Some Good Friday music for you (just not that “Good Friday Music“): Here is a brief excerpt from Part the Second of Handel’s Messiah (“Surely He hath borne our griefs,” “And with His stripes we are healed,” “All we like sheep,” and “All they that see Him / He trusted in God”). Sir Neville Marriner conducts the … Continue reading
Quick, name a Handel oratorio besides Messiah. . . . Not that easy, is it? They aren’t exactly common fare, and I’m willing to bet that few of you would have come up with Jephtha, especially if Harry Christophers and the good folks at the Handel and Haydn Society (aka “H&H”) hadn’t decided to resurrect … Continue reading
The New York Philharmonic is frequently called the country’s oldest orchestra . . . but it isn’t the country’s oldest continuously operating performing arts organization. The Handel and Haydn Society, Boston’s period instrument orchestra and chorus, was founded in 1815 — beating out the NY Phil by almost 30 years. Just to put that into … Continue reading
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra often plays larger symphonic works — and does so quite well — but one of the joys and privileges of having a standing chamber group like them is the chance to hear pieces written for small to medium-sized ensembles that a full-sized orchestra would not take on. Their most recent concerts … Continue reading
Here are the Southern California musical events happening in the coming month which are grabbing my attention, and that should be grabbing yours too: Jacaranda’s holiday-ish “Winter Dreams” Concert this Saturday Yes, ’tis the season for Messiah and The Nutcracker, but if you’re looking for something a little different, the intrepid folks at Jacaranda offer up this mix of … Continue reading
I’ve enjoyed many performances of “Messiah” in person, on CD, and on video, and have also sung bass in my fair share of student, community, and semi-professional performances of Handel’s most famous oratorio. One of my personal favorites has always been a concert by Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony, with Sylvia McNair as the … Continue reading
On paper, Sunday afternoon’s concerts belonged to conductor Emmanuelle Haïm. The reality was that and much more. Ms. Haïm dominated the concert. Many musicians had solo turns of one sort or another, and two — oboist Ariana Ghez and recorder player (or is it recordist?) Rotem Gilbert — even played front and center. Yet when it was … Continue reading
