CONCERT REVIEW: Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta May 5, 2024 Robinson Atrium, High Museum of Art Atlanta, GA – USA Yinzi Kong, viola. Johann Sebastian BACH: Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 Johann Sebastian BACH: Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 Johann Sebastian BACH: Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 Mark Gresham | 8 MAY 2024 Johann Sebastian Bach’s six Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012, stand as some of the most renowned solo compositions for cello. Each consists of six movements: prelude, allemande, courante, sarabande, a penultimate pair of either minuets, bourrées, or gavottes, and a fin ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Isidore Quartet May 4, 2024 Spivey Hall Morrow, GA – USA Isidore Quartet (Adrian Steele & Phoenix Avalon, violins; Devin Moore, viola; Joshua McClendon, cello). Joseph HAYDN: String Quartet No. 25 in C Major, Op. 20, No. 2 Billy CHILDS: String Quartet No. 2, Awakening Ludwig van BEETHOVEN: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor, Op. 132 William Ford | 7 MAY 2024 The end of the 2023/24 season at Spivey Hall at Clayton State University in Morrow, Georgia, is within sight. This remarkable and exceptional series has presented some of the world’s greatest solo and chamber ensembles ..read more

PERFORMANCE REVIEW: The Atlanta Opera May 1, 2024 The Temple Atlanta, Georgia – USA Jake HEGGIE: Another Sunrise Clinton Smith, conductor; Nora Winsler, stage director; Jake Heggie, composer; Gene Scheer, librettist. Cast: Esther Tonea (Krystyna). Creative: Aletha Saunders, stage manager. Howard Wershil | 6 MAY 2024 “words are like stars in the sky… no matter what is spoken of the night, there will always be more darkness than light” Today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, which began at sundown last night.[1]  In anticipation of this annual remembrance of the Holocaust, on Wedne ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Houston Symphony Mau 2, 4 & 5, 2024 Jones Hall Houston, Texas – USA Houston Symphony,; Fabien Gabel, conductor; Alexandra Dariescu, piano. Donghoon SHIN: Kafka’s Dream Edvard GRIEG: Piano Concerto in A minor, Opus 16 Ottorino RESPIGHI: Fontane di Roma (“Fountains of Rome”), P. 106 Ottorino RESPIGHI: Pini di Roma (“Pines of Rome”), P. 141 Lawrence Wheeler | 3 MAY 2024 Thursday evening was the first of three performances at Jones Hall, with guest conductor Fabien Gabel leading the Houston Symphony. Pianist Alexandra Dariescu was soloist in Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A m ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Bent Frequency April 27, 2024 Eyedrum Atlanta, GA – USA “Forest in a City” Presented by SEAMUS & Bent Frequency. Fixed and semi-fixed audio (mono, stereo, and multi-channel); Jan Berry Baker, saxophone; Stuart Gerber, percussion. David George HASKELL: Field Recordings from Georgia Woodlands Alex CHRISTIE: tuning for now & again Daniel SMITH: Side B Iddo AHARON: Xylem Dreams Giorgio MAGNANENSI: il Guadagnini, sound sculpture, 2017 Kerrith LIVENGOOD: the smallest flock * Jeremy Castro BAGUYOS: Respite Daniel KARCHER: Circles of the World Holland HOPSON: A Record of the A ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Houston Symphony April 26, 27 (+M) & 28, 2024 Jones Hall Houston, Texas – USA Houston Symphony, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor; Joélle Harvey, soprano; Reginald Mobley, countertenor; Will Liverman, baritone; Houston Symphony Chorus; Houston Children’s Chorus. J. López BELLIDO: Symphony No. 4 (Eclipse) [world premiere] Carl ORFF: Carmina burana Lawrence Wheeler | 29 APR 2024 Saturday evening was the third of four Houston Symphony performances at Jones Hall with former music director Andrés Orozco-Estrada. The main work was Carl Orff’s ever-popular cantata Carmina burana. J ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Atlanta Baroque Orchestra April 19, 2024 Cathedral of St. Philip Atlanta, Georgia – USA April 20, 2024 First Baptist Church Athens, Georgia – USA “Jubilee” Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, Julie Andrijeski, artistic director. Pietro Antonio LOCATELLI: “Introduzione V” from Teatro musicale, Op. 4 Georg Philipp TELEMANN: Concerto for Flute and Recorder, TWV 52:e1 Georg Philipp TELEMANN: Concerto for Flute and Recorder, TWV 52:e1 Francesco DURANTE: Concerto in A major, “La Pazzia” Antonio VIVALDI: Concerto for Violin and Cello, RV 546 Francesco GEMINIANI: Concerto grosso No. 12, “La Fol ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra April 18 & 20, 2024 Atlanta Symphony Hall, Woodruff Arts Center Atlanta, Georgia – USA Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Lina Gonzalez-Granados, conductor; Cédric Tiberghien, piano. Gabriela ORTIZ: Kauyumari George GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue Joel THOMPSON: To See the Sky Gabriela Lena FRANK: Walkabout: Concerto for Orchestra Arturo MÁRQUEZ: Danzón No. 2 Mark Gresham | 27 APR 2024 It’s rare for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra to play as many as five different works in one of its classical subscription series concerts. It is even rarer when four of those w ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Georgian Chamber Players April 21, 2024 Trinity Presbyterian Church Atlanta, GA – USA Zach Boeding, oboe; David Coucheron & Jessica Shuang Wu, violins; Zhenwei Shi, viola; Joel Noyes, cello; Elizabeth Pridgen & Julie Coucheron, piano. Robert SCHUMANN: Fantasy Pieces Charles Martin LOEFFLER: Two Rhapsodies Felix MENDELSSOHN: Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66 Antonín DVOŘÁK: Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major Mark Gresham | 26 APR 2024 German-American violinist and composer Charles Martin Loeffler emigrated to the United States in 1881 and settled in Boston, Massachusetts ..read more

CONCERT REVIEW: Ying Quartet with Xaviar Foley April 21, 2024 Spivey Hall Morrow, GA – USA Ying Quartet (Robin Scott, violin; Janet Ying, violin; Phillip Ying, viola; and David Ying, cello); Xavier Foley, contrabass. Joseph HAYDN: Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1 Xavier FOLEY: Brown Chapel Xavier FOLEY: Mayflower Antonín DVOŘÁK: String Quintet No. 2 in G major William Ford | 23 APR 2024 Sunday started out as a cool, rainy day and ended up being gloriously sunny and pleasant. The day was made even better when Spivey Hall presented the Ying Quartet and double-bassist Xavier Foley. The Yi ..read more