Category: Portland, OR

The bassoon is often associated with humor and whether that is just or unjust doesn’t matter, because even bassoonists seem to revel in the comical aspects of their chosen instrument. So, several bassoon pieces in the second half of the Chamber Music Northwest concert (July 21) at Catlin Gabel caused lots of chuckles. But the tongue-in-cheek quality of the bassoon music did not obscure the virtuosic performances by the bassoonists involved. Led by globe-trotting bassoon soloist Milan Turkovic, the bassoon numbers in Tuesday evening’s concert had an ample amount of buffoonery and were performed superbly. Continue reading Bassoon buffoonery balances out Haydn and Bach

If you ever have the pleasure of attending a Greg Anderson and Elizabeth Joy Roe concert, be sure to sit on stage. That’s where I took a seat during Sunday afternoon’s concert at the World Forestry Center where Anderson and Roe held forth just few feet away from me. They gave an electrifying performance that swept the audience into a cheering mass of humanity, making a strong case that playing piano is the most fun thing that two people could ever do together.

Continue reading Anderson + Roe = sensational duo piano concert

Chamber Music Northwest went all out for its Baroque Concerto Night program on Thursday (July 17), presenting five concertos for viola, two cellos, harpsichord, oboe d’amore, and flute. A very full house at Kaul Auditorium absorbed a full dose of music by Telemann, Vivaldi, Handel, and Bach by a variety of ensembles, which drew from a pool of ten top-notch musicians. Continue reading Baroque concertos gone wild at Chamber Music Northwest

Leave it to a British bloke to come up with a great idea that we Americans should’ve proposed a long time ago. I’m referring to Stephen Llewellyn’s latest quest to lobby congress and everyone else for a National Music Teachers Appreciation Day

. Can you believe that our nation has special days set aside in recognition for cowboys and the corvette. Granted that they are part of our nation’s identity, but what about music teachers! Who of us would learn how to sing or play any instrument at all without the help of someone who taught us. Especially when we consider the decline of music education, a special day of recognition, of concerts, and other ways of celebrating would be in order. Capital idea Stephen! Hat’s off to the former barrister, who is helping to change the attitude in this country to something positive. Now, let’s find all of the politicians who have had music lessons and sign them up to make National Music Teachers Appreciation Day a reality!

Despite the economic crisis that has most arts groups on their heals, Portland Opera concluded the 2008/2009 season in the black. That’s great news! Budget cuts, rental income, the touring national Broadway productions, and astute and shrewed management by general director Christopher Mattaliano means that Portland Opera has finished 11 of the past 12 seasons with a positive financial statement. Continue reading Portland Opera stays financially on the upside!

The Miró Quartet has been around for 14 years, but they play like they’ve known each other for 30. That’s the incredibly strong impression that this ensemble left with the audience after it concluded a scintillating concert of music by Philippe Hersant, Felix Mendelssohn, and Johannes Brahms on Monday evening (July 13) as part of the Chamber Music Northwest Summer Festival. Continue reading Miró Quartet plus friends excel in music of Hersant, Mendelssohn, and Brahms

Yeol Eum Son, silver medalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition, made a strong case for herself with her recital for the Portland Piano International Festival on Sunday afternoon (July 12) at the Wood Forestry Center. Son’s playing showed a lot of thought and plenty of spontaneity as well in a program that consisted of works by Robert Schuman, Mason Bates, Franz Liszt, and Frédéric Chopin. Continue reading Yeol Eum Son makes a splash with debut recital at Portland Piano International

Ursula Oppens is a magnificent pianist who has conquered the numerous challenges of contemporary composers. Oppens has built a terrific reputation with her incisive playing of works by Anthony Braxton, John Harbison, György Ligeti, Witold Lutoslawski, Conlon Nancarrow, Frederic Rzewski, Joan Tower, Charles Wuorinen, and many other composers. Last year, Cedille Records released an album, “Oppens Plays Carter,” in which Oppens performed all of the piano works of Elliott Carter, and her talent at the keyboard is unquestionably brilliant. Continue reading Oppens sparkles – Carter baffles

A lot of great music was written in 1826, and Chamber Music Northwest in its concert on Thursday evening (July 9) reached back to that year to present an outstanding program of works by Beethoven, Schubert, and Mendelssohn. A total of ten performers (not all on stage at the same time) just flat-out wowed the near-capacity audience in Kaul Auditorium with superb artistry that revealed the heights and depths of each piece. It was as if each duo and ensemble had been playing together for years and years, when, in reality, they had only a rehearsal or two to whip each piece into shape. Continue reading Chamber Music Northwest musicians uncork a spectacular vintage 1826 concert

Cappella Romana will sing the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in a series of concerts that lead up to performances at Music Fest in Vancouver, British Columbia. Entitled “Odes of Repentance,” Cappella Romana’s concert will feature Eastern Orthodox hymns that Pärt has set as well as a selection of his English and Slavonic works. Continue reading Cappela Romana to present music of Arvo Pärt