. (Photo courtesy of the artist.)

Navona Records presents Clipper Erickson’s ‘Tableau, Tempest and Tango’

An intrepid piano
In his new album, pianist Clipper Erickson plays theatrical new music with Philly connections, plus a freshly rendered musical chestnut. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
T.S. Monk's Annenberg debut offered a loving tribute to his father. (Photo courtesy of T.S. Monk.)

Annenberg Center Live presents T.S. Monk

The legend lives on
T.S. Monk led a sextet of jazz virtuosos in a loving tribute to his father, jazz legend Thelonious Monk. Peter Burwassser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Dave Burrell played an hour of stream-of-consciousness full-bore sound. (Photo by Ryan Collerd.)

FringeArts and Ars Nova present 'The October Revolution of Jazz and Contemporary Music'

Vive la révolution
A new four-day festival of jazz and contemporary music featured 18 acts and a multifaceted view of new music. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Iyer's performance drew from a multitude of influences. (Photo by Lena Adasheva.)

Annenberg Center presents Vijay Iyer

Smart piano
MacArthur grant recipient Vijay Iyer visited the Annenberg Center for a rare solo piano performance. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 2 minute read
This trio of Gill music coheres as "one giant concerto." (Image courtesy of bmopsound.org.)

'Jeremy Gill: Before the Wresting Tides,' by Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Gil Rose

A singular voice of many colors
The Boston Modern Orchestra Project's late-2017 recording of longtime Philadelphia (now Boston-based) composer Jeremy Gill's work shouldn't be overlooked. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
PRISM Quartet. (Photo by Jacqueline Hanna.)

PRISM Quartet's 'Color Theory, Music for Saxophones, Percussion and Harry Partch Instruments'

Four saxophones, percussion, and the junkyard band
PRISM Quartet joins forces with a plethora of musicians, composers, and highly unusual instruments. Peter Burwasser likes what he hears.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
The Daedalus Quartet in repose. (Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco)

The Penn Museum's 'Black Angels and Secrets: An Extraordinary Evening with the Daedalus Quartet'

Spacey music
Daedalus String Quartet (and friends) present three works by living composers, two designed to interact with the unique acoustics of the Chinese Rotunda at the Penn Museum, and a fresh look at a contemporary classic. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Timothy Chooi goes for baroque. (Photo by Ryan Brandenberg)

The 2016 Astral National Auditions Winners Concert

Astral winners reach for the stars
Astral’s class of 2016 is showcased in a program introducing six solo performers and one ensemble. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Articles 3 minute read
Yannick conducts the orchestra on the Verizon Hall stage. Three women singers stand at the front with mics and music stands.

The Philadelphia Orchestra presents Kevin Puts’s The Hours

Keeping time for Virginia Woolf
The Hours, a new opera by Kevin Puts and librettist Greg Pierce, is the latest incarnation of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway, encompassing love, regret, creativity, mental illness, and the human capacity for forgiveness. Peter Burwasser reviews.

Peter Burwasser

Reviews 3 minute read