Mitsuko Uchida’s graceful performance stuns the audience at the BSO
Uchida played with a graceful fluidity, her fingers gliding over the keys with controlled, methodical precision.
Renowned violinist Midori returns to Boston
For the first time since 2012, renowned violinist Midori Gotō, known publicly as Midori, returned to the Celebrity Series of Boston with a stunning program accompanied by Özgür Aydin on the piano.
Lang Lang’s charisma mesmerizes the audience
Lang Lang mesmerized the audience by finely expressing the emotional nuances of each piece and demonstrated his virtuosity by mastering its complex passages.
Yuja Wang and Vikingur Ólafsson stun in recital with works both old and new
Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson perform works by Rachmaninoff, Schubert, and John Adams in Celebrity Series of Boston concert.
The Berlin Philharmonic mesmerizes audience with its passionate performance
On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic performed at Boston’s Symphony Hall as part of their highly anticipated 2024 U.S. tour.
A rich soundscape: Hiromi’s Sonicwonder is a seamless fusion of genres
On Nov. 9, she returned to Berklee, captivating the audience with her latest album release, Sonicwonderland.
The BSO Ignites with Lisiecki on Mozart and Tchaikovsky’s Stunning Pathetique
A sensational performance of one of Mozart's piano concerti and Tchaikovsky at the BSO.
Beyond the keys in Schubert: a dynamic between instrument and concert hall
A pianist’s instrument is both the piano and the hall, and the interplay of these was challenged at Paul Lewis’s all-Schubert Celebrity Series recital in NEC Jordan Hall. Known to be an expert in Schubert’s music, Paul Lewis made it clear that there were voices he wanted the audience to pick up in the performance.
Magic, tap dancing, and the electric wind instrument: MIT’s annual Family Weekend concert
Conducted by Dr. Frederick Harris, Jr., Kenneth Amis and Laura Grill Jaye, the three ensembles performed a wide array of pieces that kept the audience captivated.
The organ takes center stage at Symphony Hall
The BSO concert on Saturday, October 12, was special for its focus on the organ, a keyboard instrument known for its resonant, high-range sounds.
The BSO begins the 2024-2025 season with Concert for the City
On a drizzly, wet Saturday afternoon on September 21, the warm glow of Symphony Hall beckoned many concert goers to enter the Concert for the City, a sold-out concert for the BSO’s Opening Weekend.
Cirque de la Symphonie and the Boston Pops make a great combination
Unlike other Pops concerts, what made this concert special was the combination of circus acrobatics and instrumental music.
The subliminal mindf**k America: Green Day and the pitfalls of anti-establishmentarianism
Green Day had sweet-talked me into an image of them as the working class heroes of a new anarchist generation—but as someone whose politics runs quite leftist, much of the meta-messaging in the concert fell quite flat.
Tech Night at Pops: a long-lasting tradition worth attending
The Boston Pops performed repertoire appropriate for the festive occasion: well-known celebratory pieces, iconic film scores, and jazz masterworks.
An angry piece, an interesting trumpet concerto, and a wonderful symphony
The BSO performance was memorable for its novel and unconventional works of music.
Hilary Hahn steals the show at the BSO
Despite it being a weekday night, Symphony Hall was packed, the atmosphere buzzing with excitement and energy in anticipation of Hilary Hahn’s performance.
Romeo and Juliet, as told by Berlioz and the BSO
The BSO’s performance of Berlioz’s dramatic symphony brings the story of Romeo and Juliet to life.
Bringing together the old and new: Sierra, Elgar, Dvorak at the BSO
This concert juxtaposes the old and new, with two works from standard classical music repertoire and one commissioned work written in 2021.
Bruce Liu showcases his virtuosity in Boston debut
From the Baroque to the Impressionist era, Liu’s magnificent renditions of challenging pieces held the packed audience spellbound.
Yunchan Lim: A youthful exuberance graces Symphony Hall in Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2
Both the conductor and the soloist summoned an exuberant, youthful energy: Mäkelä’s heels lifted off the ground in time with the tip of his baton, and Lim’s fingers danced nimbly over the keys.
Storytelling through theater and music in the BSO’s performance of Peer Gynt
The packed stage of actors, instrumentalists, and singers performing together made the experience refreshing
A beautifully rendered masterpiece: Ólafsson performs Bach’s Goldberg Variations
A classical concert may not be everyone’s top choice for a weekend diversion. However, it should be.
Daniil Trifonov Captivates Listeners
From Rameau to Beethoven, world-renowned pianist Daniil Trifonov’s repertoire showcases his unparalleled attention to detail and fine mastery in capturing the nuances in music.
Family Weekend concert keeps audience riveted
Pulling from a diverse collection of pieces, the three ensembles had the auditorium riveted from start to finish.
It Must Be Now! is a call for change
MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble, MIT Wind Ensemble, and MIT Vocal Jazz Ensemble came together with special guests last Saturday to perform It Must Be Now!, a two-year endeavor combining music, spoken word, and interpretive dance into a powerful call to action against racial injustice.
