The Nordic Cool festival is heating up at the Kennedy Center, and while we will be focusing mostly on the classical music events -- the National Symphony Orchestra's program with Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto is this evening -- there are theater and dance events we would love to cover if there were more days in the week. One that fit into my schedule was the Wednesday performance of Henrik
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Les Percussions Claviers de Lyon at La Maison Française
Posted on 9:25 PM by Unknown
The French ensemble Les Percussions Claviers de Lyon offered a delightfully idiosyncratic tribute to Claude Debussy at La Maison Française Tuesday night. As their name indicates, these five players specialize in keyboard percussion, and they filled the stage with marimbas, vibraphones, and other mallet instruments in various sizes, along with some non-pitched ones like cymbals and a tam-tam.
On Forbes: Two Cents About Classical Music For $100
Posted on 8:06 AM by Unknown
Riffing off the 2011 ionarts posts »Classical music for $100«, »Classical music for $100: "The Second $100 Dollars"«, and »Classical Music for $100: Music History Survey« which are in turn riffing off Tyler Cowen's original post (Marginal Revolution, George Pieler and I have tackled the subject of classical music for our Forbes column which we hope to spin out over a series of articles that
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Víkingur Ólafsson, Easy Listening
Posted on 9:39 PM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, Pianist presents dreamy, snoozy images of ‘The North’
Washington Post, February 27, 2013
Debut, V. Ólafsson (mp3)“Nordic Cool,” the name of the Kennedy Center’s cultural festival this year, evokes many characteristics of the world’s northern regions: its vastness, its emptiness, its frigidity, its silence. Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson took Glenn Gould’s cryptically
Alexander Melnikov @ Phillips
Posted on 8:30 PM by Unknown
Shostakovich, Piano Concertos 1/2, A. Melnikov, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, T. Currentzis
We looked forward to hearing Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov in person, after years of admiring his recordings, and the chance came on Sunday afternoon, with his recital at the Phillips Collection. In many ways, it was a barnburner of a concert -- featuring three of the most demanding composers in some of
Monday, February 25, 2013
'Black Gigantic Butterflies'
Posted on 7:27 AM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, 21st Century Consort’s ‘Pierrot Lunaire’ lacked only an audience
Washington Post, February 25, 2013
Schoenberg, Pierrot lunaire (German and English versions), L. Shelton, Da Capo Chamber Players
One of the most influential works of modern music celebrated its centenary this season. Arnold Schoenberg’s “Pierrot Lunaire,” an unforgettable atonal song cycle that premiered in
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Awards Season
Posted on 10:48 AM by Unknown
You may be watching the Academy Awards tonight, so here are some thoughts on this year's best achievements in film. Lincoln is still leading the Ionarts poll for Best Picture of the Year, but our vote would go to Life of Pi, an excellent film we would also like to see get awards for Cinematography (Claudio Miranda), Directing (Ang Lee), Film Editing (Tim Squyres), Music--Original Score (Mychael
Saturday, February 23, 2013
In Brief: Lent II Edition
Posted on 9:58 PM by Unknown
Here is your regular Sunday selection of links to online audio, online video, and other good things in Blogville and Beyond. (After clicking to an audio or video stream, press the "Play" button to start the broadcast.)
Watch this weekend's concert by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, led by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, playing music by Elliott Carter (Two Controversies and a
Watch this weekend's concert by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, led by Jukka-Pekka Saraste, playing music by Elliott Carter (Two Controversies and a
Christoph von Dohnányi Takes the Reins at the NSO
Posted on 11:23 AM by Unknown
The National Symphony Orchestra is back from what was, by all accounts, a successful tour of Europe and Oman. For their first concerts here this month, the musicians welcomed back conductor Christoph von Dohnányi, for his first guest appearance since 2006. The German conductor, celebrated especially for his years leading the Cleveland Orchestra, is now in his 80s, but he seemed energetic and in
Dip Your Ears, No. 126 (Venice by Night)
Posted on 6:30 AM by Unknown
A.Vivaldi et al., "Venice by Night"
A.Chandler / La Serenissima et al.
