BWW Review: COSI FAN TUTTE at the Met Opera
Two years ago, when I first saw photos of the projected new COSI FAN TUTTE,which was a production that originated at English National Opera and was slated to come to the Met, I was circumspect. I had grown up on three previous incarnations of COSI, the first dating from the 1950's a very traditional production which starred Richard Tucker and Eleanor Steber, the subsequent one dating from the 1980's, which had featured Kiri TeKanawa, and the last from 1996, which starred Carol Vaness and Suzanne Mentzer as the sisters Fiordiligi and Dorabella. All were very much 'period' pieces which made no effort to update or change the locale from the original setting of eighteenth century Naples.
Magdalena Kozena to Make New York Philharmonic Debut This Fall
Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Berlioz's Les Nuits d'ete, with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena in her Philharmonic debut, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Today, September 29, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Magdalena Kozena to Make New York Philharmonic Debut This Fall
Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct the New York Philharmonic in Berlioz's Les Nuits d'ete, with mezzo-soprano Magdalena Kožena in her Philharmonic debut, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Thursday, September 29, 2016, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m.
Met Opera Demand & Roku Announce New Partnership
The Metropolitan Opera's exclusive subscription streaming service, Met Opera on Demand, has expanded its reach with the release of a new streaming channel on the Roku platform. Owners of Roku players and Roku TVTM models will now be able to use Met Opera on Demand through their televisions, allowing easy access to the Met's vast archive of performances on home entertainment systems.
BWW Reviews: Park Avenue Chamber Symphony Performs Beethoven, Barber and Bartok
New York City has lots of big attractions that people around the world are well aware of. But New York City also has smaller gems that don't get the same attention but still shine just as brightly. The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony is one such gem. Last Sunday afternoon, this superb ensemble led ably by Maestro David Bernard delivered an impressive performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 2, which many, more well-known and well-funded, orchestras would be jealous of. Maestro Bernard, who worked without benefit of a score, brought a brilliant and bright quality to the first Allegro movement. The Larghetto that followed was mannered and precisely shaped. The Scherzo, usually performed as a light and merry dance, felt a bit wayward, as the playing got a bit loose. But a strong, majestic and fiery Finale brought the first half to a satisfying conclusion. The Second Symphony was composed during the summer and fall of 1802 and it signaled the end of Beethoven's 'early period.' For the composer, this was a time of great despair because he was finally realizing that his deafness could not be cured and would indeed be a permanent affliction. That despair is deeply engrained in the work, and the Park Avenue Chamber Symphony dug deep and tapped into that despair and communicated it amiably to the audience.
Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Presents Leonard Bernstein's ON THE TOWN, Now thru 2/1
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Leonard Bernstein's On the Town today, January 31-February 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with soprano Georgia Jarman. The program features Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On the Town and On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, Foss's Time Cycle, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Opus 24.
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra Presents Leonard Bernstein's ON THE TOWN, 1/31-2/1
The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor Francesco Lecce-Chong present Leonard Bernstein's On the Town on January 31-February 1, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts with soprano Georgia Jarman. The program features Bernstein's Three Dance Episodes from On the Town and On the Waterfront Symphonic Suite, Foss's Time Cycle, and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915, Opus 24.
Denyce Graves Joins Sphinx Virtuosi and Catalyst Quartet at Harris Theater Tonight
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance welcomes back the internationally renowned Sphinx Virtuosi (formerly known as the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra) and the Catalyst Quartet, joined by celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves tonight, October 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm. This one-time collaboration between Ms. Graves and Sphinx can only be seen at the Harris.
Denyce Graves to Join Sphinx Virtuosi and Catalyst Quartet at Harris Theater, 10/1
The Harris Theater for Music and Dance welcomes back the internationally renowned Sphinx Virtuosi (formerly known as the Sphinx Chamber Orchestra) and the Catalyst Quartet, joined by celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves on Tuesday October 1, 2013 at 7:30 pm. This one-time collaboration between Ms. Graves and Sphinx can only be seen at the Harris.
Lorin Maazel Returns to the Met to Conduct Verdi's Don Carlo
Renowned conductor Lorin Maazel will make a rare appearance at the Metropolitan Opera-conducting his first Verdi opera with the company-when he leads a revival of Don Carlo, opening February 22. Ramon Vargas sings his first Met performances of the title role, opposite Barbara Frittoli, also in her house role debut, as the tragic Elisabeth de Valois. Reprising their roles from previous Met seasons are Anna Smirnova as the mysterious Princess Eboli; Dmitri Hvorostovsky as the revolutionary Rodrigo, Count of Posa; Ferruccio Furlanetto as the tormented King Philip II; and Eric Halfvarson as the Grand Inquisitor. This season's performances are the first revival of Nicholas Hytner's production, which opened to critical acclaim in the Met's 2010-11 season.
Christine Brewer Sings first Turandot at Hollywood Bowl
American soprano Christine Brewer takes on her newest challenge on July 17 at the hallowed Hollywood Bowl, debuting in the iconic title role of Puccini's Turandot in a concert performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel.