Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
A concert that gave me a renewed appreciation for Bach's ability to rework music brilliantly for very different contexts
Read More »Concert Review: Jeremy Denk, Orchestra of St. Luke’s Open OSL Bach Festival with Bach Keyboard Concertos
Classical
Concert Review: Violinist Deborah Buck, pianist Orli Shaham at Bargemusic (May 26 2023)
A web of biographical and stylistic interconnections linked music by contemporary composers Jessie Montgomery and Avner Dorman with works by Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms.
Read More »Concert Review: ‘Dear Father…’ – Music for String Trio by Beethoven and Mozart
A focus on paternal influence shed light on string trio music by Beethoven and Mozart at the Aspect Chamber Music Series.
Read More »Concert Review: ‘American Lamentation’ – a World Premiere Oratorio on Slavery, NYC and the Church by Trevor Weston
The oratorio's 12 movements trace American slavery from early colonial times through the modern Church's recognition of its part in the institution.
Read More »Kids’ Energy, Grown-Up Skills from the National Children’s Chorus at Carnegie Hall
The NCC's impressively accomplished young members presented a spirited multicultural concert in New York.
Read More »Concert Review: Clarion Choir – Rachmaninoff’s ‘All-Night Vigil’ at Carnegie Hall (5 May 2023)
The Clarion Choir delivered a revelatory performance of Rachmaninoff's choral masterpiece inspired by traditional Russian Orthodox chant.
Read More »Concert Preview: Aspect Chamber Music Concludes Season with Music for String Trio by Beethoven and Mozart – with Stella Chen, Brannon Cho, Matthew Lipman
The Aspect Chamber Music Series and a string trio explore something Mozart, Beethoven, and Paganini had in common: domineering fathers.
Read More »Concert Review (NYC): Brentano String Quartet, Poet Ruth Padel – Haydn ‘Seven Last Words’
The Aspect Chamber Music series in NYC presented the 'Seven Last Words' sonatas of Haydn with poetry by Ruth Padel.
Read More »Exclusive Interview: Tiburtina Ensemble Artistic Director Barbora Kabátková on Hildegard von Bingen, U.S. Debut
The all-female early music vocal group from Prague makes its U.S. debut in May with a program of music by Hildegard von Bingen.
Read More »Book Review: ‘Let Your Heart Be Broken: Life and Music from a Classical Composer’ by Tina Davidson
Tina Davidson's memoir recounts an interesting life while giving us a close look into the composer's mind, heart, and music as she creates her work.
Read More »