Avie 2257
Since hearing Adrian Chandler’s Vivaldi release “The French Connection” ("Best of 2009 Almost List") – as immediately and thoroughly charming a Vivaldi disc as I’ve come across –I’m keeping my ears peeled for his new releases. Not only is his period troupe La Serenissima formidable, Chandler proves particularly
Friday, February 22, 2013
Kaija Saariaho @ Phillips
Posted on 10:01 PM by Unknown
The Leading European Composers series at the Phillips Collection hosted a composer truly worthy of the name on Thursday evening. We have been admirers of Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho's music for some years, particularly the operas L'Amour de Loin and Adriana Mater but also the instrumental music we have heard. Prizes have been coming her way, and when rewards line up with merit, it is
Ionarts-at-Large: Mahler With Mehta and Angel Blue
Posted on 9:15 AM by Unknown
“Angel Blue” sounds like the name of a stripper. Not quite: the lady in question turns out to be Miss California (1st runner up, 2006) and—this is more surprising—the soprano of this Thursday (February 21st) evening’s Mahler Symphony No.2 with the Munich Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta. The gorgeous Plácido Domingo victim protégé did well, with her sweet, heavy timbre and rather heavy (a little
Posted in Concert Reviews, Gustav Mahler, Ionarts at Large, ionarts from Munich, jfl, MPhil
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For Your Consideration: 'The Master' and 'Life of Pi'
Posted on 7:30 AM by Unknown
In the "never thought I would see that made into a movie" category in the Best Picture competition this year are two excellent films, either of which I would be fine with winning Best Picture of the Year on Sunday. The Master, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, actually cannot win Best Picture, since it was not nominated for that award, but I included it in our poll -- voting in the
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Opens Nordic Cool
Posted on 9:06 PM by Unknown
Diplomats and other officials from the Nordic countries gathered at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday night to inaugurate this year's geographically oriented cultural festival, Nordic Cool. The Kennedy Center's halls will host performances by Nordic theater troupes, dancers, and musicians through March 17, a series of events kicked off by a short program -- a sort of musical Smörgåsbord -- performed
For Your Consideration: 'Argo' and 'Zero Dark Thirty'
Posted on 6:46 AM by Unknown
At the time of this writing, Steven Spielberg's Lincoln is leading the Ionarts Poll for Best Picture of the Year (in the sidebar). That may be how it turns out at the Academy Awards this weekend -- the navel-gazing ceremony at which the film industry decides what were its best (most successful) efforts in the past year. Two other films may be competitive in the popularity contest for Best Picture
Monday, February 18, 2013
Kožená, Bestiary of the Exotic
Posted on 9:04 PM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, Magdalena Kozena at Shriver Hall
Washington Post, February 19, 2013
Love and Longing (Ravel, Dvořák, Mahler), M. Kožená, Berlin Philharmonic, S. Rattle (2012)The things that make a good song recital happen can be as elusive as alchemy. Part of it is the choice of songs, part is the singer’s ability to narrate in music as if simply reciting poetry, and part is the pianist’s
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Hilary Hahn, Again with the Encores
Posted on 9:41 PM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, Violinist Hilary Hahn’s new encores served as musical dessert at Kennedy Center
Washington Post, February 18, 2013
Bach, Solo Violin Partitas, H. Hahn
Encores come in a few standard shapes and sizes: the ardent, lyrical cantilena; the short, vapid bit of pure virtuosity; something more enigmatic or contrapuntal. Violinist Hilary Hahn wanted to expand her range of encore
Saturday, February 16, 2013
In Brief: Lent I Edition
Posted on 10:23 PM by Unknown
Here is your regular Sunday selection of links to online audio, online video, and other good things in Blogville and Beyond. (After clicking to an audio or video stream, press the "Play" button to start the broadcast.)
