Joanna Barouch

Musical gems buried in a mind-numbing story

Leon Botstein, Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra, has made it the orchestra’s mission to present lesser-known orchestral and choral works. Dr. Botstein, President of Bard College,  decided that this year’s holiday presentation would be Georg Friedrich Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus from 1746, performed on Thursday December 14.

It's truly amazing that one can walk by a place and be unaware of it, no matter how important it may be. Or what it looks like inside. I, for one, am not one of those people. I have been curious about New York City's Central Synagogue (in Midtown East) for a long time. And just recently I had the chance to go in and experience not a traditional service but something that surely was a transcendent spiritual moment in a transcendent, historic space.

It’s always exciting to hear or see a musician’s performance debut. It’s doubly exciting when a musician of Daniela Candillari’s caliber makes her New York Philhamonic debut in the beautifully refreshed David Geffen Hall.

If you were under the impression that the term 'Opéra Comique' meant a 'comic opera', you might be literally correct, but truthfully the joke would be on you. What does it really mean? Opéra Comique is a genre of French opera first developed in the eighteenth century.

There are those out in the ether who, upon hearing the name Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) on the radio will immediately switch the station. Mahler is boring. Mahler is long-winded. Mahler tunes wander all over the place. While these things can subjectively be true, given half a chance Mahler's music is none of those things.

Chris Martin, principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic, and Kate Fruchterman of NYCO dazzled the audience.

While wearing a shirt inside out could earn some curious stares, attending a classical music concert with the words “Inside Out” in the title could earn some out and out confusion.  How can music, or an orchestra producing such music, be “inside out”?

When some people hear the word 'community' before the word(s) chorus, theater, band, or orchestra, they really hear 'amateur.' Although amateur means to do something for the love of it, the word also seems to have a negative connotation when it comes to quality. After all, if there's no money involved, how can it be good? Doesn't money equal quality? So goes that reasoning. However, not all community performing arts groups are created equal. Some groups accept all comers. Some accept members strictly by audition, some by recommendation. But no matter how they are chosen, every single person no matter their ability level has in common with the rest; a love of the art they share.

Bible stories are not always the easiest to listen to, and sometimes have the net effect of putting the listener to sleep. When Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) was inspired to write about the life of the prophet Elijah, however, he took the story to the next level

Under the direction of their superb artistic director and conductor, Tony Award winner Ted Sperling, MasterVoices’ 100+ members presented “A Joyful Noise” as their 80th Season opener. T

A wonderful way to start the season, 'Reunion' is a great name for this concert!

He is unique. One of a kind. And a musician of the highest caliber who just happens to live on New York City’s Upper West Side.

Commencing Friday, April 16 running through Sunday, April 18, Tippet Rise on Tour will premiere ten short films featuring eclectic musical performances, readings of poetry, and live discussions with some of the musicians.

Under the benign gaze of Saturn, Jupiter, and a bright half -moon, a small ensemble of instrumentalists from the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra performed their final concert of three under the stars at the Morris Museum in Morristown NJ on Saturday, October 24.

2020 has not exactly been a stellar year for…very much at all. One casualty has been live classical music. While some people have barely noticed its absence, there are still many, many people who have, and much to their relief the long dry spell seems to be abating...

You rehearse, you run your lines, you run everyone around you ragged, you get fitted for a costume and then a?oeout of the hat it's that big first nighta??a??except it's not.

With the world in growing turmoil, what we need is Music, Tales and Magic, which is just what the ASPECT Chamber Music presented on March 11, 2020.

The ASPECT Chamber Music Series presents concerts in an unusual format, one which transforms (according to their literature) “the traditional recital into an intimate, engaging and thought-provoking blend of performance, speech and image.” 

Mahler's audiences have ridden tsunamis of emotions and the musicians who play his music experience tsunamis of notes. This concert did not disappoint.