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Opera Review: AN AMERICAN SOLDIER (PAC/NYC)
THE STORY’S THE THING IN UPDATED VERSION OF THE OPERA AN AMERICAN SOLDIER This is a heartbreaking story impossible to forget. Although suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. military (unintentional injuries being the first) some people still consider bullying completely normal, a rite of passage that will make the victims…
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Opera Review: TURANDOT (Los Angeles Opera)
A NIGHT OF MAJESTY Giacomo Puccini‘s magnum opus Turandot was posthumously completed by his compatriot Franco Alfano. This opera, which premiered at La Scala in 1926 under the baton of Arturo Toscanini, signifies the swan song of the Italian operatic movement, a tradition tracing its roots back to the early baroque compositions of Peri and Monteverdi….
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DIY MUSIC MARKETING: BUDGET-FRIENDLY TACTICS FOR ASPIRING MUSICIANS
For aspiring musicians, developing a narrative that resonates with your audience isn’t just about sharing music; it’s about telling your journey, your struggles, and triumphs. This genuine approach fosters a deeper connection, transforming listeners into lifelong fans. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments, personal stories, and inspirations not only captivates but also humanizes your art, making each song…
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Music: MASTERING PIANO TECHNIQUE: ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE PLAYING
Learning to play the piano well involves more than just hitting the right notes it’s about how you play them. Good piano technique is crucial because it helps you play more easily and makes your music sound better. This includes everything from how you sit at the piano to how you move your fingers across…
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Opera Review: ELĪNA GARANČA (Recital Tour at BroadStage)
On the auspicious evening of Friday, May 10, 2024, the audience at BroadStage in Santa Monica was graced with a recital of exceptional caliber, featuring the illustrious mezzo-soprano ElÄ«na GaranÄa, whose performance was augmented by the symphonic grandeur of a full orchestra. ElÄ«na GaranÄa, whose reputation as a preeminent mezzo-soprano in the classical music sphere is…
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Cabaret Review: VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS (Birdland Jazz Theatre)
GIGGLE JUICE If you love big-band jazz and swing music played by masters, or if you are a tourist and you wish to truly feel the beat of New York’s roots, you must go to Birdland Jazz Club’s downstairs theater and catch Vince Giordano’s concert, currently playing Mondays at 5:30 and 8:30pm. Named after saxophonist…
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Opera Review: Madama Butterfly (Metropolitan Opera)
GRIGORIAN ENCHANTS Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, a soprano whose international career began with a startling Cio-Cio-San in Stockholm, makes her Metropolitan Opera debut in the same role in Madama Butterfly for performances through May 11, 2024 (she began on April 26). She sang the role a few years ago in Anthony Minghella’s ravishingly beautiful interpretation…
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Music Review: VíKINGUR ÒLAFSSON: THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS (Colburn Recital at Disney Hall)
FINDING GOLD IN GOLDBERG VI once said in a review of pianist Víkingur í“lafsson that if you want to see a modern-day Glenn Gould-like master at the keys, here’s your chance. Well, the test really came the other night when í“lafsson returned to Disney Hall for his rendition of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, which many claim…
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Jazz Concert Review: DUETS: DIANNE REEVES, CHUCHO VALDÉS, JOE LOVANO (International Tour at Berklee)
TWO MEN AND A LADY: JAZZ ROYALTY TIMES THREE Celebrity Series of Boston’s 2023–2024 season is drawing to a close and among the final performances was the excellent Duets, featuring Dianne Reeves (vocals), Chucho Valdés (piano), and Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone). The evening began with Valdés alone with his grand piano on the stage of…
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Opera Review: CARMEN (Metropolitan Opera House)
MOVING TO AMERICA’S HEARTLAND, CARRIE CARCKNELL FINDS THE HEART OF CARMEN Carmen is one of the most popular operas worldwide and has been part of the Metropolitan Opera’s repertoire since its first season in 1884. 102 years later, I first experienced the Met Opera as a grad student when I attended the opening night of…
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Concert Review: ANNA LAPWOOD (Organ Recital at Disney Hall)
