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!

Galina Vishnevskaya (1926-2012)

Vishnevskaya with husband, cellist Mistislav Rostropovich

Russian soprano and political dissident Galina Vishnevskaya died yesterday in Moscow.

Ms. Vishnevskaya appeared twice on the Celebrity Series, in her first American recital in 1960 and  again in 1961. Boston Globe critic Kevin Kelly reviewed her second Celebrity Series performance, "Galina Vishnevskaya ... is the kind of singer who ruffles the cool detachment of a supposedly objective critic. I would have voted for her before she opened her mouth."

New York Times

The Telegraph

Opera News

The Guardian

BBC News

Vishnevskaya sings Tchaikovsky, "Why are the Roses so Pale?" w Rostropovich, piano (video)

 

Walter Pierce on Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Walter Pierce

People recall times when they were fortunate to attend events that became cherished memories and of near folk-legend status. Such were the lieder recitals of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the German baritone, for cognoscenti who flocked to his concerts filling venues like Symphony Hall to capacity. In the years that Fischer-Dieskau performed in the Celebrity Series, his partner of choice was the distinguished pianist Jorg Demus; together they thrilled audiences with recitals of works by Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, Brahms and others.

Much has been written about his towering genius and contributions to the craft, but I was especially taken by the quotation in the New York Times of a review by the British music critic John Amis: "Providence gives to some singers a beautiful voice, to some musical artistry... but to Fischer-Dieskau Providence has given both. The result is a miracle, and that is about all there is to be said about it... Having used a few superlatives and describing the program, there is nothing else to do but write 'finis,' go home, and thank one's stars for having the good luck to be present."

I, too, feel lucky to have been present.

Walter Pierce

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012)

The great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau has died at age 86. He performed a total of 6 Celebrity Series recitals between 1962 and 1978. Greatly admired and loved by legions of fans, he enjoyed an unusually long singing career. Richard Cattani, reviewing Fischer-Dieskau's 1968 Symphony Hall recital for The Christian Science Monitor, wrote, "If Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau were to give only one more concert, it would be worth crossing a continent or an ocean to hear him."

New York Times

The Guardian

The Washington Post

The Baltimore Sun (TIm Smith's Clef Notes)

The Telegraph

BBC News

BloombergBusinessWeek

Baritone Thomas Quasthoff cancels tour, retires

Celebrity Series of Boston
Gary Dunning, President and Executive Director

Announces Cancellation of Thomas Quasthoff and
Michael Schade performance at Jordan Hall

Quasthoff to Retire

(Boston)  Celebrity Series President and Executive Director, Gary Dunning announced today that the Thomas Quasthoff and Michael Schade recital has been cancelled due to Mr. Quasthoff’s retirement. The performance was scheduled for Friday, March 23. The performance will not be rescheduled or substituted.

Ticket holders will be notified of options to donate or exchange tickets or to request a refund and are requested to retain their tickets until they receive notification. Patrons may call Celebrity Series of Boston at (617) 482-2595.

Said Mr. Quasthoff in a statement released by his management, “After almost 40 years, I have decided to retire from concert life. My health no longer allows me to live up to the high standard that I have always set for my art and myself. I owe a lot to this wonderful profession and leave without a trace of bitterness. On the contrary, I am looking forward to the new challenges that will now enter my life. I would like to thank all my fellow musicians and colleagues, with whom I stood together on stage, all the organizers, and my audience for their loyalty.”

Gary Dunning, Celebrity Series President and Executive Director, says “We understand and respect Mr. Quasthoff’s decision.  He’s had an impressive musical career full of artistic integrity and quality performances and recordings.  Each of his previous three Celebrity Series performances have been met with delight and praise.  We only have admiration for his artistry and personal character.”

 

About Celebrity Series of Boston
The Celebrity Series of Boston is New England’s leading presenter of music, dance and the performing arts from around the world. Now in its 73rd season, the Celebrity Series brings performances by instrumental and vocal soloists, orchestras and chamber ensembles, dance companies, jazz, folk and ethnic artists and ensembles to Boston’s major concert halls. Through the Arts, Education and Community Program, the Celebrity Series reaches thousands of youngsters annually with opportunities to experience and participate in the performing arts through concerts, workshops and the award-winning AileyCamp Boston, an intensive six-week summer dance program for Boston middle school students. For more information on Celebrity Series of Boston, call (617) 482-2595 or visit us online at www.celebrityseries.org.

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Countertenor Andreas Scholl on his craft

An illuminating chat with countertenor Andreas Scholl about his art from the Barbicon. Scholl sings Purcell selections with the English Concert this Sunday, October 23 at NEC's Jordan Hall.

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!

Soprano Dawn Upshaw announces April 29 recital program

Dawn Upshaw has released her Celebrity Series recital program for April 29 with pianist Stephen Prutsman at NEC's Jordan Hall. It is a generous and varied program, so it is a bit long to post here in full:

Dawn Upshaw program

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.

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

Christine Brewer and Helen Traubel, a musical lineage

Helen Traubel

Following Christine Brewer's recital last Saturday, Richard Dyer, the former classical music critic for the Boston Globe, made an apt comparison between Brewer and an earlier operatic denizen of St. Louis, Helen Traubel. Brewer herself mentioned Traubel, but it was Mr. Dyer who made the comparison and got this writer thinking...

