Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
The Momenta Quartet presented music from three centuries, featuring piano and French horn, at Momenta Festival VII.
Read More »Concert Review (NYC): Momenta Festival VII – ‘Horn Fifths,’ Music of Brahms, Bacewicz and Mogi
Avant-garde
Concert Review (NYC): The Knights and Lara St. John with Music of Avner Dorman and Felix Mendelssohn at the Central Park Bandshell
St. John joined The Knights for Avner Dorman's violin concerto based on Jewish songs from around the world.
Read More »Exclusive Interview: Composer Avner Dorman on New York Premiere of ‘Nigunim,’ Working Through the Pandemic, Writing Music for Kids and More
The prize-winning composer found surprising commonalities among Jewish musical traditions from around the world as he researched 'Nigunim', which he unveils for New York audiences on July 26.
Read More »Jessie Montgomery and ChamberQUEER Shine with Eastman’s Gay Guerrilla at National Sawdust (12 June 2022)
The rhythmic pulsations of avant-garde composer Julius Eastman cascaded through National Sawdust in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on the closing night of ChamberQUEER’s The Future Is… Festival.
Read More »Concert Review (NYC): ‘Mass for the Endangered’ by Sarah Kirkland Snider at the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs, Brooklyn (14 June 2022)
Death of Classical began its new season of concerts in the Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs with a spectacular piece for chorus and small orchestra.
Read More »Concert Review (NYC): ‘Midnight Magic,’ Mirror Visions Ensemble’s Brilliant Return to the Concert Stage
The vocal ensemble returns with a thrilling cabaret-style concert of art songs from Mozart to Sondheim to the present day.
Read More »Concert Review (NYC): The Open Gates Project – C3: Countertenors, Continuo, and a Consort of Viols (11 February 2022)
The project devoted to diversity in early music presented not one, not two, but four countertenors of color in its second concert.
Read More »Music Review: Beast Nest – ‘Sicko’
'Sicko', by Beast Nest, is an example of how so called emotionless electronic music can express feelings as well as any acoustic instrument.
Read More »Concert Review: Emerson String Quartet, Renée Fleming, Simone Dinnerstein, Uma Thurman – ‘Penelope’ by André Previn, Tom Stoppard at Carnegie Hall (NYC, 23 January 2022)
A starry concert event showcased Previn's last composition along with Greig, Fauré and Philip Glass plus new music by Kevin Puts.
Read More »Music Review: Eric Nathan – ‘Missing Words’ (Based on Ben Schott’s ‘Schottenfreude’) with Neave Trio, International Contemporary Ensemble
A two-CD trip through the inventive mind of a composer who's part translator of the human condition, part trickster.
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