LAPPING UP LAPWOOD British organist Anna Lapwood brought gold sparkles to her LA Phil debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the final stop of her 2024 US tour (her international tour continues). She could hardly contain her excitement, calling the hall’s organ “so much more than I ever hoped it could be!” Lapwood, the 28-year-old…
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Jazz Concert Review: HERBIE HANCOCK (Disney Hall)
STILL CRAZY AMAZING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS Piano/keyboard legend Herbie Hancock, whose trailblazing role introducing synthesizers and new audio technologies to jazz and funk make him one of the most influential musicians in jazz history, made it to Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 20 2024. A 14-time GRAMMY Award-winner, Hancock has been in the creative…
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Highly Recommended Album: DEEP SEA VENTS (BrhyM [Bruce Hornsby and yMusic] via Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers
BrhyM, a portmanteau of Bruce Hornsby and the experimental chamber ensemble yMusic, have released their debut album, Deep Sea Vents. released March, 2024. Distinctive, harmonic, inventive, playful, and wholly accessible with astounding orchestrations and fun vocals, the album contains 10 songs about water and the ways we live with, in, or against it, Deep Sea…
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Opera Review: DON GIOVANNI (Boston Baroque)
MY OPERA EXPERIENCE WAS DARKEST BEFORE THIS DON Don Giovanni seduced me — in a manner of speaking — when I attended last night’s opening of Mozart’s Don Giovanni by Boston Baroque. I’ve covered theater for quite some time, but this was the first opera I’ve seen live. And I’ve got news for anyone timid…
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Highly Recommended Opera Recital: ELĪNA GARANÄŒA (Tour at Santa Monica’s BroadStage)
ONE-NIGHT ONLY: ELĪNA GARANÄŒA RECITAL Mezzo-soprano ElÄ«na GaranÄa will be returning to Santa Monica’s BroadStage for a performance as part of their Celebrity Opera Recital series bringing noted opera talents to the BroadStage, offering local audiences an opportunity to experience high-caliber operatic performances.. The event will take place on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 7:30…
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Opera Review: FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES (The Met Opera)
AN OPERA TO FEEL IN YOUR BONES Seven-time Grammy Award–winning trumpeter, pianist, and composer Terence Blanchard has created more than 40 film scores (and diverse works in different music genres) but composing operas is definitely one of the brightest jewels in his crown. Before I get into the ‘what’ and ‘who-is-who’, I need to say that Fire…
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Music Review: ELGAR AND VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (LA Phil; Simone Young, conductor; Gautier Capuçon, cellist)
STUDY WAR NO MORE Last night’s program at Disney Hall began with a subdued but clear strike on the chime. It came in without warning. The atmosphere is austere and solemn, and under the clear and watchful eyes of Maestro Simone Young, the LA Phil slowly unfolds the lush colors of Arvo Pårt‘s Cantus in…
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Music Review: MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS LEADS TCHAIKOVSKY (LA Phil)
The third and final performance of this program by the LA Phil with guest conductor Michael Tilson Thomas took place March 30 at Disney Hall. The orchestra was in standard setup as MTT entered the stage to very warm applause. He cheerily addressed his audience and his musicians as he set to work. First on…
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CARING FOR YOUR PIANO: MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR LONGEVITY
If you’re among the savvy buyers of pianos, you recognize that your piano isn’t merely a beautiful piece of furniture, but a complex and intricately crafted instrument. To safeguard this significant investment and maintain the joy of playing a piano in top condition, regular maintenance is of utmost importance. Proper care not only ensures your…
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Music Review: CAMERATA PACIFICA (March 2024 Program)
STRING THEORY Arnold Schoenberg‘s Verklärte Nacht (“Transfigured Night”), Op. 4, is a string sextet in one movement composed in 1899. Love him or hate him (some of his challenging later music is impenetrably inaccessible given his twelve-tone technique), there are times when Schoenberg’s system of composition can reach through your soul, creating an otherworldly sound….
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