21C Media Group

ASO performs Schumann’s Scenes from Goethe’s Faust

2010-03-17

Scenes from Goethe’s Faust is the iconic poetic rendering of the story of a man who sells his soul to the devil, set to music by a composer who knew very well what it was like to be haunted by demons, his mental state often frayed. This year sees the bicentennial of Robert Schumann’s birth, and the American Symphony Orchestra marks the occasion on April 9 at Lincoln Center with the rarely-performed Scenes from Goethe’s Faust. This completes the trilogy of the composer’s dramatic oratorios in which the orchestra previously introduced audiences to Manfred and Das Paradies und die Peri. The ASO will be joined on stage by the Concert Chorale of New York directed by James Bagwell, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Steven Mackey’s It Is Time premieres at Carnegie Hall, March 25

2010-03-16

The world premiere of Steven Mackey’s It Is Time is the centerpiece of So Percussion’s upcoming chamber recital at Carnegie’s Zankel Hall on March 25. Co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall and Chamber Music America, Mackey’s epic new work was written expressly for the pioneering quartet, and features staging elements and video by Mark DeChiazza.

Thomas Hampson takes Manhattan

2010-03-15

Eminent American baritone Thomas Hampson returns to New York City this month for a remarkable string of performances and special appearances, beginning on March 29 when he encores the role of Germont in Verdi’s La traviata at the Metropolitan Opera (eight performances through April 24). Those Met performances complement a series of events that are part of his yearlong appointment as the first Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence of the New York Philharmonic: his recital at Avery Fisher Hall on April 11, co-presented by the Philharmonic and Lincoln Center’s “Art of the Song” series, will feature Schumann’s great song cycle Dichterliebe and songs by Samuel Barber; and on April 16, at Symphony Space, he will give the world-premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s songs from Solomon’s garden, commissioned by the orchestra and written expressly for Hampson (a second performance follows on April 17 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with both performances conducted by Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert). Hampson’s third and final Insights Series event for the Philharmonic this season, “Listening to Thought: A Guide to German Romanticism”, will take place on April 5 at Lincoln Center’s Kaplan Penthouse.

Metropolitan Opera Guild news: April 2010

2010-03-13

On Tuesday, April 20, two days before bidding farewell to her New York fans in a concert at Carnegie Hall, the beloved mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade will be honored at the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s 75^th Annual Luncheon. With “Flicka and Friends – A Loving Tribute to Frederica von Stade,” the Guild will gather together colleagues and friends to salute the legendary artist in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf=Astoria Hotel, with a musical tribute by baritone Thomas Hampson and a spoken tribute by one of Flicka’s long-time colleagues and friends, soprano Evelyn Lear. Among the many artists who be there to help celebrate Flicka will be Martina Arroyo, Rockwell Blake, Dave Brubeck, Chris Brubeck, Vladimir Chernov, Tyne Daly, Angela Gheorghiu, Marilyn Horne, Kristine Jepson, John Macurdy, Terrence McNally, Mildred Miller, Paul Plishka, Regina Resnik, Julius Rudel and Richard Stilwell. The afternoon will include the screening of a new video biography of the honoree, video performances and many more surprises.

Daniel Hope presents “Air” at the Highline Ballroom

2010-03-11

To celebrate the release of Air, Hope will perform selections from the CD at New York’s Highline Ballroom on April 5. The concert at the Highline Ballroom will mark the first time the program will be presented in the US; earlier in the year, Hope played his Air program in London, inaugurating the Elgar Room, the Royal Albert Hall’s new performance venue.

EMI Classics & Virgin Classics March 2010 releases

2010-03-08

New Album of Works by British Composer Thomas Adès Features Three World-Premiere Recordings, Including Orchestral Work Tevot and Violin Concerto; Performances Led by Adès as well as Sir Simon Rattle. Another Highlight from EMI Classics in March Is New Reissue Series, EMI Masters, Featuring Landmark Performances Recorded Exclusively at Famed Abbey Road Studio. Young Danish Cellist Andreas Brantelid, Heard Recently on First Solo EMI Classics Release As Well As All-Chopin Chamber Music Collection, Gives NYC Recital Debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall Mar 12.

WQXR’s “Conductor’s Choice” presents Manahan on Sibelius (Fri, 8pm)

2010-03-08

On Friday, March 12, Classical 105.9 WQXR will launch “Conductor’s Choice”, a special new series, broadcast as part of Symphony Hall, which will draw on New York’s unique classical community and showcase creative insights and inspirations from those who are defining what is heard in the city’s concert halls and opera houses.

Curtis On Tour comes to New York City on March 10

2010-03-07

On March 10, New Yorkers can witness the extraordinary artistry of the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music when Curtis On Tour makes a special appearance at the Allen Room in Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. In this elegant setting, distinguished Curtis faculty members Ida Kavafian and Peter Wiley (’74) will be joined by three of tomorrow’s leading musicians, all Curtis students, to perform a variety of chamber works.

Iván Fischer conducts Beethoven cycle in NYC

2010-03-03

Over four consecutive days in early spring, conductor Iván Fischer – the founder and music director of the Budapest Festival Orchestra – will lead two remarkable ensembles in performances of all nine Beethoven symphonies in New York City. “Beethoven: Then and Now” takes place between March 25 and 28 at Lincoln Center and features Fischer’s celebrated Budapest Festival Orchestra – now in its 26^th season – sharing the spotlight with one of the world’s leading period-instrument ensembles, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE).

Metropolitan Opera Guild co-hosts Curtain Call Awards

2010-03-01

The Metropolitan Opera Guild and Montclair State University (MSU) have partnered to host the first Curtain Call Awards. The Curtain Call Awards, an opera vocal competition, is available to talented high school juniors and seniors in New Jersey. They will start accepting submissions now for a March 29 deadline, and finals for the top five high school singers will take place at the new Jed Leshowitz Recital Hall at Montclair State in June.