Stay tuned for reviews of action-packed weekend in Baltimore, D.C.
Detailed reviews from the weekend coming soon to this site:
1) Dynamic production of Britten's sly Albert Herring from Opera Vivente Friday night; one of the most cohesive and satisfying stagings I've seen from the company yet (mushy diction excepted).
2) Theatrically compelling, musically satisfying production of Wagner's Siegfried from Washington National Opera Saturday night, a milestone for the company and further affirmation of the power behind the 'American' Ring concept. So what if the bronchitis-stricken tenor in the title role could only mouth the words as he cavorted about the stage?
3) The BSO hit another of its peaks this season Sunday afternoon with an enriching performance of Bruckner's Third Symphony, led incisively by Mario Venzago. Nelson Freire's authoritative account of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, not to mention the sublime Gluck/Sgambati encore, added to the occasion.
4) Flutist Emmanuel Pahud, harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock and cellist Jonathan Manson brought refined musicality and lots of good, old-fashioned virtuosity to a mostly-Bach program Sunday evening at Shriver Hall.
5) The Chamber Music by Candlelight series at Second Pres Sunday night included the premiere of an attractive Walt Whitman-inspired work by BSO percussionist Brian Prechtl and a sensitive account of Schumann's Piano Quartet (too bad about the screaming kid in the audience).
