Baroque and Early - my/maSCENA

James Ehnes Plays Bach

By Paul E. Robinson on 10 December 2012 Baroque and Early, Video of the day, Violin

Canadian violinist James Ehnes is no longer “an exciting young talent” but an international star. He plays regularly with the world’s leading orchestras and conductors and his recordings invariably receive the highest praise. One of his most recent recordings in which he plays both Bartok Violin Concertos and the Viola Concerto (Chandos 10690) has had rave reviews.In this video Ehnes plays Bach’s Preludio and Gigue from Bach’s Partita No. 3 for Unaccompanied Violin. The performance was recorded in the studios of radio station WQXR in New York.Paul E. Robinson

Austin Symphony and Conspirare Partner to Present Psalm Settings by Stravinsky and Bernstein

By Paul E. Robinson on 28 May 2012 Baroque and Early, Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral

by Paul RobinsonMaestro Peter BayBach/Stokowski: Toccata and Fugue in D minor BWV 565*Stravinsky: Symphony of Psalms**Bach-Stokowski: Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582**Bernstein: Chichester Psalms*Conspirare Symphonic ChoirAustin Symphony OrchestraCraig Hella Johnson/ conductor*Peter Bay/ conductor**LongCenter for the Performing ArtsAustin, TexasIt was a clever idea to program together two important Twentieth Century musical settings of psalms, one by Igor Stravinsky and the other by Leonard Bernstein. While the texts are drawn from the same source, the music could hardly be more different. Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms is cool and austere while Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms” is emotional and more popular in style.…

Van Zweden/DSO “Passion” a Performance for the Ages!

By Paul E. Robinson on 9 April 2012 Baroque and Early, Choral, Concert Reviews, Orchestral

Author : (Paul E. Robinson)

J.S. Bach: St. Matthew Passion BWV 244 John McVeigh, tenor Morgan Smith, baritone (Christus) Camilla Tilling, soprano Jennifer Johnston, alto Johannes Chum, tenor (Evangelist) Alistair Miles, bass Dallas Symphony Chorus, Joshua Habermann, director Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, Cynthia Nott, director Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Jaap van Zweden, conductor Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, Texas Friday, March 29, 2012 Jaap van Zweden, recently named “Conductor of the Year” by Musical America, has been recognized by music-lovers in Dallas since 2008 – the start of his music directorship of the DSO – as an extraordinary leader of musicians. He has impressed audiences and critics alike in the “Big D” with his…

A Miraculous Musical Pilgrimage With Conspirare’s Company of Voices

By Paul E. Robinson on 2 February 2012 Baroque and Early, Choral, Concert Reviews, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonTalbot: Path of MiraclesConspirare: Company of Voices/Craig Hella Johnson, conductorSt. Martin’s Lutheran ChurchAustin, TexasFriday, January 20, 2012Now in the middle of its 19th season, Conspirare’s 24-member Company of Voices continues to be innovative and inspiring. Its latest presentation was the regional premiere of Path of Miracles,a 70-minute work by British composer Joby Talbot; a beautiful work, it was given a superb performance on this occasion by Craig Hella Johnson & Company.Path of Miracles depicts the famous medieval Christian pilgrims’ walk from France to Santiago, in homage to St. James, one of Jesus’ disciples, and the patron saint of…

Conspirare and Craig Hella Johnson Give Voice to Passions From Bach to Lang!

By Paul E. Robinson on 24 May 2010 Baroque and Early, Choral, Concert Reviews

by Paul E. RobinsonBach’s St. Matthew Passion is one of the great masterpieces of Christian music; its music is sublime and inspiring, and its structure is one of its great strengths. Crowd reaction to Christ’s suffering is built into the telling of the story, and chorales in which the congregation is expected to participate, are also integral to the piece. A few years ago, American composer David Lang appropriated this structure as the inspiration for a work of his own, The Little Match Girl Passion, based on the well-known story by Hans Christian Andersen. Conspirare’s superb Company of Voices recently…

Browsing: Baroque and Early

James Ehnes Plays Bach

Austin Symphony and Conspirare Partner to Present Psalm Settings by Stravinsky and Bernstein

Van Zweden/DSO “Passion” a Performance for the Ages!

A Miraculous Musical Pilgrimage With Conspirare’s Company of Voices

Conspirare and Craig Hella Johnson Give Voice to Passions From Bach to Lang!

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