Piffaro's holiday concert, Mediterranean Holiday

A Christmas card from Renaissance Naples

Piffaro presented a Christmas program that emphasized the gentler moods of the season.

Tom Purdom

Dec 23, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

Met’s ‘Die Meistersinger' in HDTV

Why Die Meistersinger matters

Dare anyone criticize Die Meistersinger? Yes, constantly — because many critics miss Wagner’s point: to bring to life the details of a specific German city at a particular time when religious custom mattered more than nationalism.

Steve Cohen

Dec 22, 2014 · Articles · 6 minute read

Frank Sinatra reconsidered

The patron saint of insecurity

The multifaceted entertainer Frank Sinatra connected with multitudes of devoted fans for many reasons. But his highly touted voice was the least of them.

Dan Rottenberg

Dec 16, 2014 · Articles · 7 minute read

Amerita Chamber Players with Allen Krantz

A perennially welcome guest

The Amerita Chamber Players shared a program with one of Philadelphia’s most popular guests. Don’t despair if you missed it.

Tom Purdom

Dec 16, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

Dolce Suono: Music of Spirit, Longing, and Passion

Five friends on a Sunday afternoon

The Dolce Suono Ensemble presented a program that created the perfect mood for a chamber music concert.

Tom Purdom

Dec 09, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

The Variation String Trio debuts a David Ludwig fantasy

The Ludwig-Fauré-Bach connection

The Variation String Trio joined pianist Natalie Zhu in a program that teamed a new piece by David Ludwig with a masterpiece for the same instrumental combination.

Tom Purdom

Dec 02, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

The Johannes Quartet at the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society

Death and war and a Czech barn dance

The Johannes Quartet delves into two intense, highly emotional pieces, and then ends with a foot-stomping dance by Dvořák.

Tom Purdom

Nov 25, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

H. Leslie Adams, 26 Piano Etudes

Remembering why we play

We need not be afraid of delving into new music; all communication of the soul didn't cease in the 19th century, or even the 20th.

Maria Thompson Corley

Nov 25, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

Philadelphia Orchestra’s organ concert

Battle of the bands? No, a conversation

Organ music never enjoyed as spectacular a presentation in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Orchestra gave it earlier this month.

Steve Cohen

Nov 22, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

Astral Artists and the Chamber Orchestra spotlight the viola

All kidding aside

The accidents of the scheduling process produced two consecutive concerts that spotlighted the viola and proved, once again, that viola jokes are a baseless and vile calumny.

Tom Purdom

Nov 18, 2014 · Articles · 4 minute read