The Classical Review

Grosvenor scales the heights with a trio of blockbusters for Chamber Music Maryland

The Finale, one of the oddest movements Chopin penned, is a blur of notes in octaves between the two hands moving in lockstep. Grosvenor played it with surprising clarity, using the soft pedal and ...
The Classical Review

Outstanding new opera, “Loving v. Virginia,” makes a moving debut

Flora Hawk and Jonathan Michie star in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia at Virginia Opera. Photo: Dave Pearson Virginia Opera is marking its golden anniversary season in the ...
The Classical Review

Sierra and Villazón shine brightly in Met’s new “Sonnambula”

Nadine Sierra stars as Amina in Bellini’s La Sonnambula at the Metropolitan Opera. Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera For such a famous opera, a vehicle for some of the great modern divas, La Sonnambula ...
The Classical Review

Three finalists take impressive last shots in Cliburn Competition

Evren Ozel performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 with Marin Alsop and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Friday night at the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in Fort Worth. Photo: Ralph Lauer It was ...
The Classical Review

Florida Grand Opera’s “Silent Night” proves a rich and moving tale of common humanity

Alex DeSocio (Audebert), Kyle Albertson (Horstmayer) and Elijah William Brown (Jonathan Dale) in Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, presented by Florida Grand Opera at the Arsht Center in Miami. Photo: Lewis ...
The Classical Review

Noseda, NSO and strong cast deliver the grandeur and intimate drama of “Otello”

Erika Grimaldi as Desdemona and Arsen Soghomonyan in the title role of Verdi’s Otello, in a concert performance by the National Symphony Orchestra Friday night at the Kennedy Center. Photo: Scott ...
The Classical Review

Organist Jacobs illuminates Bach’s “Art of Fugue” in living color

Paul Jacobs performed Bach’s The Art of Fugue Tuesday night at Saint Peter’s Church. Photo: Priscilla C. Scott For an evening’s entertainment, which would you choose–the movie Oppenheimer or a ...
The Classical Review

Dubious “Dutchman” and trenchant “Tosca” refract two classics through modern lenses at Santa Fe Opera

Nicholas Brownlee and Elza van den Heever in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman at Santa Fe Opera. Photo: Curtis Brown/SFO General director Robert Meya has given Wagner fans cause to rejoice: Santa Fe Opera ...
The Classical Review

No slowing down for Gerard Schwarz, South Florida’s busiest conductor

Gerard Schwarz conducting the Palm Beach Symphony at a 2024 concert. Photo: IndieHouse Films When Gerard Schwarz was a teenage trumpet student, he dreamed of being a member of the New York ...
The Classical Review

Stars come out with Mutter and friends at Carnegie Hall

Some chamber music fans prefer the communal, no-stars ethos of an organization like the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. Others like the interplay of big personalities when famous soloists get ...
The Classical Review

Seraphic Fire’s new CD captures the beauty and mystery of Hildegard

Seraphic Fire. Hildegard von Bingen: Ordo Virtutum (SFM). The first thing one notes about Seraphic Fire’s assured new recording of Hildegard von Bingen’s Ordo Virtutum is the sound. When von Bingen ...
The Classical Review

Under Rouvali, Philharmonia sounds fresh and vital on 80th anniversary tour

Santtu-Matias Rouvali conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra Monday night at the Music Center at Strathmore. Photo: Marco Borggreve London’s Philharmonia Orchestra returned to the Washington area for ...