Indie singer-composer Julianna Barwick brings her haunting and ethereal music to the intimate environment of Mission Hall on Friday. This is an ideal venue, considering that the artist’s entire catalogue — and her latest album, “Will,” in particular — sounds like beautiful, mystical liturgy to be heard under the high-vaulted ceilings of a sacred space. […]
Daniel J. Kushner
Posted inMusic
Ward Stare reflects on RPO’s 2015-16 season
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2015-2016 season was Ward Stare’s first year to program as the orchestra’s music director — he officially took over the position in September 2014, and led several concerts during that season, but its programming had already been set. And this season was, by artistic and financial standards, a success. Stare’s musicality […]
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GOSPEL | Kirk Franklin
It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since the dynamic Kirk Franklin broke onto the gospel music scene and started turning heads with the Grammy-winning album “Whatcha Lookin’ 4.” Since then, the singer-songwriter and choir leader has been a Christian crossover artist with staying power, injecting the fiery passion of a preacher and an […]
Posted inSpecial Sections
Nine summer concerts worth the trip
Ray LaMontagne, Chautauqua Opera among great shows this summer.
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FOLK | Golden Link Members Showcase
During its 45 years, the Golden Link Folk Singing Society has gone beyond merely putting on concerts for the community. The society has actively cultivated music-making and the continuation of the folk tradition through workshops and weekly “sing-arounds.” This Tuesday, Golden Link hosts a Members Showcase, an acoustic concert that highlights some of the musicians […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Theater review: “The May Queen” at Geva
Molly Smith Metzler’s tragicomedy “The May Queen” made its debut in 2014 as a commission from the Chautauqua Theater Company. It has always been a compelling work, but a lot has changed since its inception. For one thing, the playwright (originally from Kingston, New York) has moved to Los Angeles and joined the writing team […]
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Concert review: RPO performs Tyzik world premiere
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Pops concert was an intriguing blend of classical and jazz.
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THEATER | “The May Queen”
Geva Theatre closes its 2015-16 season with playwright Molly Smith Metzler’s “The May Queen,” a new work that’s brimming with both empathic human drama and clever, quirky humor. The play tells the story of Jen Nash — once the beloved “May Queen” of her high school — who mysteriously returns to her hometown to take […]
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CONTEMPORARY | Jim Brickman
For beautiful piano melodies and flowing, emotive pop arrangements, American songwriter Jim Brickman is the leading light. The ever-popular pianist will join the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and guest conductor Matthew Kraemer for a “one-night-only” concert on Saturday. With 38 albums to his credit, Brickman has perfected the art of the piano instrumental with crystalline melodies, […]
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CLASSICAL | Deviant Septet
The cleverly named New York City-based ensemble Deviant Septet will play Kilbourn Hall this Saturday with an exceptional contemporary classical setlist — including “L.E.O.” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, a world premiere by Eastman’s own Brad Lubman, and “Catch and Release” by composer-conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. The eclectic Deviant musicians have also ventured into the […]
Posted inMovies
Fast Forward Film Festival focuses on second year
The Fast Forward Film Festival is back for a second year of locally made, five-minutes-or-less films about the environment. And like its inaugural season, the festival is a juried competition with films chosen from open submissions, rather than a traditional curated festival selected without community input. But according to Festival Director Becca Delaney, its sophomore […]
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CLASSICAL | Carmina Burana
The Genesee Chorale — led by its Music Director Ric Jones — will perform Carl Orff’s choral epic, “Carmina Burana,” along with the ubiquitous song “O Fortuna,” this Friday. While the Rochester Oratorio Society performed Orff’s 20th century masterpiece with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra last June, Jones and company will collaborate with pianists Doug Hanson […]
