Monthly Archives: May 2013

James Ehnes and the Classical Blues Brothers: a CD review by Stanley Fefferman

James Ehnes. Britten and Shostakovich. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Kiril Karabits. ONYX. Distributed by Harmonia Mundi. From the moment they met in London, 1960, Britten and Shostakovich felt close as brothers. Musically, they occupied the same zone—where the borders of atonality … Continue reading

Posted in CD Review | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

First Laureate Pianist Pavel Kolesnikov Live at Honens 2012: CD review by Stanley Fefferman

Pavel Kolesnikov, a Russian pianist in his early twenties, is the 2012 winner of Canada’s Honens International Piano Competition. The world’s richest purse ($100,000 cash) includes three-year, world-wide recital/recording contracts (with Hyperion) worth roughly $500,000. The two-CD set is entitled … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Eifman’s Rodin Makes Sculpture Dance: A review by Stanley Fefferman

May 23, 2012. Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto. The magic of Medusa went one way, turning humans to stone. The magic of Eifman flows two ways: turning dancers to stone and making those stones dance. Spooky music of … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Stanley Fefferman reviews Brahms and Lieberson comfort sorrow with Peter Oundjian and the TSO

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted”, says the scripture, and it was so last night as Peter Oundjian conducted the mournful music of Brahms and Lieberson. Wave after wave of the rich textures of grieving arose … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

The stark glory of Robert Carsen’s Dialogues des Carmélites with Canadian Opera Company

Francis Poulenc’s 1957 opera Dialogues des Carmélites has the virtues of necessity. Director Robert Carsten’s COC production puts these virtues before us in simple black and white. The virtues begin with the story: Blanche, an aristocrat afraid of the French Revolution who … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

The Danilo Pérez Trio meets the Cecilia String Quartet reviewed by Stanley Fefferman

The Danilo Pérez Trio tribute to Dizzy Gillespie was many things, including an invitation to relax. It was also a showcase and world première for Camino de Cruces, Pérez’s contribution to the 500th anniversary celebration of the founding of Panama. … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Atom Egoyan’s intoxicating Salome at the Canadian Opera Company reviewed by Stanley Fefferman.

Atom Egoyan’s production of Richard Strauss’ Salome is styled for extreme contrasts. You could think of it as Springtime for Herod in Judea. While patrons spilling out of limos, taxis and Wheel-Trans were gathering on this magnolia blossom-filled May Day … Continue reading

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment