If you click here, you’ll hear some of the hypnotic music we heard yesterday at the concert by Hesperion XXI, conducted by Jordi Savall. I was absolutely mesmerized by this early music from Istanbul — music from the Ottoman, Sephardic, Greek and Armenian traditions. I cannot even describe the instruments that were used in this… Read More Hypnotized by Hesperion XXI
My last two concerts of the day were a fortepiano recital with Anthony Romaniuk and Yi-heng Yang and an ensemble called Gli Incogniti. The fortepiano recital was held at the Museum of Fine Art and was part of a keyboard mini-festival with one concert each on the harpsichord, fortepiano and clavichord. The Museum’s fortepiano was… Read More Keyboard Mini-Festival
I went to three concerts today, even though we had tickets for a fourth and gave them away. At this time in the week, we have to say that all the music has been just fabulous, but the body is protesting from the sensory overload, jet lag and lack of sleep. By the end of… Read More Another day, another three concerts
Thursday afternoon and evening we went to two fantastic concerts, beginning with the Newberry Consort, a medieval instrumental and vocal group which presented Rosa das Rosas, ten vignettes on medieval miracles supposedly composed by Alfonso X, king of Castile, Leon, and Galicia. What was unique about this group’s presentation was the projection of medieval art… Read More Double enchantment
Is that an oxymoron or what? Today I attended an organ mini-festival consisting of three two-hour organ recitals, described as a “journey” through Bach’s life. Part I was called “The Young Bach: From Ohrdruf to Weimar” and was played by organist William Porter. He gave some introductory remarks about the pieces he was going to… Read More Organ Mini-Festival Marathon
The day started poorly — I spilled orange juice at breakfast on my wireless keyboard then Carl tipped over his wine glass at lunch, not only spilling the wine but also breaking the glass. And this was at our favorite restaurant in Boston — Legal Seafoods! Our first concert of the day was at Emmanuel… Read More Virtuoso viol
“I wouldn’t do this for anyone except Kristian Bezuidenhout,” Carl said last night, when it was announced that our favorite performer on the fortepiano would be playing the late-night concert beginning at 11 pm. Paul O’Dette, the Boston Early Music Festival Co-Artistic Director, announced at the beginning of the concert that he was sitting at… Read More Another great artist
Last night we heard a concert of John Dowland songs, all by the great Dame Emma Kirkby, and it will go down in the annals of concerts we will never forget. This was our third time to hear her in person — the first time was in England, at the Stour Festival in Wye, where… Read More A great artist
Last night’s concert at Jordan Hall had some of the most extraordinary music-making we have ever heard. The hype was that Mozart’s actual violin and viola were used in the performance, but the artists who made music on them were especially expressive and sensitive, making for a magical evening. They included Amandine Beyer, violin; Milos… Read More Extraordinary music-making
One of the best things about going to an event like the Boston Early Music Festival, is seeing and reacquainting oneself with people you know, colleagues, friends and students. We are staying, as we do whenever we come to Boston, with retired choirmaster and organist Edith Ho from the Church of the Advent, in… Read More Joyful reunions