Curtis Orchestra plays Russian masterworks

Are second thoughts best?

Curtis Orchestra's final concert of the season featured second thoughts on Russian masterworks by Prokofiev and Stravinsky. I'm not sure why Philadelphia couldn't hear some of Valery Gergeiev's recent traversal of the Prokofiev symphonies (which went to Washington), but the Curtis performances were at least a consolation prize. The caliber of this student orchestra, despite the annual changeovers of its graduation cycle, easily stands comparison with most professional groups anywhere.

Robert Zaller

May 02, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Orchestra's "Damnation of Faust'

Faust is damned (and I'm bemused)

The Damnation of Faust is the kind of work that throws the literary half of my personality into a state of head-shaking bemusement. The musical half, on the other hand, revels in every bar. And this time I had no complaints with Simon Rattle.

Tom Purdom

May 02, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

Mitsuko Uchida at the Perelman

The agony and the ecstasy

Mitsuko Uchida's piano recital at the Perelman was, in some surprising ways, a deeply unsettling experience. But in the end, she demonstrated why she is a musical legend.

Dan Coren

May 02, 2009 · Articles · 6 minute read

Sonata form (Part 11): Recapitulation

How Beethoven changed everything

Beethoven devoted most of his career to intensifying the inherent drama of sonata-form. Ultimately he drilled so deeply into its bedrock that the form itself became barely recognizable in his very last works. In this 11th installment in his series on sonata-form, Dan Coren moves on to the recapitulation section.

Dan Coren

Apr 28, 2009 · Articles · 6 minute read

Wagner's "Ring' cycle (Part 2)

The Ring keeps changing (but then, so did Wagner)

For the past half-century, producers of Wagner's Ring have focused on the characters' psychology, much more than on the telling of a story. Instead of celebrating German forests, castles and genius, they tapped into themes like fear of death and loss of control. All well and good. But must the original version disappear altogether?

Steve Cohen

Apr 28, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

The Baroque revival: Three concerts

Telemann's revenge, or: The sheer delight of going for Baroque

For musicians, today's Baroque revival has created new opportunities and challenges. For those of us who sit in the audience, it has broadened our experience and added new names to the musical firmament that were once long forgotten.

Tom Purdom

Apr 25, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Sandro Russo's Lisztomania

Franz Liszt is his agent

The pianist Sandro Russo has no agent, but his obsession with the music of Franz Liszt has opened global opportunities for him. His latest coup: a DVD recorded on Liszt's own 1862 Bechstein piano. (With a video excerpt of Russo playing Liszt's Bechstein.)

Maria Thompson Corley

Apr 21, 2009 · Articles · 5 minute read

Masur conducts the Philadelphia Orchestra

Do I hear a symphony— before intermission?

By opening with a symphony, the popular guest conductor Kurt Masur challenged the established order of things at the Philadelphia Orchestra. In his closing piece he demonstrated a dash of audience savvy as well.

Tom Purdom

Apr 21, 2009 · Articles · 3 minute read

Time-hopping with Ancient Instruments

Swept away by a Romantic sound

America's oldest active period instrument organization presented one of the most educational interludes I've experienced at a concert. The moment the big emotional voice of Vivian Barton Dozor's cello filled Old First Reformed, I understood why the Romantic movement had captivated Europe and swept away most of the music that preceded it.

Tom Purdom

Apr 14, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read

Network For New Music: Composing for painting

If Thomas Eakins could carry a tune…

The Network for New Music asked three composers to create works based on paintings— and these composers actually did what they were asked to do.

Tom Purdom

Apr 07, 2009 · Articles · 4 minute read