Month: April 2011
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Cornish College is fast becoming Seattle’s center of daring, modern classical music performances. It is a rapid turn around for a college and a music program which identifies itself readily with John Cage, a composer critical to the growth of avant garde music in the United States. The school doesn’t boast a resident student orchestra…
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Seattle is about to be invaded by two prominent string quartets, both champions of non-standard repertory, new music, and everything in between. ETHEL comes first with two performances with Simple Measures, the local chamber music effort striving to remove the mystery around classical music followed by two performances by the JACK Quartet as part of…
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By R.M. Campbell There were familiar and unfamiliar faces at the Seattle Symphony Orchestra concert Thursday night at Benaroya Hall. Violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsy was the soloist and Pietari Inkinen, the guest conductor. Music of Jean Sibelius, Benjamin Britten and Bela Bartok was played. All together, the concert was satisfying. Inkinen is an able young man,…
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By Gigi Yellen The Seattle concert series called Simple Measures rarely risks investing in such a high-profile touring ensemble as Ethel. That makes this weekend’s two concerts as important as they are accessible. With no stage separating performers and audience, in Simple Measures’ usual friendly neighborhood venues, the internationally renowned string quartet known as Ethel…
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By Philippa Kiraly In the operas so far this season, Seattle Opera has presented singers on stage from Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Israel, Nicaragua, Australia, Turkey, France, Argentina, Mexico and, coming up in “The Magic Flute,” Canada, Japan, Russia and England. In addition, of course, to the American singers. Where does general director…
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By Philippa Kiraly Some years ago, the Early Music Guild advertised a part time position for Marketing and Development, and ended up hiring a young woman named Kris Kwapis. Not coincidentally, she also happens to be one of the continent’s best performers on Baroque trumpet and in demand for concerts, as well as being a…
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By Philippa Kiraly It’s always enlightening to go to hear Seattle Symphony musicians playing chamber music, as they now do regularly at Nordstrom Recital Hall. The chance to hear players not merged in a group, with often unusual offerings, were again what drew audience to Friday night’s concert. The unusual was the string quartet, his…
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Since his arrival in Seattle two years ago, Kent Devereaux’s impact on Cornish’s music department has been tangible and welcome. The credit doesn’t go to Devereaux entirely of course. Cornish is lucky to have faculty who appreciate the new and aren’t afraid of exploring the unknown. Equally as important in my mind, Cornish isn’t afraid…
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By R.M. Campbell If ever there were a symphony program designed to please, it was Thursday night at Benaroya Hall with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra playing Gershwin and Tchaikovsky. Predictably audiences will love it. A third work was performed, in its Seattle premiere — Cindy McTee’s “Double Play.” Born in Tacoma and educated at Pacific…
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By R.M. Campbell Yevgeny Sudin made his Seattle debut at Meany Hall two years ago. I wasn’t there but by all accounts the concert was a huge success. The Russian pianist returned Wednesday night, offering Haydn, Shostakovich, Chopin, Liszt and Ravel. It was a glorious way to end the 2010-2011 President’s Piano Series. Although he…