Christophe Rousset directs Les Talens Lyriques and musicians from the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles in a rare performance of Antonio Sacchini's opera Renaud
Christophe Rousset directs Les Talens Lyriques and musicians from the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles in a rare performance of Antonio Sacchini's opera Renaud
Celebrating Wagner's 200th
Posted on 10:23 AM by Unknown
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is on a roll this month. After a fine program centered on the Sibelius second symphony last week, conducted by Hannu Lintu, Marin Alsop led an all-Wagner program last night at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, the first of three concerts this season marking the 200th anniversary of the composer's birthday. Playing a whole evening of opera excerpts, perhaps
Dip Your Ears, No. 125 (Gottfried von Einem)
Posted on 6:30 AM by Unknown
G.v.Einem, Piano Concerto, Medusa Suite, Orchestral Pieces,
Rodgers, Berlin, Gershwin et al.,
K.Lifschitz / Vienna RSO
C.Meister
Orfeo 764091
There was a time when the Swiss-Austrian-German composer Gottfried von Einem (1918-1996) was performed by all the great orchestras, from Los Angeles to Berlin to Tokyo. Somehow that was not enough for repertoire-traction. Once you hear his Piano
Friday, February 15, 2013
Classical Music Agenda (March 2013)
Posted on 7:43 AM by Unknown
There is no shortage of concerts to hear in March. The Nordic festival at the Kennedy Center continues, Washington National Opera begins its spring season, and a number of visiting musicians will share the city's stages with local ones. We could easily have chosen twice as many performances, but here are our Top Ten picks for the month, with a couple extras.
Schubert, Piano Sonata, D. 845,
Schubert, Piano Sonata, D. 845,
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Be My Valentine
Posted on 9:25 PM by Unknown
Mahler, Symphony No. 1, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, M. Jansons (2007)
Bartók, Violin Concertos, J. Ehnes, BBC Philharmonc, G. Noseda (2011)
The much-anticipated visit by Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, presented by Washington Performing Arts Society on Tuesday night at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, was one of the most important concerts of the month. Each of this beloved
NSO Tour Report
Posted on 7:20 AM by Unknown
Jens F. Laurson, Eyewitness: NSO reigns in Germany
Washington Post, February 13, 2013
The National Symphony Orchestra’s South America tour last summer was fun, glamorous, and non-competitive; wherever the orchestra went, it was always better than the local band. Its tour to Europe, which ends today with a final performance at the Royal Opera House Muscat in Oman, was a different story. Although
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Jeffrey Mumford Portrait at the National Gallery
Posted on 12:02 PM by Unknown
This review is an Ionarts exclusive.
Jeffrey Mumford (b. 1955) is composer-in-residence this month at the National Gallery of Art, and in his second concert there, violinist Miranda Cuckson and cellist Julia Bruskin offered an intimate portrait of the D.C.-born composer. They played five works spanning nearly a quarter-century of Mumford’s output, providing a time-lapsed exposure that revealed
Jeffrey Mumford (b. 1955) is composer-in-residence this month at the National Gallery of Art, and in his second concert there, violinist Miranda Cuckson and cellist Julia Bruskin offered an intimate portrait of the D.C.-born composer. They played five works spanning nearly a quarter-century of Mumford’s output, providing a time-lapsed exposure that revealed
Mark Morris's Neoclassicism
Posted on 4:19 AM by Unknown
Socrates, Mark Morris Dance Company (photo by Gene Schiavone, courtesy of GMU Center for the Arts)
The success of a Mark Morris choreography often seems linked to his choice of music: irresistible with Handel, the Schumann piano quintet, Mozart, Purcell, but less so in other cases. The mixed program brought by Mark Morris Dance Group to George Mason University Center for the Arts on Saturday
Monday, February 11, 2013
NSO-at-Large: Frankfurt Hijinks
Posted on 3:40 PM by Unknown
One free day and a three hour bus-ride through snowy Lower Franconia after the Nuremberg performance, the NSO arrived in Frankfurt for their last of four concerts in Germany on their European Tour. The musicians had a few hours of rest or homed in on nearby free Wi-Fi cafés with the dead-on accuracy that marks the veteran traveler. Then they bused and walked over the outwardly gorgeous Alte Oper
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Angela Hewitt, Mists and Fog
Posted on 9:13 PM by Unknown
Debussy, Solo Piano Music, A. Hewitt
(released on October 9, 2012)
Hyperion CDA67898 | 79'25"
Bach, Keyboard Works, A. Hewitt
Ravel, Complete Solo Piano Music, A. Hewitt
Angela Hewitt's recitals in the area are not to be missed, especially when she plays Bach, which is her specialty. Her last few appearances -- in 2012, 2009, 2006, and 2003 -- have been spaced apart by a few years, so her
Saturday, February 9, 2013
In Brief: No Snow Edition
Posted on 10:48 PM by Unknown
Here is your regular Sunday selection of links to online audio, online video, and other good things in Blogville and Beyond. (After clicking to an audio or video stream, press the "Play" button to start the broadcast.) If you are snowed in today, there is plenty to keep you listening.
