Barbara Cook in Vanity Fair

Broadway and cabaret star Barbara Cook did an interview with Vanity Fair's Patrick Monahan back in November. Here's a snippet:

"Is there a standard you feel differently about singing now than when you first heard it?

“I’ve Got You Under My Skin”—I’ve heard that, of course, all my life. Then a few years ago, I heard Katharine McPhee [of American Idol and Smash]
do that on television, and I thought, You know, I think I can do
something with that. So I took my ideas to Lee [Musiker, Ms. Cook’s
musical director and pianist] and we worked it out together." Read the full interview.

Barbara Cook and John Pizzarelli return to the Celebrity Series and Symphony Hall on April 6. Good seats are still available! Get your tickets.

 

Complete season is now on sale at www.celebrityseries.org - take a look!

Barenboim and Celebrity Series bring West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to Boston

“In 1999, Edward Said and myself formed the West-Eastern Divan
orchestra, composed of musicians from Israel, Palestine, and other Arab
countries; countries where the open ear has been too often replaced by
the unsheathed sword, to the detriment of all. Now, over 10 years later, we have hopefully achieved an
orchestra that is worthy of your ear. And one which shows that people
who listen to each other, both musically and in all other ways, can
achieve greater things.” – Daniel Barenboim

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra makes its Boston debut at Symphony Hall courtesy of Celebrity Series of Boston on Sunday, January 27 at 3pm with an all-Beethoven program. Tickets and information.

Chick Corea & Gary Burton talk about "Hot House" project (video)

Chick Corea and Gary Burton's "Hot House" comes to Celebrity Series and Symphony Hall this Sunday at 5pm.

It’s a ‘Hot House’ with Chick Corea & Gary Burton Sunday

Check out Ed Symkus' feature from MetroWest Daily News highlighting Chick Corea and Gary Burton's performance with the Harlem String Quartet at Symphony Hall on Sunday:

It’s a ‘Hot House’ with Chick Corea and Gary Burton Sunday

 

 

Max Raabe on Sesamstrasse with Bert und Ernie

Max Raabe on German Sesame Street. Is Sesamstrasse in Brooklyn?

Max Raabe & Palast Orchester (minus Bert & Ernie) visit the Celebrity Series and Symphony Hall Sunday, March 4.

 

Lang Lang to give masterclass for the public at Harvard

Lang Lang Master Class
Pianist Lang Lang will present a masterclass in association with the Celebrity Series of Boston and Harvard University Office of the Arts, Learning From Performers, on Saturday, October 29 at 3pm at Sanders Theatre.  Admission free and open to the public, tickets required.

Tickets will be distributed to Harvard affiliates from Tuesday, October 18 through Thursday, October 20 in person only at the Harvard Box Office (1350 Massachusetts Ave. at Holyoke Center, Harvard Square). Limit two per person with valid Harvard ID.

All remaining tickets, limit two per person, will be available beginning Friday, October 21. Remaining tickets available by phone and online (service fees apply) as well as in person: 617.496.2222 (TTY 617. 495.1642), www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

Celebrity Series of Boston will present Lang Lang at Symphony Hall, Sunday, October 30 at 3pm.

Audra McDonald on The View

This clip includes a bit of Ms. McDonald's singing, you can hear her in person at one of the dates in the "twenty city tour" metioned in this clip. You won't want to miss Audra McDonald in Concert at Symphony Hall on October 2 when she opens the Celebrity Series of Boston 2011-12 Season.Tickets are on sale now!

Evgeny Kissin, masterful pianist, child composer ...

Who knew pianist Evgeny Kissin was a child composer? Watching this video all I could do was think back on my (apparently) misspent youth as Evgeny tosses off ditties he wrote before the age of ten...

This prodigy turned merely incredible, outstanding adult performer will play an all-Liszt program in his Celebrity Series recital at Symphony Hall on March 2.

Golden Dragon Acrobats return to Boston this Sunday!

Boston favorites the Golden Dragon Acrobats return to Symphony Hall this Sunday. Good seats are still available!

Garrick Ohlsson at Symphony Hall

Following Murray Perahia's cancellation of his Sunday, November 14 Symphony Hall concert, the Celebrity Series was fortunate to secure the services of pianist Garrick Ohlsson to fill the date. Mr. Ohlsson has chosen an all-Chopin program for the recital.

Tickets and specific details of Mr. Ohlsson's November 14 program.

Joshua Bell announces recital program

Violinist Joshua Bell has announced the program for his February 4 recital program at Symphony Hall. Joing Bell on piano will be Sam Haywood. You can check out the program here.

