MUSIC REVIEWS
Organist Chelsea Chen Brings Her Artistry to the San Diego Symphony
Much to the delight of audiences at Copley Symphony Hall this weekend, the San Diego Symphony under Jahja Ling presented concert organist Chelsea Chen in the Poulenc Concerto for Organ, Timpani and String as well as the Saint-Saëns Third “Organ” Symphony.
Read MoreBach Collegium San Diego Reveals of the Musical Glories of Purcell’s ‘King Arthur’
The Bach Collegium San Diego, San Diego’s estimable early music ensemble, presented a thrilling concert version of the music Purcell wrote for his 1691 semi-opera “King Arthur” on Friday, May 3, 2019, at Point Loma’s All Souls’ Episcopal Church.
Read MoreSoprano Susan Narucki and Friends Offer Probing New Music for the Voice at the La Jolla Athenaeum
Thursday, May 2, at the La Jolla Athenaeum, San Diego New Music presented a highly engaging program of contemporary chamber works that featured the voice, sagely curated and elegantly sung by soprano Susan Narucki.
Read MoreJoseph Waters’ Revised St. Francis Opera and SWARMIUS Ensemble Bring NWEAMO 2019 to Completion
A portion of Joseph Waters’ opera “El Colibrí Mágico” (“The Magic Hummingbird—A California Story”) was given a semi-staged performance at Sunday’s, April 28, 2019, NWEAMO 2019 concert in San Diego State University’s Smith Recital Hall.
Read MoreDavid Danzmayr Serves Stirring Sibelius and Benjamin Jaber Celebrates John Williams’ Horn Concerto
Even if you were not a fan of the music of Jean Sibelius, it would have been difficult to resist the San Diego Symphony’s majestic and impassioned accounts of two of his greatest works, “Finlandia” and the First Symphony, Saturday at the Jacobs Music Center, under the baton of guest conductor David Danzmayr.
Read MoreNWEAMO Festival Brings Exciting Korean Ensemble PHASE to San Diego
“Expect the unexpected” could easily be the slogan of Joseph Waters’ annual NWEAMO Festival. Friday’s opening concert of the 2019 festival presented ensemble PHASE, a quintet of Korean musicians performing on traditional Korean instruments that filled San Diego State University’s Smith Recital Hall with bright, piquant, exotic sounds and modalities.
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