"Science Meets Art.. and Grief": Zukerman Plays Berg Concerto in NY March 18-20
17 Mar 2010 Pinchas Zukerman will play Berg's venerated 1935 Violin Concerto with the New York Philharmonic March 18-20. He explains here how the masterpiece can be at once “numerically complex” and a heart-breaking tribute to “the memory of an angel.”
Corella Ballet Dances into City Center March 17-20
17 Mar 2010 Longtime ABT dancer Ángel Corella’s recently created Corella Ballet Castilla y León will make its U.S. debut at New York City Center March 17 – 20. Matthew Murphy profiles the 2-year-old company, established in 2008 as Spain’s only classical ballet ensemble.
Opera Spotlight: Quinn Kelsey
16 Mar 2010 -- Quinn Kelsey makes his New York role debut as Sharpless in New York City Opera's Madama Butterfly beginning March 19 at the Koch Theater. The American baritone talks about the character and discusses how his Hawaiian upbringing led him to the opera stage.
Wyclef Jean Joins Lang Lang and Eschenbach For March 21 Haiti Benefit
16 Mar 2010 -- Grammy Award-winning musician Wyclef Jean will join Lang Lang, Christoph Eschenbach and the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra on March 21 at Carnegie Hall for a concert aiding UNICEF and the children of Haiti.
Preview: Great Expectations for Great Performers' 2010–11 Season
14 Mar 2010 -- Though still many months away, Lincoln Center is hard at work putting the final touches on the 2010-11 Great Performers season. Here is a preview of what audiences can expect in a lineup of concerts and special events that draw focus on Mahler, Schubert and Chopin.
Iván Fischer Leads and the Beethoven Cycle in NY March 25-28
13 Mar 2010 -- The Hungarian maestro Iván Fischer plays "The Nine" with the Budapest Festival Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in a quartet of Lincoln Center concerts between March 25 and 28.
Profile: The Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition
12 Mar 2010 -- This month 300 of the world’s most promising young dancers will compete in the NYC Finals of the YAGP International Student Ballet Competition. Susan Reiter speaks with some of the past participants who have seen their careers launched by the YAGP.
Fancy Free: The Birth of an American Classic
10 Mar 2010 -- Allen Robertson discusses the history of Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein's iconic Fancy Free. The work is one of three works making up Houston Ballet's American at Heart program, running March 11-21.
City Opera New Season to Offer Elixir, Séance, A Quiet Place and More
09 Mar 2010 -- New York City Opera's 2010-2011 season will focus upon and celebrate operas of the 20th century, in addition to a Donizetti classic. Productions include Stephen Schwartz's Séance on a Wet Afternoon, Strauss' Intermezzo and Bernstein's A Quiet Place.
Photo Recap: Royal Opera Wins Big with The Gambler
08 Mar 2010 -- Frank Cadenhead was on hand at the Royal Opera House for a performance of the recent acclaimed production of The Gambler. The early Prokofiev work ran through Feb. 27.
Pablo Aslan Holds "Tango Salon" at Rose Theater March 26-27
05 Mar 2010 -- From “A Night in Tunisia” to “la noche de Buenos Aires,” the bassist, bandleader, and composer Pablo Aslan has spent his career wedding North American jazz to Argentine tango- and beautifully so.
Dessay Withdraws from Met Hamlet; Petersen On Deck
04 Mar 2010 -- Natalie Dessay has withdrawn from the Met’s new production of Ambroise Thomas’s Hamlet due to illness. Marlis Petersen will sing the role of Ophélie at the first six performances, including the March 27 Live in HD broadcast.
March Madness at Lincoln Center
25 Feb 2010 -- An overview of a particularly busy month of Lincoln Center programming which features opera premieres, special chamber music offerings and a variety of classical events.
Playing Favorites
18 Feb 2010 -- The musicians and staff of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra name a few of their favorite things in 2010.
Enter the King: Mounting the Met's First Attila
18 Feb 2010 -- Verdi authority Riccardo Muti and acclaimed director Pierre Audi, in their company debuts, bring one of the composer’s rousing early operas to the Met for the very first time. Attila, about the ruthless Hun leader, opened on Feb. 23.
A Milestone for the Philharmonic Archives
17 Feb 2010 -- As the New York Philharmonic Archives celebrates its 25th anniversary, it launches a forward-thinking project to preserve and make available its treasure trove — digitally. Erik Ryding uncovers the behind-the-scenes story of this ambitious endeavor.