From the Teatro Real de Madrid, watch the production of Philip Glass's new opera The Perfect
From the Teatro Real de Madrid, watch the production of Philip Glass's new opera The Perfect
Hannu Lintu, More Sibelius
Posted on 9:58 AM by Unknown
Hannu Lintu is back at the podium of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra this week, and as expected it was one of the highlights of their season. The Finnish conductor has been leading an informal Sibelius cycle in his recent guest appearances in the area, with the fifth symphony with the National Symphony Orchestra in 2012 and Finlandia the last time he was in Baltimore, in 2010. With the second
Friday, February 8, 2013
Requiescat in pace: James DePreist
Posted on 9:02 AM by Unknown
Former Oregon Symphony conductor DePreist dies
NSO-at-Large: Nuremberg Pranks
Posted on 8:28 AM by Unknown
Nuremberg’s 1960s Meistersinger Hall sits at the edge of town: an athletic stone’s throw away from the Nazi’s massive Congress Hall that was built on the infamous parading grounds, two years after Leni Riefenstahl’s Triumph of the Will was filmed there. The Meistersinger Hall isn’t as bombastic as the 1930s predecessor, but big enough to seat an audience of 2100 in the main hall which manages to
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Veit Hertenstein
Posted on 9:34 PM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, Veit Hertenstein offers odd yet often rewarding viola program
Washington Post, February 7, 2013
Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet (arr. V. Borisovsky), M. Jones, R. Golani, M. Hampton (2011)
The qualities that can make the viola sound awkward and abrasive can also give the instrument a more human voice than its smaller cousin, the violin. To make the viola small enough to be
Myth and Magic on the Hudson
Posted on 7:20 AM by Unknown
I'm prone every now and then to a "painter's crush." It comes and goes, sometimes it's a lasting relationship, in honor of February -- kind of a painter's Valentine. Recent crushes have been Tom Nozkowski, Katherine Bradford, and Dana Schutz: it's most always a living artist.
This past weekend I added a new one, after attending the opening of Kyle Staver's exhibit at John Davis Gallery in Hudson
This past weekend I added a new one, after attending the opening of Kyle Staver's exhibit at John Davis Gallery in Hudson
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Ionarts-at-Large: Gergiev's First Time
Posted on 1:00 PM by Unknown
Gergiev’s first concert after officially being announced and presented as the incoming Principal Conductor of the Munich Philharmonic (see Valery Gergiev Signs Contract With Munich Philharmonic) couldn’t have been more symbolic.
Anton Bruckner—the orchestra’s musical house-god—coupled with contemporary Russian fare: Sofia Gubaidulina’s substantial, entrancingly wheezing bayan concerto. This
For Your Consideration: 'Rust and Bone'
Posted on 11:15 AM by Unknown
This French-Belgian film directed by Jacques Audiard, De rouille et d'os, drew some attention at last year's Cannes Festival. Sadly it has drawn little attention in the awards season, with no nominations from the Academy and only one from another organization -- a nomination for Marion Cotillard as Best Actress from the Screen Actors Guild. It is a satisfying film in that it takes a realistic,
Monday, February 4, 2013
Valery Gergiev Signs Contract With Munich Philharmonic
Posted on 12:30 AM by Unknown
Valery Gergiev (*1953) will be the next Chief Conductor of the Munich Philharmonic, starting 2015 through 2020. Earlier this Friday he signed the contract that will have him succeed Lorin Maazel1.
