Reviews

osiristrio_wide.jpg
Review

Generous Osiris

Be'eri Moalem - January 13, 2009
The Osiris Trio is not the sort of ensemble that will blow you away with pyrotechnics and dazzling execution, or with overflowing energy. Yet for natural and honest music-making, Osiris provided generously in its Sunday recital at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. Many of today's best groups seem to leap out of their seats and give 120 percent to grab the audience by the lapels.

Goodbye to All That

David Bratman - January 6, 2009
Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony — the dark, somber one in a weird key (F-sharp minor), which ends with the musicians quietly leaving the stage by ones and twos, until only a pair of violinists are left to finish the piece — is the perfect work to serve as a metaphor for the end of a questionable year.
Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago
Review

Moseying Down China’s Silk Road

Heuwell Tircuit - December 29, 2008

Yo-Yo Ma’s and his Silk Road Project have come up with a new CD featuring a host of young performers supported by the Chicago Symphony. Titled Traditions and Transformations, the disc includes two standard works, Ernest Bloch’s Schelomo and Prokofiev rambunctious Scythian Suite, Op.

Shout to Heaven

Robert P. Commanday - December 16, 2008
The Santa Rosa Symphony has more than earned its role as the future orchestra-in-residence at the Green Music Center, now edging toward completion at Sonoma State University (see the feature article). It has made remarkable progress during the past two decades, even under the handicap of an acoustically mediocre home.
brubeck.david_wide.jpg
Review

Brubeck's Devotions' and Brahms' Lovesongs

Dan Leeson - December 16, 2008

To say that the Pacific Mozart Ensemble concerts are eclectic is a serious understatement. Having researched a few of their previous programs, I can’t think of a single San Francisco group — and very few elsewhere — that display this much variety, creativity, and invention in programming. Certainly, their December 18 concert in the Green Room at the Veterans War Memorial Building, and titled “Brubeck and Brahms: Canticles and Love Songs” fit this mold.

Taking the Grand Approach

Noel Verzosa - December 16, 2008
Last Thursday, the Berkeley Symphony welcomed Joana Carneiro, the last of six candidates to appear at Zellerbach Hall and make a case for their being appointed as music director. Carneiro's selection of pieces was probably the least eclectic of all the candidates' programs, though she chose hers strategically.
leftcoastnew_wide.jpg
Review

Birthday Moods

Jules Langert - December 16, 2008
Born a hundred years ago, just a single day apart, Olivier Messiaen and Elliott Carter, otherwise such strange musical bedfellows, had their December birthdays jointly celebrated Monday in San Francisco's Green Room, in a concert by the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble.

No Double Whammy

Jeff Dunn - December 16, 2008
Even in opera, where plots deal with the structure of destiny, it’s music, not words, that provides power. — Marcel Marceau, 1987
A composer may write fabulous music, but a weak libretto can kill it as an opera. — Jake Heggie, 2008
Every composer dreams of writing fabulous music to the perfect, dramatic libretto.
classicalrevolution_wide.jpg
Review

Viva la Revolution

Be'eri Moalem - December 16, 2008
"Music didn't always use to be so [bleepin'] pretentious," whispered one of the "concert" goers as he stood on the sidewalk, rolling a cigarette while listening to the Brahms G-minor Piano Quartet. As the performers started to play the Alla Zingara "Gypsy" movement, listeners whistled, whooped, and yelled "Yeah!
ncco2_wide.jpg
Review

Holiday Cheer

David Bratman - December 16, 2008

Christmas time is here, by golly. Time to mix a punch of Baroque orchestral music, sacred vocal music of various periods, and a medley of Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs. That's what the New Century Chamber Orchestra served up for its December concerts last weekend. I heard Friday's performance at First United Methodist Church, the "concrete tent," in downtown Palo Alto.