20 QUESTIONS WITH: Soprano Diana Damrau
10 Feb 2010 -- Contributing to this installment of our informal Q&A is the much in-demand "non-diva" Diana Damrau. The busy soprano is performing two different comedic roles at the Met this month and prepares to sing Lucia in Berlin and Konstanze in Barcelona during the coming weeks.
Osvaldo Golijov Channels Chopin and Schumann
10 Feb 2010 -- Carnegie Hall will host a number of events celebrating the bicentennial of Chopin and Schumann's births. Osvaldo Golijov premieres a new tribute work, with Dawn Upshaw, March 17.
Distinctively Different Donizetti: Don Pasquale Sings in Dallas Feb. 19-March 7
10 Feb 2010 -- Dallas Opera continues its season with Donizetti's Don Pasquale, featuring Donato DiStefano, Adriana Kucerova and Nathan Gunn. Wayne Lee Gay discusses the composer's life and his creation of a work that sought to revive the golden age of "opera buffa."
Kronos Quartet: Shaking Things Up at Carnegie Hall March 11-14
09 Feb 2010 -- The Kronos Quartet’s presents four major Carnegie Hall Perspectives concerts this month, with music from minimalist original Terry Riley, works by composers from the Arctic Circle, performances on newly-built instruments and more.
Photo Recap: A Grand Elektra at the Festspielhaus
09 Feb 2010 -- Blood red and black. Those were the colors of Baden-Baden's recent staging of Richard Strauss' searingly intense opera, Elektra. Frank Cadenhead caught the last show of a three-performance run "bound to be historic."
Stand-Up Diva: A Chat With Diana Damrau
09 Feb 2010 -- The Met is comedy central this month for Diana Damrau, who currently stars in La Fille du Régiment and begins a three-performance run in Il Barbiere di Siviglia Feb. 26. The soprano talks about her double duty.
Russian Opera and Dance Converge on Kennedy Center Feb. 9-March 7
08 Feb 2010 -- The Kennedy Center’s Focus on Russia continues Feb. 9 with visits from Mariinsky Ballet and Opera, Bolshoi Ballet, and others. Among the highlights will be Sergeyev’s Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev’s War and Peace and Anna Netrebko singing from Iolanta.
The Meaning of Zunch: Paul Taylor "Celebrates 80" at City Center
03 Feb 2010 -- The company celebrates the Dancermaker's 80th birthday at its City Center engagement, running through March 14. Programs include the NY premieres of the vaudeville-themed Also Playing and an untitled Debussy piece, as well as beloved favorites from the troupe's repertoire.
The Musical Paradox of Max Raabe- An Interview
02 Feb 2010 -- A longtime staple of the German music scene, baritone Raabe became an instant sensation in this country following his 2004 U.S. debut performance in Los Angeles. He discusses his upcoming March 4 Carnegie Hall performance.
"The Emergence of Sound": Riccardo Chailly Weighs in on U.S. Tour
02 Feb 2010 -- Riccardo Chailly, busy in rehearsals with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, found time to speak with Jens F. Laurson about the ensemble's upcoming trip to the United States, programming choices, and other musical matters.
Barry Banks is Count Almaviva March 1 at Met
01 Feb 2010 -- Barry Banks will sing the role of Count Almaviva, opposite Diana Damrua, at the Met's March 1 performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. He replaces an ill Lawrence Brownlee.
Eschenbach Begins New Post with NSO and Kennedy Center March 11
01 Feb 2010 -- Maestro Christoph Eschenbach makes his first public appearances on the podium as Music Director Designate of the National Symphony Orchestra in March 11-13 performances of Verdi’s Requiem.
NY City Ballet Offers Rep Gems from Balanchine and Robbins Feb. 16-24
01 Feb 2010 -- On the February schedule at New York City Ballet are full programs dedicated to the works of two of the company's most iconic choreographers. Brahms, Tschaikovsky, Chopin and Bernstein will all be center stage.
Così’s Family Ties
01 Feb 2010 -- As Dallas Opera readies its upcoming staging of Cosi Fan Tutte (Feb. 12-28), we explore some of Mozart's family history that influenced his development and may be seen to manifest itself in this popular work.
A Chat With Pianist Adam Golka; Carnegie Hall Debut March 7
01 Feb 2010 -- Adam Golka will make his Carnegie Hall debut March 7 with the New York Youth Symphony conducted by Ryan McAdams. The young pianist will take on the Rachmaninoff challenging Piano Concerto No. 3 at the 2 PM concert
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Presents Beethoven Cycles at Winter Fest
31 Jan 2010 -- The Chamber Music Society takes on an ambitious task at this year's Winter Fest, presenting every one of Beethoven’s quartets, violin sonatas and cello sonatas through Feb. 23. Co-artistic director David Finckel discusses the endeavor.
