Pianist Leif Ove Andsnes cancels April 1 concert

Leif Ove Andsnes

Celebrity Series of Boston President and Executive Director Martha H. Jones announced today that pianist Leif Ove Andsnes has cancelled his Jordan Hall performance, scheduled for April 1, due to illness. The Celebrity Series and Mr. Andsnes were unable to find a suitable date to reschedule the performance.

Patrons who purchased tickets via Celebrity Series of Boston will be contacted as to their options. All other patrons are requested to contact their place of purchase for refunds.

Press release

Matthew Polenzani and Julius Drake at WGBH

Here are a couple of candid shots from tenor Matthew Polenzani and his accompanist Julius Drake's taping at WGBH radio last night. Their performance will air tonight (Wednesday) on 99.5 and will feature an interview with WGBH host Cathy Fuller (above, top, center) and the duo perform at Jordan Hall on Thursday evening at 8pm.

Globe reviews Emerson Quartet with Sir James Galway

Matthew Guerrieri's review of Friday evening's concert by the Emerson String Quartet and Sir James Galway (brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Celebrity Series) appeared in today's Boston Globe. Here is a bit of Mr. Geurrieri's take:

"Most concerts are curated with the aim of an e-pluribus-unum revelation of unexpected affinities. The Emerson String Quartet and Sir James Galway flipped the pattern for their star-summit Celebrity Series program on Friday; one could surmise logical connections, but the experience was more high-minded variety show — swinging from light to dark, from cheer to tragedy and back again."

Read all of Galway's flute and Emerson's strings combine for quite a show.

David Weininger reviews Evgeny Kissin's recital for Boston Globe

This review is online now but should appear in tomorrow's print edition:

"The music world is marking the bicentennial of the birth of Franz Liszt — composer, virtuoso, and all-around diabolical genius. The latest event in the ongoing celebration came on Wednesday, when Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin brought an all-Liszt recital to a packed Symphony Hall."

Read all of Evgeny Kissin plays up to the many challenges of Liszt.

Lloyd Schwartz reviews Takacs Quartet and Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Dmitri Hvorostovsky

Boston Phoenix classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz puts two recent Celebrity Series performances, the Takacs Quartet's February 18 concert and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky's February 27 recital, under his usual thoughtful microscope in today's column:

Lloyd Schwartz's March 3 column