By Gigi Yellen
The CD “Live in the Fiddler’s House,” played in the car as I headed for Benaroya Hall to hear “Reb Itzik” play.
That would be Itzhak Perlman, the wildly famous virtuoso violinist, whose Jan. 28 concert as soloist and conductor was the second in a two-night stand that launched this year’s Seattle Symphony Mainly Mozart Series.
By Dana Wen
This week marks the 254th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, kicking off commemorative concerts across the globe. Here in Seattle, members of the Seattle Symphony presented a delightful program of the great composer’s chamber music to celebrate the event. The well-attended Tuesday night recital, a day before Mozart’s birthday on January 27, was held in Benaroya Hall’s intimate Nordstrom Recital Hall. It was a pleasant surprise to see the room so full on a cold weeknight. The enthusiasm of the crowd served as a testament to the success of the Seattle Symphony’s small chamber music series. This Mozart tribute proved to be no exception to this rule. The four works on the program did an excellent job of showcasing the symphony’s talent while representing various sides of Mozart’s personality.
Continue reading Happy birthday Mozart! SSO members present a delightful tribute
Celebrating Mozart on his birthday Wednesday in a Town Hall concert, pianist Byron Schenkman and several colleagues enlivened their performances with raffle drawings for an audience already enjoying wine and chocolates. Downstairs at Town Hall was jammed with people skipping the last part of the State of the Union speech to be there and the atmosphere was cheerfully festive.
The performances, of Mozart works mostly from the composer’s late teens and very early twenties, were of generally high level as one would expect from anything Schenkman does, but within that the results were uneven.
The Seattle Symphony musicians and management have reached a tentative agreement on a multi-year contract, paving the way for the next phase of the orchestra’s future.
If you went to the Seattle Philharmonic concert this past weekend you learned two lessons. First, parents should keep their young children at home. Second, among community orchestras, the Seattle Phil is the best I have heard so far this year. They are a group of musicians capable of unexpected, even stunning results.
By Lorin Wilkerson
Saturday night, January 16th, marked the inaugural concert of a new Portland chamber music group that goes by the name of 45th Parallel. Its goal is to make a home for chamber music by talented local musicians, to “bring Portland’s rich chamber music culture out of the living room and onto the stage.” Last night’s concert at the Old Church was rich indeed, featuring a sort of A-list of some of Portland’s finest string players, in this case all members of the Oregon Symphony (and other groups). The evening featured three works, by de Bériot, Verdi and Tchaikovsky, all of which works were influenced by opera or ballet.
The Everett Symphony canceled the remainder of its season for budget reasons. This is bad for a number of reasons, but I am especially disappointed that we won’t be able to hear Mara Gearman play the Walton Viola Concerto now.
And, it now appears, a federal mediator is helping SSO management and musicians hammer out a new contract. Can they reach a deal before next season is unveiled early next month?
You could say the violin is the foundation of classical music. There are more violins in the modern symphony orchestra than any other instrument. String quartets use two of them. Piano trios depend on the instrument’s singing qualities to balance out the piano. Concerti for the instrument are some of the most famous pieces in the entire classical cannon. Soloists – from Isaac Stern to Paganini – have used the instrument to dazzle crowds and gather fame. While much of the chatter among classical music fans has focused on the Seattle Symphony this month, two concerts – both giving prominence to the violin – deserved more attention than they received.
Continue reading Violin is featured in Bellevue Phil and Seattle Baroque concerts
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By R.M. Campbell
A breeze, both warm and cool, arrived Thursday night at Meany Hall and will stay the weekend. Its name is the Richard Alston Dance Company.
The English company, named after its founding choreographer and artistic director, is known for its sunny, ebullience, the kind that is rather out-of-fashion in today’s rough-and-tumble culture. But as the company proved Thursday night, in an all-Alston program, it is about many things. It provides pleasure the way Paul Taylor does, can divide up space in the manner of Merce Cunningham, can sustain intensity of mood like Twyla Tharp and enjoys elegance, in an abstract way, that reminds one of George Balanchine. Still, in the end, Alston is his own man.
Continue reading Richard Alston Dance Company returns to Meany Hall in splendid shape
Gathering Note 