Liza Minnelli talks and sings on The View

Liza Minnelli chats with the gals and sings I Must Have That Man. Liza comes to Symphony Hall on November 7.

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Liza Minnelli makes the rounds

 

Big stars make big splashes and Liza Minnelli is no exception. Minnelli is doing the big time talk show circuit in support of her new Decca recording, Confessions. Today (September 21) Ms. Minnelli chats with Oprah (you know, Winfrey). It doesn't really get bigger than Oprah, but on Friday, October 1 she will appear on Good Morning America, on Tuesday, October 5 on The View and Larry King Live, and on Wednesday, October 6 on CNN International's Connect to the World.

To get a first-hand look at Liza herself, in-person, the one and only, live in Boston, you can see, hear and experience the divine Miss L at Symphony Hall on November 7. I bet I know where you can get tickets ...

Preservation Hall Jazz Band is always up to something

Here's the latest from these wildly creative denizens of the Crescent City. The Preservation Hall Hot 4 and Tancotoons present "St. James Infirmary (King Britt Remix."

Preservation Hall Jazz Band comes to Symphony Hall with bluegrass legend Del McCoury on March 19.

Globe: "Improvising, McFerrin style"

The Boston Globe had a chat with Bobby McFerrin recently and the results appeared in today's print edition, just in time to preview his concert at Symphony Hall this Sunday afternoon. He talked about appearing on the TV program Sing-Off! and the story of VOCAbuLarieS, his upcoming recording, eight years in the making. Here's a snippet:

"I have always played to mixed audiences on every level — age, type of
music, on and on. There are always people who remember 'Don't Worry, Be
Happy,' and I’m happy they remember it, of course. But, like any artist
over 20 years, I've moved on. Fortunately, I’ve moved on in a lot of new
directions, which keep it all fresh and inventive."

Read all of Improvising, McFerrin style.

Check out Bobby McFerrin at Symphony Hall this Sunday at 3pm, brought to you by the Celebrity Series of Boston (ahem).

0MG D00D, a Leetspeak posting (and a video)

 
Something for all you Leet speakers out there ...

0MG D00D 8088Ψ |\/|<I=€221|\| 15 T3H l_l83Я 1337 Я0XX0ЯZ!

Translation for the rest of us:

OMG, dude, Bobby McFerrin is the über-elite rocks-er!

Um, so he is. Come check him out this Sunday at Boston's Symphony Hall.

Itzhak Perlman's stage-announced selections from Sunday

No use keeping any of you in the dark about yesterday's recital by Itzhak Perlman, Here are the selections that Mr. Perlman announced from the
stage at his recital on Sunday:

Kreisler
Chanson Louis XIII and Pavane in the Style of Couperin

Hummel (trans. Heifetz)
Rondo in E-flat Major

Gluck (trans. Heifetz)
Melodie from Orfeo ed Euridice

Brahms (trans. Kreisler)
Hungarian Dance No. 2

Wienawski (trans. Kreisler)
Etude-Caprice in A minor Op. 18 No. 4

Williams
Theme from “Schindler’s List”

Bazzini
Dance of the Goblins

Boston Globe talks with Sir Simon Rattle

Sir Simon Rattle

David Weininger of the Globe had a chat with Berlin Philharmonic conductor Sir Simon Rattle in advance of the orchestra's appearance at Symphony Hall this Sunday:

"Rattle is especially glad to be reconnecting with Boston. He nourishes
fond memories of the orchestra - 'I had the best time there, I tell
you' - and especially of Symphony Hall. He found the 2007 concert [by the Celebrity Series with Ben Heppner and Thomas Quasthoff] so
satisfying that 'all of us in Berlin felt, we have to play there again.'"

Read all of For Rattle, things look up as he looks ahead.

Flicka & Kiri's additions & encores

The "TBA" selections and encores have all been sung and a good time was had by all. The two illustrious singers may have had the best time of all ...



Additional selections announced from the stage:



Ambroise Thomas


"Me voici dans son boudoir" from Mignon

Daniel Schmitt & Marc Berthomien


from Jardins de Paris


Jardin d'Albert Kahn


Bois du Boulogne

 



George Gershwin


Summertime

 

Cole Porter


By Strauss

 

Carol Hall


Jenny Rebecca

 

Jake Heggie


A Route to the Sky 



Gioachino Rossini
Duetto buffo di due gatti  



Encores:



Cole Porter


True Love

 



Louiguy


La Vie En Rose