Music history includes many Bachs. Johann Sebastian, who lived from 1685 to 1750, was the greatest of his musical family and still the best known to us. But Europe boasted other Bachs throughout the 17th and 18th century, and among the most prominent was one of Johann Sebastian’s sons, Carl Philipp Emanuel. In his lifetime, […]
Classical
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“Carmen” of the Finger Lakes
In recent years opera companies, symphony orchestras, and other arts groups have made headlines with their financial difficulties, and some have folded or reorganized — for example, Rochester’s Mercury Opera is no longer a presenting company, but as the Opera Guild of Rochester, the organization supports other operatic events. And Rochester Lyric Opera, formerly Empire […]
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Skaneateles Festival
The combination of a relaxed, summery atmosphere and lofty musical artistry is a potent one. As western New York’s summer chamber music festivals attest, it is also a popular one. One summer music festival preceded the others: The Skaneateles Festival, which held its first program in 1980, is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2014, and […]
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Pixar scored
Only four composers have written scores for the 14 feature films produced by Pixar Animation Studios. Randy Newman, Michael Giacchino, Thomas Newman, and Patrick Doyle have each left their mark on a Pixar flick — and collectively won 10 Grammy Awards and three Academy Awards and earned another 10 Academy nominations for the films’ music. […]
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On your imaginary forces work
In its opening speech, the Chorus in Shakespeare’s “Henry V” exhorts the audience to use its imagination to recreate the numerous English and French settings of the play — hence the quote that gives this review its title. For its concluding concert of the 2013-14 season, performed Thursday, May 29, and Saturday, May 31, the […]
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Concert Review: RPO presents Holst’s “The Planets”
In its opening speech, the Chorus in Shakespeare’s “Henry V” exhorts the audience to use its imagination to recreate the numerous English and French settings of the play — hence the quote that gives this review its title. For its concluding concert of the 2013-14 season, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra highlights imaginative musical canvases by […]
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ARTS: RPO announces part two of 2014-15 season
The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced the remainder of its 2014-15 season, today, which will incorporate five family-friendly OrKIDStra Concerts, two 3-concert Sunday Matinee series, and five special concerts, including a performance from Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, and a night of video game scores with Video Games Live. In February, the RPO announced its 2014-15 Philharmonics […]
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Rochester Bach Festival
When lists of the great composers are compiled, Johann Sebastian Bach is usually placed at or near the top. And at the top of Bach’s enormous and awesome musical output, many would place his two settings of the biblical Passion text: the story of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Bach’s “Saint Matthew […]
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MEDIA: Classical 91.5’s Mordecai Lipshutz has died
WXXI News announced today that Mordecai Lipshutz, the longtime afternoon host for Classical 91.5, died on Sunday at age 64 “following several months of illness.” Lipshutz joined Classical 91.5 in 1976 and retired in 2008. During his 30-year career, he hosted the “Live From Hochstein” series, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concerts, and other […]
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CLASSICAL FEATURE: Ying Quartet with Leon Fleisher
When I wrote up my 2013-2014 classical season preview for City last summer, I selected the Ying Quartet’s concert with Leon Fleisher as my top pick. The concert sold out weeks ago. The Ying Quartet, of course, sells out every concert on its own. Pairing The Ying Quartet with legendary pianist Leon Fleisher could easily […]
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ARTS: RPO announces 2014-15 season
Sunday morning Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra announced the concert line-up for its 2014-15 season. As with the current season, the 2014-15 season Philharmonics Series will be led by a series of guest conductors as the RPO continues the search for a permanent music director following the departure of Arild Remmereit during the 2012-2013. Several of the […]
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Concert Review: “Echoes of the Middle Ages” at Memorial Art Gallery
A sustained — and deserved — applause rang through the Fountain Court of the Memorial Art Gallery following Thursday night’s concert, “Echoes of the Middle Ages,” presented by the Schola Cantorum of Christ Church and organist Naomi Gregory. The program, centered on the music and art of the 14th through the 16th centuries, was beautifully […]
