Opera - my/maSCENA

American Composer Philip Glass is Eleventh Glenn Gould Prize Laureate

By Newswire on 14 April 2015 Chamber Music, Contemporary, Newswire, Opera, Orchestral

Philip Glass Announced asEleventh Glenn Gould Prize LaureateA fearlessly innovative, collaborative and prolific composer“I am very pleased to be the winner of the Eleventh Glenn Gould Prize. It is for me a special honor as I am one of the many musicians who have been inspired by him. Glenn Gould’s name is associated with a lifetime of excellence in music interpretation and performance. Also I am aware that this award places me in the company of some of the most celebrated names in the broad spectrum of the music of our time. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that I accept this award.” – Philip…

Video of the Day – Carlo Bergonzi (1924-2014): In Memoriam

By Paul E. Robinson on 8 August 2014 Opera, Video of the day

Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi was 90 years old when he died this past week. He had a long and illustrious career. His made his debut at La Scala in 1953 and at the Met 3 years later. Thereafter, he was a regular at the Met for 30 years. He was not the most exciting tenor of his generation. But he was widely admired for his beautiful tone and good taste.Like too many artists Bergonzi didn’t know when to quit and left a major blemish on his career. In 2000 he attempted to sing the leading role in Verdi’s Otello in…

“Copland and Mexico” in Austin, Texas

By Paul E. Robinson on 28 March 2014 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Opera

by Paul E. RobinsonMaestro Peter BayCopland: Two Mexican PiecesCopland: El Salón MéxicoChavez: Chapultepec (Three Famous Mexican Pieces)Revueltas: Redes (complete with film)Joseph Horowitz, scriptwriter and producerAustin Symphony/Peter BayLong Center for the Performing ArtsAustin, TexasSaturday, March 22, 2014Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas (a student at St. Edward’s College in Austin [1917-18]) and American composer Aaron Copland were born within months of each other – in December (1899) and November (1900), respectively. Both enjoyed considerable success in the 1930s, but while Copland went on to become one of the iconic figures in American music, Revueltas died of pneumonia, alcoholism, poverty and heartbreak, at the…

Uniworld River Cruise: Unexpected “European Jewels”

By Paul E. Robinson on 12 February 2014 Concert Reviews, Opera, Orchestral, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonCLASSICAL TRAVELSRiver Cruise along the Main, the Rhine and the DanubeAugust 2013This past August, Marita and I thoroughly enjoyed the “European Jewels” Uniworld River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest. We were not expecting a concentration of musical events on this excursion; rather, we thought it would give us a view of Europe from a new perspective (i.e., docking within walking distance of towns and cities) – and it did, but to our delight, there was glorious music on this cruise as well, often in unexpected places. Up until about 20 years ago, this particular river cruise would not…

Video of the Day – Lotfi Mansouri: In Memoriam

By Paul E. Robinson on 7 September 2013 Opera, Video of the day

Lotfi Mansouri was the right man at the right time for the Canadian Opera Company. He was the man who made the organization a major force in Toronto’s musical life, and through his international connections he was able to bring the best singers to the city. He also deserves enormous credit for bringing opera to many more people through the use of surtitles. Finally, North American audiences could get the jokes and appreciate the nuances of the text.These were genuine achievements and they catapulted him to the leadership of an even more important company, the San Francisco Opera.His greatest qualities…

Gripping Il Tabarro and Pagliacci Pairing in St. Louis!

