"Porgy and Bess' on Broadway

Whose Porgy is it, anyway?

Tinker with Gershwin's Porgy and Bess? Why not? Producers have been doing it for 75 years, beginning with the composer himself.

Steve Cohen

Aug 19, 2012 · Articles · 5 minute read

Allen Krantz at Laurel Hill

A lucky accident

Accidentally forced to give a rare solo program, the guitarist-composer Allen Krantz demonstrated his skills as a teacher and speaker.

Tom Purdom

Aug 14, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Tempesta di Mare at the Barnes

What would Albert Barnes say? Better ask: What would Vivaldi say?

Tempesta di Mare's first appearance at the Barnes triggered ruminations on concert settings, amplification and, of course, the wisdom of moving the Barnes itself.

Tom Purdom

Aug 07, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Met's "Tales of Hoffman' in HD-Live (3 years later)

What a difference three years make

Seeing the Met's 2009 Tales of Hoffman, I'm struck by the exceptional changes that three years have wrought. Since then, James Levine is gone, Anna Netrebko has declined, and other companies have done more justice to Offenbach's work.

Steve Cohen

Jul 31, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Atzilut: Jews and Arabs at Bryn Mawr

A musical solution for the Middle East

How to prevent Jews and Arabs from fighting? Get them to start singing.

Steve Cohen

Jul 28, 2012 · Articles · 2 minute read

"Music As Alchemy': Inside the great conductors

The work behind the wand (from both sides of the podium)

How do conductors elicit great sounds from their musicians? In Music As Alchemy, Tom Service follows six prominent conductors as they pursue their arcane trade. Who knew that Claudio Abbado steadfastly avoids unionized orchestras?

Tom Purdom

Jul 24, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Can computers replace composers?

With Darwin and a computer, who needs Mozart?

When Beethoven was a little baby/ Sittin' on his daddy's knee,/ He picked up an iPhone, little CD-ROM,/ Said, “Computer's gonna be the death of me, Lawd, Lawd”¦.”

Kile Smith

Jul 24, 2012 · Articles · 6 minute read

Can black opera save Classical music?

Beyond Leontyne Price: For whom the black operatic bell tolls

Exciting and innovative black operas are struggling because white audiences tend to avoid them. But all classical music groups are struggling because white audiences tend to avoid them. Is there a common cause here? And might there be a solution to both problems?

Maria Thompson Corley

Jul 17, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read

Rachmaninoff's "Aleko' by Russian Opera Workshop

A Rachmaninoff opera? Who knew?

No major American company in this country has ever produced Rachmaninoff's unfortunately neglected Aleko. Ghenady Meirson's Russian Opera Workshop offered a taste of what we've missed.

Steve Cohen

Jul 03, 2012 · Articles · 3 minute read

Dolce Suono at Laurel Hill

Smiles of a summer night

Dolce Suono's “Concert by Candlelight” at Laurel Hill contained enough depth to repay close attention without disturbing a relaxed summery mood.

Tom Purdom

Jul 03, 2012 · Articles · 4 minute read