Standing Thanks

Even though The Standing Room is "In Hibernation," this blog is still churning new and interesting information via del.icio.us (look under Tasty Miscellany). They even found room for this humble blog amidst their churn - thanks!

Lying down and sawing wood with eighth blackbird at Sanders Theatre

What an amazing group eighth blackbird is. They really make new music/contemporary classical music/21st-century music/what-have-you...FUN. They consistently bring out the theater in the compositions they play. And while they play very well, you hardly notice how hard they're working - at least I didn't. I was too busy soaking in the composer's vision, made clear by the fine musicianship...

Richard Dyer gives us the low down in today's Boston Globe:
Blackbird Displays Dramatic Flair.

And here are a few photos from Sunday's Sanders performance:


eighth blackbird in flight: (Left to right) Lisa Kaplan, piano; Matt Albert, violin; Nicholas Photinos, cello; Molly Alicia Barth, flutes; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinets; and Matthew Duvall, percussion (in rear)

Pianist Lisa Kaplan tickles the ivories in camouflage pants

Percussionist Matthew Duvall (left) and Lisa Kaplan (right) introduce the distinctive 65-note pattern around which Frederic Rzewski's Les Moutons de Panurge is built.

(Left to right) Molly Alicia Barth, flutes; Michael J. Maccaferri, clarinets; and Matthew Duvall, percussion

blackbirders horizontal for Gordon Fitzell's Lucid

More Fitzellian Lucidity

More as other reviews become available.

And since we mentioned this performance in an earlier post, here is Dyer's review of Frederic Rzewski's piano recital at Boston Conservatory last night.

Return of the Crocus

Belmont, Massachusetts, March 26, 2006

The London Philharmonic at Symphony Hall

The London Philharmonic came to Symphony Hall and the Celebrity Series on Friday evening. Things had changed since the performance was announced in our season brochure almost a year ago. For those of you in the dark about this, here is the short version: Kurt Masur fell ill and the Boston engagement was conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier. Between Richard Dyer's review in today's Boston Globe and the audience reaction, I think it's safe to say the concert was a success.

Mr. Dyer on Maestro Tortelier:

Tortelier is the son of the great cellist Paul Tortelier, and he must have felt very emotional conducting in Symphony Hall; his father was principal cellist of the BSO in the 1930s. With his aureole of white hair, he was like a conductor from central casting. While his work is not about deep insight, it's musical, experienced, fiery, and theatrical; several times he levitated from the podium.

And here, with apologies to Alfred Stieglitz, are a few photos from the evening:


Yan Pascal Tortelier rehearses the orchestra


Pausing between selections


Waiting to go on

Either/Orchestra Orchestra

Nothing against the Akron Beacon Journal, but the Either/Orchestra shouldn't be listed under Classical Music....and by the way, E/O has finally gotten their chance at a live performance with Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed: Schedule (scroll to Paris show).

Repin and Lugansky in Seattle

Violinist Vadim Repin

R. M. Campbell of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer gave violinist Vadim Repin and pianist Nikolai Lugansky a quite favorable review for their March 22 recital in Benaroya Hall:

The musicianship was extraordinary for its depth of understanding and utter
command. The phrases were unusually supple; the tone varied from sweet to edgy;
the line long; the architecture coherent.

The pair played the same program they will bring to Boston and the Celebrity Series on Saturday, April 8: Bartók, Schubert, Pärt and Franck:

The program was invariably compelling, beginning with Schubert and ending with Arvo Part. Bela Bartok's First Rhapsodie opened the recital. Here the playing was almost harsh, decisive, propulsive. It moved with
determination yet grace, capturing the composer's flirtation with folk music,
19th-century romanticism and 20th-century modern tastes. It is a remarkable
piece, a staple of the violin literature, and Repin played it as such.

Boston's "First Lady of Opera" Sarah Caldwell dead at 82

Sarah Caldwell

Here is The Boston Globe coverage of Sarah Caldwell's passing from Friday, March 24.

UPDATE: Richard Dyer's page 1 obituary of Sarah Caldwell from the Boston Globe.