By Paul E. Robinson on 22 June 2013 Concert Reviews, Opera, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonIl TabarroEmily Pulley/Tim Mix/Robert Brubaker/Matthew DiBattistaDir: Ron DanielsSt. Louis Symphony/Ward Stare, conductorPagliacciTim Mix/Robert Brubaker/Matthew DiBattista/Kelly KaduceDir: Ron DanielsSt. Louis Symphony/Ward Stare, conductorOpera Theatre of St. LouisLoretto-Hilton CenterThursday, June 13, 2013“A married woman falls in love with a young man, and in a jealous rage, her possessive husband takes his revenge. Il Tabarro (The Cloak) and Pagliacci (Clowns). Two operas. The same story:” Brazilian director Ron Daniels succinctly gives us the gist of these two powerful music dramas. What a brilliant idea to present them together in a single evening – a little grim, yes, but wonderfully illuminating!Pagliacci is most often paired with Cavalleria Rusticana. Il Tabarro, as originally…

This Week in Montreal: June 17 to 23

By La Scena Musicale Team on 17 June 2013 Baroque and Early, Dance, Opera, This Week in Montreal

Discovery and Exploration at the Montréal Baroque Festival In addition to their Grand concerts series, the Montréal Baroque Festival will offer festival-goers more intimate programming, including a recital by this year’s artist-in-residence, Brazilian born Cléa Galhano, and a concert of sacred cantatas by Manuel de Zumaya performed by Mexican ensemble La Fontegara. This festival is a place of exploration and discovery; Soirée sans frontièreswill push the limits of baroque experience by combining early music with the digital arts. This year’s closing event is Élémens, a divine ballet by Jean-Ferry Rebel depicting the Creation, featuring dancers and acrobats. www.montrealbaroque.com – Renée…

This week in Montreal: May 27 – June 2

By La Scena Musicale Team on 27 May 2013 Chamber Music, Opera, Orchestral, This Week in Montreal

Montreal Chamber Music Festival (MCMF/FMCM)The musical festival season opens with the MCMF. The 18th editition takes place from May 9 to June 1 at St. George’s Anglican Church. True to tradition, artistic director Denis Brott spares us no surprises. Performers include the Emerson and Fine Arts Quartets, the Swingle Singers, and pianists Jean-Philippe Collard and Oliver Jones, to name a few. This year’s four-hour marathon is dedicated to Tchaikovsky. www.festivalmontreal.org- Renée BanvilleArthur Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au Bûcher Closes the 2012-13 Season at the OSMConductor Kent Nagano closes the OSM’s season with Arthur Honegger’s lyric mystery Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher (Joan…

Cette semaine à Montréal : le 13 au 19 mai

By La Scena Musicale Team on 13 May 2013 Opera, Orchestral, Piano, Romantic, Scena Jazz, This Week in Montreal

Festival de Musique de Chambre de Montréal (FMCM) La saison des festivals de musique d’été s’ouvre avec le FMCM, dont la 18e édition se déroule jusqu’au 1er juin à l’église anglicane Saint-Georges. Fidèle à la tradition, le directeur artistique Denis Brott ne nous ménage pas les surprises. On pourra entendre entre autres les quatuors Emerson et Fine Arts, les Swingle Singers, le pianiste Jean-Philippe Collard et Oliver Jones. Le marathon de quatre heures est consacré cette année à Tchaïkovski. www.festivalmontreal.org- Renée BanvilleConcert prestige Le CMIM annonce un prestigieux concert réunissant le violoniste Maxim Vengerov, le violoncelliste Stéphane Tétreault et le…

This week in Montreal: May 13 – 19

By La Scena Musicale Team on 13 May 2013 Chamber Music, Opera, Orchestral, Piano, Romantic, This Week in Montreal

Montreal Chamber Music Festival (MCMF/FMCM)The musical festival season opens with the MCMF. The 18th editition takes place from May 9 to June 1 at St. George’s Anglican Church. True to tradition, artistic director Denis Brott spares us no surprises. Performers include the Emerson and Fine Arts Quartets, the Swingle Singers, and pianists Jean-Philippe Collard and Oliver Jones, to name a few. This year’s four-hour marathon is dedicated to Tchaikovsky. www.festivalmontreal.org- Renée BanvilleConcert PrestigeThe MIMC has announced a prestigious concert bringing together violinist Maxim Vengerov, cellist Stéphane Tétrault, and pianist Serhiy Salov, 2004 grand prize winner of the MIMC. Accompanied by…

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