For those who wonder why the world famous2 wunder-maestro Gergiev signs on with the widely considered provincial, second-tier3 Munich Philharmonic, the answer will depend on their level of cynicism.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Classical Month in Washington (March)
Posted on 2:42 PM by Unknown
Last month | Next monthClassical Month in Washington is a monthly feature. If there are concerts you would like to see included on our schedule, send your suggestions by e-mail (ionarts at gmail dot com). Happy listening!
March 1, 2013 (Fri)
8 pm
National Symphony Orchestra
With Pekka Kuusisto, violin
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
March 1, 2013 (Fri)
8 pm
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
With Susanna
March 1, 2013 (Fri)
8 pm
National Symphony Orchestra
With Pekka Kuusisto, violin
Kennedy Center Concert Hall
March 1, 2013 (Fri)
8 pm
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
With Susanna
Saturday, February 2, 2013
In Brief: February Edition
Posted on 9:12 PM by Unknown
Here is your regular Sunday selection of links to online audio, online video, and other good things in Blogville and Beyond. (After clicking to an audio or video stream, press the "Play" button to start the broadcast.)
At the Théâtre des Abbesses in Paris last December, harpsichordist Céline Frisch plays the first book of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. [France Musique]
Marc Minkowski
At the Théâtre des Abbesses in Paris last December, harpsichordist Céline Frisch plays the first book of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. [France Musique]
Marc Minkowski
China National Symphony Orchestra on Tour
Posted on 6:42 PM by Unknown
Washington's National Symphony Orchestra is on a tour of European cities, with a postscriptum concert at the Royal Opera House in Oman. Some preview articles were published in the European press, in Germany and in Spain. Music director Christoph Eschenbach told El Cultural: "Doráti, Rostropovich, Slatkin, Fischer, and all the great personalities who have stood on the NSO's podium since its
For Your Consideration: 'Silver Linings Playbook'
Posted on 12:44 PM by Unknown
The award for quirkiest movie this year should probably go to Silver Linings Playbook, directed by David O. Russell. Set to Russell's own screenplay adaptation of the novel by Matthew Quick, the story follows Pat Solitano, a young man in Philadelphia who has been committed to an asylum because of a breakdown following the collapse of his last relationship. He is allowed to leave if he stays under
Friday, February 1, 2013
For Your Consideration: Oscar-Nominated Live Action Short Films
Posted on 8:30 AM by Unknown
As you prepare your picks for your favorite Academy Award pool, remember that these contests are won in the little categories. Almost everyone can guess who will win the big awards, but who will win Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short? Here are some brief thoughts on the year's brief live action movies chosen for recognition by the Academy -- in my order of preference. You can see them
For Your Consideration: Oscar-Nominated Animated Short Films
Posted on 8:08 AM by Unknown
As you prepare your picks for your favorite Academy Award pool, remember that these contests are won in the little categories. Almost everyone can guess who will win the big awards, but who will win Best Live Action Short and Best Animated Short? Here are some brief thoughts on the year's brief animated movies chosen for recognition by the Academy -- in my order of preference. You can see them
NSS and NCCO at Strathmore
Posted on 7:43 AM by Unknown
Charles T. Downey, A cohesive-sounding, conductorless New Century Chamber Orchestra at Strathmore
Washington Post, February 1, 2013
Strauss, Metamorphosen (inter alia), New Century Chamber Orchestra, N. Salerno-Sonnenberg (2010)The love-hate relationship between orchestras and the conductors who lead them was brilliantly evoked by Federico Fellini. In the Italian director’s film “Prova d’
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