Category: Classical Music

Just before the NY Philharmonic concert began playing Turangalila by Olivier Messiaen at David Geffen Hall on Saturday, the stranger sitting next to me asked if I thought he would…

Beethoven, Schumann, Franck Renaud Capuçon, violin; Martha Argerich, piano Deutsche Grammophon   Three violin sonatas by great nineteenth century composers, all in A, grace this recording by violinist Renaud Capuçon…

Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Opp. 101 & 106 Maurizio Pollini Deutsche Grammophon   Maurizio Pollini turned eighty during the recording sessions for this CD in 2021 and 2022. The great pianist…

Buffalo Philharmonic and its music director JoAnn Falletta brought their considerable world class talent downstate to Carnegie Hall on Monday. The hall was full, despite persistent rain and the fact…

Ironically, the first concert of flutist Claire Chase’s reign as Richard and Barbara Debs Creative Chair at Carnegie Hall in the 2022-23 season focuses on a dead composer. In honor…

In the doldrums of summer, it seems like 80 percent of the population in New York City is away, presumably biding their time in cooler and/or more restful locales. That…

April the First proved a propitious date for the New York Classical Players’ much anticipated program featuring a new collaboration – and premiere – with the Parker Quartet. In the…

Two years ago, I was editing a 2020 interview with the composer David Lang about the new multi-day festival that Bang on a Can planned for that spring, Long Play,…

Celebrating Mendelssohn’s Birthday with Piano Recordings   February 3rd is Felix Mendelssohn’s birthday. To celebrate, here are two reviews of recent recordings of piano music by the composer. Felix Mendelssohn…

Parker Quartet; Kim Kashkashian, viola György Kurtág: Six moments musicaux; Officium breve Antonin Dvořák: String Quintet op. 97 ECM Records   The Czech composer Antonin Dvořák (1844-1901) and Hungarian composer…