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La Scena Online is the digital magazine of La Scene Musicale.Contents: News, Concert reviews, CD reviews, Interviews, Obituaries, etc; Editor: Wah Keung Chan; Assistant Editor: Andreanne Venne
ISSN: 1206-9973

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…

“RachFest” a High Note for Graf, Gerstein, and the Houston Symphony!

By Paul E. Robinson on 25 January 2012 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonRachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 1Rachmaninov: Isle of the DeadRachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 4Kirill Gerstein, pianoHouston Symphony: Hans Graf, conductorJones HallHouston, TexasSunday, January 15, 2012Symphony orchestras frequently mount “festivals” to package their wares more effectively, but I can’t remember ever coming across a Rachmaninov Festival, or “RachFest,” as they called it in Houston.Composer Sergei RachmaninovThere are usually two main reasons for classical music festivals: to celebrate artistic achievement and to fill seats. Whereas Beethoven and Mozart festivals have become so common and in the beginning at least were so lucrative that artistic purposes were almost beside the point, in the case of Houston’ s…

Rare Szymanowski with Austin Symphony and Emanuel Ax a Texas Treat!

By Paul E. Robinson on 24 January 2012 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral, Piano

by Paul E. RobinsonMozart: The Impresario OvertureBeethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2Moniuszko: Bajka (A Fairy Tale) Fantastic OvertureSzymanowski: Symphony No. 4 “Symphonie Concertante” for Piano and Orchestra Op. 60Emanuel Ax, pianoThe Austin Symphony, Peter Bay, conductorMichael and Susan Dell Hall Long Center for the Performing ArtsAustin, TexasJanuary 13, 2012We hear a lot about troubled orchestras these days. As the recession lingers on, ticket sales continue to be disappointing and donations are down. The orchestras that survive are the ones that tighten their belts and step up their marketing. They also tend to limit their programming to more popular fare.The Austin Symphony…

Bay and Austin Symphony Celebrate Virtuosity!

By Paul E. Robinson on 28 November 2011 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Piano

By Paul E. RobinsonGinastera: Variaciones concertantes Op. 23Franck: Symphonic Variations for Piano and Orchestra M. 46Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major S.125Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria von WeberAnton Nel: pianoAustin Symphony Orchestra (ASO): Peter Bay, conductorMichael and Susan Dell HallLong Center for the Performing ArtsAustin. TexasSaturday, November 19, 2011Boulez: Mémoriale Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major Op. 19 Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E flat major Timothy Hutchins, flute Till Fellner, piano Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM): Kent Nagano, conductorLa Maison symphonique Place des ArtsMontréalSaturday, October 15, 2011It is an indication of…

ALO Flute Lacks Magic!

By Paul E. Robinson on 8 November 2011 Classical, Concert Reviews, Opera

by Paul E. RobinsonMozart: The Magic Flute Austin Lyric Opera (ALO)Director: James MarvelConductor: Richard BuckleyThe Long Center Austin, TexasSaturday November 5, 2011Congratulations are in order for the Austin Lyric Opera on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary. The organization also deserves enormous credit for dealing quickly and apparently effectively with a serious financial crisis that came to a boil last spring. Changes since then have included the resignation of General Director Kevin Patterson, the listing of ALO’s office building for sale, and major program cuts to the 2011-2012 season. Kevin Smith was appointed interim General Director and principal conductor Richard…

Nagano/OSM: Brilliant Beethoven Beats Out Bland Bruckner

By Paul E. Robinson on 29 October 2011 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Romantic

by Paul E. RobinsonBoulez: MémorialeBeethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major Op. 19Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 in E flat majorTimothy Hutchins, fluteTill Fellner, pianoOrchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM): Kent Nagano, conductorLa Maison symphoniquePlace des ArtsMontréalSaturday, October 15, 2011Montréal’s new hall, La Maison symphonique, has been presenting concerts for over a month now, and after an ‘unfinished’ opening, we’re finally into the fine-tuning phase of the project. An impromptu example occurred mid-concert when maestro Nagano stepped down from the podium after the first movement of the Bruckner to announce that he was unable to continue until his wonky podium…

Gallic Charm Triumphs in Montréal!

By Paul E. Robinson on 4 October 2011 Concert Reviews, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonGounod: Symphony No. 1 in D majorSaint-Saens: Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor Op. 33Ravel: Valses Nobles et SentimentalesRoussel: Bacchus et Ariane Op. 43 Suite No. 2Gautier Capuçon: celloOrchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM): Michel Plasson, conductorLa Maison symphoniquePlace des ArtsMontréal, QuebecSeptember 29, 2011Hasn’t the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) always been a great French orchestra? In the halcyon days of Charles Dutoit, conductor and orchestra became Decca’s house orchestra for French music the way Ernest Ansermet and L’Orchestre de la Suisse Romande had been for the same label a generation earlier. Dutoit is no longer in…

Nagano & OSM Show off New Hall with Towering Turangalîla

By Paul E. Robinson on 20 September 2011 Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Piano, Violin

by Paul E. RobinsonTchaikovsky (orch.Glazunov): Méditation in D minor Op.42 No.1Glazunov: Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 82Messiaen: Turangalîla-SymphonieJoshua Bell: violinAngela Hewitt: pianoJean Laurendeau: ondes martenotOrchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM): Kent Nagano, conductorLa Maison symphoniquePlace des ArtsMontréal, QuebecSeptember 13, 2011Ever since its premiere in 1949, audiences have been moved and thrilled by Olivier Messiaen’s massive Turangalîla Symphony. More than 60 years later, it remains an extraordinarily original and peculiar piece. Montreal has heard it before – Charles Dutoit championed the piece in 2000 at Place des Arts. Kent Nagano has a special relationship with the composer and his music, and…

Nagano-OSM Week at Orford an Impressive Affair

By Paul E. Robinson on 11 August 2011 Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Orchestral

by Paul E. RobinsonWhen the Knowlton Festival folded two years ago, the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal (OSM) and its chief conductor, Kent Nagano, needed to find an alternative venue for some of their summer music-making. An inspired choice was the Orford Festival. While last season’s appearances were uneven, this summer everything came together and the results were impressive.Last summer at Orford, the OSM gave two full concerts under Nagano, who also worked with the Orford Academy Orchestra (OAO) on a third concert. The venue for all three performances was the Saint-Patrice Church in Magog. This year, the OSM gave only…

Les débuts modestes du Festival Opéra de Québec

By La Scena Musicale Team on 21 July 2011 Classical, Concert Reviews, Contemporary, Opera

Par Julie Berardino Le très attendu Festival Opéra de Québec se déroulera cet été (du 25 juillet au 6 août) à Québec avec une version modeste du Rossignol et autres fables de Stravinsky et de la Flûte enchantée de Mozart. Tel que prévu, Robert Lepage, originaire de Québec, sera à l’honneur dans la production qu’offre sa compagnie Ex Machina de l’opéra de Stravinsky, qui fut créée par le Canadian Opera Company et a récemment complété une tournée à New York. La production amène chanteurs et marionnettiste à évoluer dans un grand bassin d’eau sur scène (salle Louis-Fréchette du Grand Théâtre de Québec)…

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