Opus 3 Artists

Tchaikovsky Competition cello winner amazes audience

5/16/2012

Narek Hakhnazaryan, the Armenian cellist who emerged victorious in the cello division of the last Tchaikovsky Competition, performed Tuesday in the Ramsi P. Tick Memorial Concert Series, bringing this year’s season to a beautiful close

CSO shines with Ton Koopman and the mid-18th century

5/14/2012

Narek Hakhnazaryan, who studied under Rostropovich, played the piece—which is less showy, though more technically rigorous than its predecessor—with assured grace

SYDNEY SYMPHONY ANNOUNCES NEW CHIEF CONDUCTOR AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – DAVID ROBERTSON

5/14/2012

The Sydney Symphony has today announced the appointment of American conductor David Robertson as its Chief Conductor and Artistic Director effective January 2014 through 2018 (five years). He succeeds Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor Vladimir Ashkenazy, who will continue his special relationship with the Sydney Symphony, performing with the orchestra each year from 2014.

James Conlon: May Festival's musical force

5/13/2012

For 33 years, May Festival music director James Conlon has hit the ground running the instant he’s landed in Cincinnati

'Carmina Burana' rousing start to May Festival

5/12/2012

Conlon led a performance of remarkable freshness and joy of the kind that could only make you smile. Besides the visual spectacle of 340 performers, it was impressive

Royal Scottish National Orchestra/Stéphane Denève; James Ehnes

5/11/2012

Long after memories of this concert melt into the general filing system, people will remember the encore that the Canadian virtuoso James Ehnes performed tonight

Hugh Masekela & Larry Willis: FRIENDS

5/10/2012

It’s inspiring, even comforting, to know that a giant like Hugh Masekela can be vulnerable and unsure. This man not only brought a global awareness to his native South Africa, but through his music, he also led the fight to end apartheid

Review: Green Umbrella's percussion bash, gripping 'Recital 1'

5/10/2012

In the second, he sticks with marimbas, from which Currie got beautifully rich sonorities. The orchestral writing is intriguing, especially when a lively brass theme in the beginning

BBC SSO, City Halls, Glasgow

5/9/2012

From the opening theme, however, where the cellos and violas in unison sounded almost like a single horn, it was clear that this was to be the bow-wielders' day. We have always known that the SSO has great soloists in the winds and brass, but Runnicles has the orchestra's strings playing better than ever.

Vega brings sophisticated folk/pop to philharmonic

5/9/2012

"I'm really looking forward to it," Vega, 52, said in an interview from her New York City residence last week. "I think that strings bring a kind of emotional quality to music that is hidden.

BBCSSO/Runnicles – review

5/8/2012

It had been touching to see Runnicles take to the piano alongside musicians he usually conducts, plus there were a couple of documentary screenings and a live session for Radio 3's In Tune

Review: Miro Quartet plays the Razumovsky Quartets

5/8/2012

The Miró is poised to record the Razumovsky Quartets (Op.59) in Austin at the end of this month as part of their continued dedication to Beethoven’s complete quartets. So with their hold on these three works quite in hand

Musician's passionate journey through Buenos Aires

5/7/2012

Chang was challenged to produce a fusion of sound that blended the traditions of Western classical music with tango's emotionally raw and folksy heritage. She says that the process has given her performance a new-found sense of intimacy

RSNO/Denève/Ehnes, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall All Rite on the night

5/7/2012

If you know Ehnes by his recordings, you might have been pleasantly surprised by his husky live sound, whose audible bow changes and "wolf notes"

First Listen: Jeremy Denk, 'Ligeti/Beethoven'

5/6/2012

By this point, it's probably no secret that Jeremy Denk is a favorite around these parts, both as a brilliant pianist and as a gifted and funny essayist. He's recently written for The New Yorker and the New York Times Book Review

Romantics Heated Up and Served

5/6/2012

Mr. Widmann’s prowess as a performer was amply demonstrated in a live-wire account with the Parker Quartet and the pianist Shai Wosner.

Album review: Inon Barnatan, 'Darknesse Visible'

5/6/2012

Both the title and the overall theme of this ingenious new recital disc by Israeli-born pianist Inon Barnatan derive from Thomas Adès' 1992 meditation on the music of the Renaissance lutenist and songsmith John Dowland

Banjo maestro Bela Fleck puts in impromptu appearance at Chattanooga Folk School

5/5/2012

Banjo maestro Bela Fleck surprised a few dozen guests at the Folk School of Chattanooga on Friday with an impromptu appearance to perform and answer questions.

Fireworks From Cuba, And Schubert That Grooves: New Classical Albums

5/5/2012

Review: San Antonio Symphony

5/5/2012

Douglas displayed a winning form at the keyboard during the Mozart while guiding the orchestra from the concerto’s initial despair and tension to its eventual radiance. Obviously, no tempo disputes developed between the conductor and the pianist.