On paper alone, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s February 2 program already had me hooked: Mozart, Stravinsky, and Hovhaness is an intriguing combination of composers and styles, to be sure. The audible result was no less satisfying. Music Director Ward Stare continues to lead the RPO with a steady hand and a nuanced approach. Alan Hovhaness’s […]
Daniel J. Kushner
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CLASSICAL | Danish String Quartet
When it comes to classical concerts, there’s nothing I love more than a fresh blend of the old and the new. On Sunday, the Danish String Quartet brings just that to Kilbourn Hall as part of the Eastman Ranlet Series. The eclectic chamber music program features Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 8 (“Razumovsky”) alongside Nordic folk […]
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CLASSICAL | Mozart’s “Requiem”
The second half of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra season is continuing in a big way. This Thursday and Saturday, Music Director Ward Stare and the orchestra perform two sonic heavyweights of the classical repertoire: Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony in Three Movements” and Mozart’s “Requiem.” The solemn, even severe mood of the “Requiem” achieves a strange compatibility […]
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Eastman Opera undertakes two bold productions
When it comes to opera companies, you are what you perform. The works you produce tell the audience everything it needs to know about what you value in opera and where you see the art form heading. In that respect, Eastman Opera Theatre has made its focus clear with its recent programming: Francis Poulenc’s “Dialogues […]
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OPERA/THEATER | “The Old Maid and the Thief”
Italian-American composer Gian Carlo Menotti’s “The Old Maid and the Thief” is a popular choice among opera ensembles looking to produce one-acts with compelling human drama. The Nazareth College music department’s Opera Workshop will interpret this story of young lovers, aged gossips, and deception in a short run that begins on Friday. The Nazareth College […]
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OPERA | Julia Bullock
Soprano Julia Bullock has the kind of voice that immediately captivates. It has an enthralling combination of power and pathos. The result is a highly expressive and intangible human empathy that Bullock will undoubtedly bring to the Lyric Theatre stage on Monday. A proven interpreter of contemporary classical music, Bullock has had a pivotal role […]
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CLASSICAL | Boston Brass
The quintet known as Boston Brass has been a musical institution for 30 years. On Tuesday, French horn player Chris Castellanos, trumpeters Jeff Conner and Jose Sibaja, trombonist Domingo Pagliuca, and tuba player Sam Pilafian will display their precision and panache at Kilbourn Hall. Boston Brass is known for its stylistic versatility, and is equally […]
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THEATER | “The Taming”
Need help coping with the impending inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump? Me too. Fortunately, Aspie Works has us covered with a one-night-only reading on Thursday of “The Taming” by Lauren Gunderson. Billed as a political satire, the all-female play tells the story of a Miss America pageant contestant eyeing political office with the help of […]
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Honeoye Falls Distillery finds art in its spirits
Teal Schlegel, head distiller at Honeoye Falls Distillery, is a bit of a chemistry nerd. But despite all my questions about the distilling process, it’s clear that Schlegel wants to focus on the craft rather than fixating solely on the science. “It’s funny that you latch onto my obsession with the technicals of it,” Schlegel […]
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Theater review: ‘The Devil, The Witch, and The Blacksmith’
Now in its second season, The Kingfisher Theater is hoping to carve a niche in the Rochester theater landscape as it produces new works based on classic literature and plays. The new company also has an annual production that it hopes will become a holiday tradition. Directed by Artistic Director Kevin Dedes, “The Devil, The […]
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VOCAL | William Warfield Scholarship Concert
In honor of the 40th Anniversary of the William Warfield Scholarship Fund, this Sunday the Eastman School of Music will present a concert featuring current scholarship recipient and mezzo-soprano Alicia Rosser. The program also includes performances by baritone Lawrence Craig, singer and pianist Thomas Warfield, previous scholarship recipient Jason Alexander Holmes, and others. The William […]
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SINGER-SONGWRITER | Café Veritas: “Songwriters in the Round”
There is no shortage of talented Rochester musicians with songs to share. What’s rare is the opportunity to hear the stories behind those songs directly from the storytellers themselves. That’s why Café Veritas’s “Songwriters in the Round” concert this Saturday is so worthwhile. Local mainstays in the music scene — bluegrass and folk artist Maria […]