Santander Winner Jue Wang Makes Zankel Hall Debut March 3
27 Jan 2010 -- Pianist Jue Wang, winner the 2008 Paloma O'Shea Santander Piano Competition, appears in concert at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall March 3 in a program of Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Brahms and Liszt.
A Chat With Gil Shaham; NY Phil Presents Barber Masterpiece Feb. 25-27
24 Jan 2010 -- Shaham has been spending his time lately exploring the great concertos of the 1930s, sampling works by a multitude of composers. He joins the NY Philharmonic and David Robertson this week to perform Samuel Barber's beloved 1939 contribution.
Hoffert Joins NY Choral Society for Poulenc and Duruflé Concert Feb. 28
23 Jan 2010 -- The New York Choral Society's next performance is a Feb. 28 program highlighting two of France's most important 20th century composers: Francis Poulenc and Maurice Duruflé. The 2 PM “Vive la France” takes place at St. Bartholomew’s Church.
A Chat With David Greilsammer; Morning Lincoln Center Concert Feb. 21
20 Jan 2010 -- Pianist David Greilsammer returns to the US Feb. 21 to perform “Gates” – a program featuring music by Rameau, Ligeti, Mozart, Satie, Monteverdi, Janácek, Scarlatti and Adams. The 11 AM concert will be held at the Walter Reade Theater.
"The Next Great Baritone": A Chat With Plácido Domingo
19 Jan 2010 -- Now in his fifth decade at the Met, Plácido Domingo refuses to consider retirement. This month, the tenor adds two more firsts to his Met career, conducting Verdi’s Stiffelio and singing the title role of Simon Boccanegra.
Savoring Ravel: Nicolas Hodges Premieres with NY Phil Feb. 18-20
17 Jan 2010 -- Nicolas Hodges — the busy British pianist and teacher — is making his New York Philharmonic debut this month (Feb. 18-20). Fred Plotkin introduces readers to his tastes in music, collaboration and travel.
Beck and Marx's Opera, Review, Premieres at CCO Gala Feb. 19
16 Jan 2010 -- The Center For Contemporary Opera will debut the new opera Review at its Feb. 19 gala in NY. The short comic piece is by Jeremy Beck and Patricia Marx. A former writer for SNL, Marx discusses the work here.
NY Festival of Song's Voluptuous Muse to Sing Feb. 16 and 18
14 Jan 2010 -- Joseph Kaiser, Dina Kuznetsova and Kate Lindsey will sing The Voluptuous Muse, NY Festival of Song's celebration of the lush tonality and decadent Romanticism of late 19th- and early 20th- century song Feb. 16-18.
New York Flamenco Festival Dances Into City Center Feb. 11
11 Jan 2010 -- Valerie Gladstone speaks to a few of the artists taking part in this year's Festival, running Feb. 11-14. The schedule includes programs by Compañía Rocío Molina and Compañía María Pagés; and new figures such as Pastora Galván, Manuel Liñán and Belén López.
"A Norma Gone Mad": Bellini's Classic Re-Imagined at Théâtre du Châtelet
09 Jan 2010 -- Frank Cadenhead recently took in Peter Mussbach's new conceptual staging of Bellini's Norma at Théâtre du Châtelet, which has transported the action to an insane asylum. The opera, which starred American Lina Tetriani in the title role, ran through Jan. 28.
A Chat With Conductor Anne Manson; American Composers Orchestra Debut Jan. 29-30
08 Jan 2010 -- Conductor Anne Manson makes her American Composers Orchestra concert debut when she leads the ACO in “Orchestra Underground: Conversations” Jan. 29 at Carnegie Hall. The program, featuring two world premieres, will be repeated Jan. 30 in Philadelphia.
The Defiant One: Exploring the Met's New Carmen
07 Jan 2010 -- Olivier Award-winning director Richard Eyre's new production of Carmen opened at the Met Dec. 31. The cast features Elīna Garanča, Roberto Alagna and Mariusz Kwiecien. Director and singers discuss the challenges in re-staging such a well-known piece.
Legendary Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra to Tour United States Feb. 17-28
06 Jan 2010 -- The acclaimed Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, led by Maestro Riccardo Chailly, will embark on a seven-city US tour this February, the ensemble's 14th traveling engagement in North America. Featured will be pianist Louis Lortie and violinist Nikolaj Znajder.