I took a look in the Celebrity Series archives and sure enough Aaron Richmond had presented Ms. Traubel at Symphony Hall in 1942 with BSO cellist Jean Bedetti and two piano accompanists: Conrad V. Bos and Leonard Bernstein (you heard me). There were numerous overlaps between Ms. Traubel's 1942 program and Ms. Brewer's (at least as originally planned). Traubel also programmed Gluck's "Divinités du Styx" from Alceste, some of the same Wagner and Richard Strauss. Both singers closed their programs with Frank LaForge's "Hills." I wonder if Ms. Brewer conceived of her program as a kind of tribute.

I wasn't around in 1942, but I'm betting Ms. Traubel's recital was as musically wondrous as Ms. Brewer's. It's nice to know that our muse here at the Series has not drifted too far and that we are in some way representing quality performing in a continuum.

Here is the Boston Globe's review of Ms. Brewer's recital.

UPDATE: Please see Ms. Brewer's comment below (a first!) and note that Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for her CD, Echoes of Nightingales, and Hyperion, the label releasing the CD, is offering streaming excerpts.

The Sisters Callaway sing Rodgers and Hammerstein (video)

Ann Hampton and Liz Callaway bring their sister act to Sanders Theatre in Cambridge this Friday night. They'll be singing songs of the 60s and 70s in Cambridge, but this is Rodgers and Hammerstein's You'll Never Walk Alone.

We still have good seats for Friday night's performance.

Christine Brewer masterclass in St. Louis

Metropolitan Opera star Christine Brewer gives a masterclass at Webster University in St. Louis.

Ms. Brewer makes her Celebrity Series of Boston debut on January 15 with a recital at Jordan Hall.

Dmitri Hvorostovsky skydives ...

Seriously, dude? Yes, seriosuly, dude. Last December, baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky jumped out of an airplane to the dulcet tones of Steven Tyler. He posted his jump to his Facebook account (login, but not parachute, required to view).

Bryn Terfel? Roberto Alagna? Matthew Polenzani? The gauntlet has been thrown down, gentlemen. Do you want Karita Mattilla or Renee Fleming to beat you to it?

Shirley Verrett, soprano (1931-2010)

Shirley Verrett

The great soprano Shirley Verrett died November 5 at her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to her local appearances with the Opera Company of Boston, Ms. Verrett appeared in recital 3 times for the Celebrity Series, first in 1979, and again in 1982 and 1991.

Below are some obituaries and videos of Ms. Verrett in performance.

The New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)

The Detroit Free Press

The Washington Post (Ronald Blum)

The Baltimore Sun (Tim Smith)

The Boston Globe (Associated Press)

Shirley Verrett sings Tosca at The Met

Shirley Verrett as Eboli "O don fatale" from Don Carlo

Shirley Verrett sings "Exultate jubilate" by Mozart

Dmitri Hvorostovsky is a prankster?

Hvorostovsky and Radvonovsky

Would it surpise you to learn that uber-smoldering Russian baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky is a practical joker? A cutup? A guy who will do anything to get a laugh out of a costar, even onstage? According to a New York Magazine interview with Hvorostovsky and pal/costar soprano Sondra Radvanovsky this is the real Dmitri. Here's an excerpt:

"Any other startling secrets you’d like to share?
S.R.: We are both goofballs. Every show of Trovatore, he’s done something to me onstage.
D.H.: Anything, you know, to make her laugh in front of the audience.
S.R.: He blacked out a tooth. He painted a devil the size of a fist on his chest—and right when I’m singing to him, he pulls his shirt open and shows it. I lost it.
D.H.: Eyeballs!
S.R.: Oh, yes, he drew eyeballs on his eyelids. I mean, seriously."

Read all of Conversation: Daffy Divas.

The Celebrity Series brings Hvorostovsky and his wacky hijinks to Symphony Hall in February.

 

Dame Joan Sutherland (1926-2010)

Soprano Joan Sutherland has died at age 83. Dubbed "La Stupenda," the Stupendous One, following her Italian debut in Venice in 1960, she was one of the most acclaimed singers of the 20th century.

Joan Sutherland performed only once on the Celebrity Series, at Symphony Hall in February 1963. Her program included works by William Boyce, Handel, Giovanni Paisiello, Johann Christian Bach, Dr. Thomas Augustine Arne, Luigi Boccherini, and Ambroise Thomas. She did appear in Boston numerous times with the Metropolitan Opera on tour, engagements typically managed by then Celebrity Series director Walter Pierce.

New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)

Washington Post (Ann Midgette)

Los Angeles Times (Mike Boehm

Fresh Air (Lloyd Schwartz, National Public Radio)

The Wall Street Journal (Heidi Waleson)

San Francisco Chronicle (Joshua Kosman)

The Australian

Sydney Morning Herald

Peter Gelb & James Levine's obituary in New York Times classified section

BBC News

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 ...

Matthew Polenzani tears up Verdi's Parmi veder le lagrime

He is amazing and still something of a well kept secret (at least given how good he is). Tenor Matthew Polenzani makes his Celebrity Series debut on March 24 at NEC's Jordan Hall.