Review published at Seen and Heard International Mahler performances run the gamut interpretatively.  Leonard Bernstein famously pushed an approach that was cosmic in scale, yet also probed the human condition.  Rafael Kubelik’s approach was rustic and humane. He grounded his performances in Mahler’s abundant references to nature.  There are also the modernists interpretations: Conductors who…

Review published on Seen and Heard International The Seattle Symphony’s penultimate program of the 2022-23 season embraced the notion of music as a medium for artistic expression – with Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” at the center. This timeless tale has inspired many a composer, and guest conductor Marin Alsop led the orchestra in three of…

Review originally published at Seen and Heard International Verdi’s La traviata is one of the handful of operas that is instantly recognizable by the wider public. Since its premiere in 1853, it has never left the repertoire. Its legendary arias, such as “Sempre libra,” and its tragically realistic portrayal of a doomed love story captivate…

Sergei Rachmaninov was one of the most gifted and versatile composers of his generation. His music spanned a wide range of genres and forms, from piano pieces and songs to operas and orchestral works. His mastery of melody, harmony, and structure allowed him to create works that appealed to both the public and critics.  But…

At just twenty-two years old, Richard Strauss made a bold decision to shift his compositional focus away from traditional forms such as symphonies. At around the same time, heeding the advice of Johannes Brahms, Strauss traded in his cold North European surroundings for the temperate climate and impetuous lifestyle of Italy, where inspiration struck. It…

This review was originally published at Seen and Heard International The last time Camille Saint-Saëns’ opera Samson and Delilah was heard in Seattle in 1965, Lyndon Johnson was in the White House and Seattle was basking in the afterglow of hosting the World’s Fair two years prior, with its new Space Needle adding a distinctive touch to…

Originally published at Seen and Heard International The names Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven are practically synonymous with Western music’s Classical Period. But while we may be familiar with the usual suspects in their repertoires, the Seattle Symphony’s recent concert program featuring pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet promised to be a refreshing take on these masters with a…

Originally published at Seen and Heard International Concertos for electric violin are not common, but they are becoming more so. Established American composers — such as John Adams and Terry Riley — have written concertos for the instrument, but so too have newer voices like Brett Dean. After a world premiere performance this past weekend…

Originally published at Seen and Heard International The most recent Seattle Symphony concert was once envisioned as a matchmaking session between a rising maestro in Jonathon Heyward and an orchestra in search of a new leader. In 2019, Heyward had made an impressive debut with the SSO. With youth on his side, a resume of…

Article originally published on Seen and Heard International Port Angeles is an unlikely location to hear world class chamber music performances. The town sits on the north shore of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, its downtown hugging the Strait of Juan de Fuca. To the south, the Olympic Mountains rise above the city. It grew rapidly back…