Gathering Note

Notes from the concert hall

Tag: Music

  • Remembering Charles Ives with the Chicago Sinfonietta

    Charles Ives, one of America’s most adventurous composers, pushed the boundaries of classical music with his polytonal chaos, dissonances and American echoes. Yet, despite these innovations, he remains underappreciated compared to figures like Aaron Copland. In celebration of Ives’ 150th birthday last year, historian Joseph Horowitz is leading a campaign to elevate his legacy. Through…

  • Esa-Pekka Salonen and organist Iveta Apkalna bring Sinfonia concertante to life in Chicago debut

    Originally published on Seen and Heard International The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has returned home to Orchestra Hall after a successful tour through Florida, New York and Oklahoma, launching an anticipated two-week residency with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen. Salonen, a dynamic force in contemporary music, steps onto the Chicago podium at a transitional moment in his career,…

  • Minkowski Takes Leap from Baroque to Classical with Jupiter and Les Boréades

    Originally published on Seen and Heard International Gods and mythology long influenced music, especially during the Baroque and Classical periods. This era saw a cultural shift, drawing greater and greater inspiration from pre-Christian societies. The larger-than-life characters of mythology offered spectacle and theatricality, especially for Baroque opera. They provided dramatic material for the genre, fueling…

  • “Let the door be shut and bolted”

    Esa-Pekka Salonen joins the CSO for a two-week residency focusing on Bartók. In week one, Salonen pairs the Concerto for Orchestra with his own Sinfonia Concertante for organ and orchestra, while in week two Bluebeard’s Castle shares the stage with Beethoven’s Second Symphony. As of this afternoon, there are still ample tickets available for Bluebeard’s…

  • Mahler, Bruckner, and a nose-picking moment of truth

    If classical music had its own sacred pilgrimage, the Berlin Philharmonic would undoubtedly be its ultimate destination—a place where music reaches its zenith. Attending one of their concerts isn’t just hearing an orchestra; it’s an experience akin to standing in awe at the Vatican or Mecca. No matter what they’re playing, you simply need to…

  • Chicago Opera Theater’s Leonora shines light on overlooked masterpiece

    Originally published at Seen and Heard International As the overture of Ferdinando Paër’s Leonora filled the historic Studebaker Theater, the audience for Chicago Opera Theater’s opening opera of the season experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness an important – yet sadly overlooked – early 19th century opera. In fact, calling this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity may…

  • Tension and drama abound in CSO’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth and Walton’s Viola Concerto

    Originally published on Seen and Heard International Having been captivated for years by Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony in F minor, I’ve attended countless performances, each offering their own insights. In my younger years, I found solace in the symphony’s emotionally charged melodies and the struggles against Fate they embodied. Growing older, however, I began to feel…

  • Seattle Opera’s ‘X’ Reflects on Malcolm X’s Legacy, past and present

    X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X was a groundbreaking work. Its 1986 premiere marked a significant moment for both the composer and the opera world. X finally graced the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in late 2023, further – if belatedly – recognizing the opera’s impact. And in early 2024 it was eagerly…

  • Randall Goosby and Christian Reif shine in Seattle Symphony debut

    Violinist Randall Goosby, who has been dazzling audiences since his debut with the Jacksonville Symphony at the age of nine, took center stage with the Seattle Symphony for a recent series of concerts.  Goosby’s smooth and warm tone, reminiscent of an earlier era of violin performance – which is not surprising from a former student…

  • Kahchun Wong’s musical alchemy: Beethoven and Mahler in perfect harmony

    Also published at Seen and Heard International Anticipation crackles in the air, thick like summer lightning before the storm breaks.  A hush descends, settling over an expectant audience.  Every cough or rustling program feels like a desecration. At the podium, conductor Kahchun Wong stands at the edge of creation – shoulders squared, back straight, baton…