We speak in music

To peek inside the human soul, stop reading and listen

Our written language may be poetic, but a large part of our spoken communication is music. And often it's our music rather than our words that reveals our inner landscape to each other.

Pete M. Wyer

Apr 09, 2013 · Articles · 7 minute read

Bach's Passions, two ways (2nd review)

Back-to-back Bach, or: Sympathy for Pontius Pilate

The Philadelphia Orchestra's dramatic production of Bach's St. Matthew Passion won't soon be forgotten. But it benefitted from its juxtaposition with a traditional performance by Vox Amadeus.

Tom Purdom

Apr 02, 2013 · Articles · 5 minute read

Borodin Quartet plays Shostakovich and Beethoven

Shostakovich, by those who knew him well

The Borodin Quartet, in its first Philadelphia visit in 15 years, brought a more burnished Shostakovich than we're accustomed to hearing. That's because these Russian musicians are no longer “discovering” Shostakovich, as the West still is.

Robert Zaller

Apr 02, 2013 · Articles · 6 minute read

Orchestra plays Bach's "St. Matthew Passion' (1st review)

The paradox of genius

In a magnificent performance of Bach's transcendent St. Matthew Passion, Yannick Nézet-Séguin made the most of the drama and emotion contained in the story of Christ's betrayal and crucifixion. That wasn't necessarily Bach's choice, but a work of genius lends itself to multiple interpretations.

Victor L. Schermer

Apr 02, 2013 · Articles · 5 minute read

Who saved the Opera Company?

Nothing succeeds like a successor, or: Philadelphia opera history, rewritten

Robert Driver claims he saved the Opera Company of Philadelphia in the 1990s— and the Inquirer critic has swallowed his self-serving narrative. As Driver's predecessor, I can attest that he takes credit that he doesn't deserve.

Jane Grey Nemeth

Mar 30, 2013 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Owen Wingrave' by Opera Philadelphia and Curtis

One man who refused to fight

Benjamin Britten's rarely performed opera about a pacifist in wartime deserves greater exposure— and more explicit supertitles.

Steve Cohen

Mar 26, 2013 · Articles · 3 minute read

Temple Orchestra's hidden assets

Why do I love Temple? Let me count the ways

Temple's orchestra presented a varied program that showcased conductor Luis Biava and Philadelphia's leading tuba virtuoso.

Tom Purdom

Mar 26, 2013 · Articles · 5 minute read

Philadelphia Orchestra's percussion virtuoso

Drums to waken Wagner, and Stokowski too

Percussionist Colin Currie starred in a noisy and outrageous performance that discomfited some folks in the Philadelphia Orchestra's audience, just the way Leopold Stokowski's innovations used to do.

Steve Cohen

Mar 26, 2013 · Articles · 3 minute read

Palm Sunday's musical miracles

Minor miracles of a Palm Sunday

Our church continued our tradition of the chanted Passion this past Palm Sunday. Over the years we've tweaked it to accommodate the singers and musicians, most of whom are amateurs. The result is itself one of the miracles of the Easter season.

Kile Smith

Mar 26, 2013 · Articles · 2 minute read

Massenet's "Don Quichotte' by AVA

Tilting at Massenet's windmill

Don Quichotte was conceived for Feodor Chaliapin, who possessed a large, deep and expressive bass voice, but Massenet's music asks for understatement and subtlety. Maybe that's why it's so rarely performed. The AVA got the casting right.

Steve Cohen

Mar 23, 2013 · Articles · 2 minute read