14th Annual Herb Pomeroy Memorial Concert: A moving tribute to MIT’s father of jazz
Directed by Dr. Frederick Harris Jr., the performance was a wonderful medley of a diverse variety of songs, featuring Zenón’s incredible vocals and skill on the saxophone.
A character well-developed
In the wake of the release of their new album, “Character Development,” Evann McIntosh is touring across the United States. They stopped in Cambridge to show off their indie-R&B sound and fun personality at Sonia.
Family Weekend Concert: a wonderful night for music aficionados
The song selection skillfully balanced jazz funk with more classical forms of jazz, and the experience of attending a concert in person after so many months of virtual compromises contributed to the positive mood.
Three ways to celebrate live music
“Celebration” was expressed by MITSO as the end to a long year-and-a-half without live music. The first concert of the semester brought forth infectious energy to Kresge Auditorium with a colorful palette of joy by Bernstein, Ravel, and Respighi.
Vocals in concert with voting in the countdown to Election Day
Sweeping and soothing, the Intercollegiate Get Out the Vote Festival featured a talented coalition of artists and speakers who leveraged art “in concert” with civic action.
Getting absolutely destroyed at the Sinclair
Destroyer, which is not a metal band, performed at the Sinclair in Cambridge in light of their latest album ‘Have We Met.’ Their artistic choices, unique vocals, and poetic lyrics set them apart from other indie groups.
No gimmicks
In a society saturated by high-production, polished content everywhere from films to social media, artist Zack Villere chooses to stay exactly himself. A week after releasing his second album, ‘Cardboard City’, Villere came to Sonia in Cambridge to perform a concert just as candid as his music.
The time is ripe for good music
Seven-man band Ripe held the musical equivalent of a homecoming game over the weekend. Back in Boston where they started, the group performed at two back-to-back sold out shows at the House of Blues.
Here to party
To celebrate their new album, “Modern Animal,” Magic City Hippies embarked on a nation-wide tour and stopped in Boston to play at the Paradise Rock Club. The band showed off their diverse sound and vibrant personality.
Beach Fossils live, what a pleasure
Though much of their show wasn’t unusually impressive, Beach Fossils showed off their incredible musical talent at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. The guitar-heavy songs roused the crowd and made for an overall great concert.
We’re all Earthgang
Earthgang is the stage name of a pair of rappers, Olu and WowGr8. To kick off the release of their latest album, ‘Mirrorland,’ Earthgang came to Middle East in Cambridge to perform.
Yuja Wang takes center-stage at BSO
Acclaimed pianist Yuja Wang takes on Shostakovich’s ‘Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor’ with flamboyance and flair.
A concert for the soul
Sam Trump and Harold Green make for a surprisingly remarkable duo in concert. Alternating between Trump’s music and Green’s poetry created a show of positivity and community.
Grace VanderWaal headlines ‘Ur So Beautiful’ tour
Her soft fingerpicking and raspy voice, perfect for long car rides and lazy afternoons, doesn’t quite translate to a stage replete with neon spotlights and crescendo after crescendo.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra’s opening night was a rollercoaster of varied enjoyability
The Boston Symphony Orchestra opened its 139th season with dynamic and expressive performances of works by Poulenc and Beethoven, as well as the world premiere of Eric Nathan's Concerto for Orchestra. Joining the BSO were pianists Lucas and Arthur Jussen, vocal soloists Nicole Cabell, Alexandra Smither, Paulina Swierczek, Katherine Maysek, Chance Jonas-O'Toole, Eric Finbarr Carey, and William Socolof, and the Tanglewood Festival Chorus.
How can musicians make their instruments sing?
Both individually famous figures in the classical music world, Perlman and Kissin performed together as a part of the historical Celebrity Series of Boston at Symphony Hall. Although the performed pieces are often thought of as violin sonatas with piano accompaniment, this concert demonstrated that they could almost be the opposite.
Moonchild vibes at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
If you lean your head downwards and close your eyes, you might just find yourself being shaken awake and told that it’s time to go.
Six decades, twelve trumpets, and infinite beauty
The 12th Annual Herb Pomeroy Memorial Concert honored the legacy of the influential jazz performer, educator, and founder of the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble through exhilarating and heart-wrenching personal compositions. The performance showcased the talents of many musicians, presented a night full of beautiful music, and united the audience in emotional, spiritual ways.
Dun-dun-dun DUUUUUN!
BSO continues its 2018-19 season under the fantastic dramatism of director Andris Nelsons, with the fantastic dramatism of – cue dun-dun-dun-DUN… Beethoven!
Various beautiful voices, still one community
As noted by Director Mobley, the purpose of the Every Voice series is to recognize and shed positive light on diversity within the community. This year, the focus is on the LGBTQIA+ community, the Latinx community, as well as veterans and victims of wars. The music for every community presents a kaleidoscope of styles that highlights the past and the present of each group.
Colors, commentary, and confetti
Half live music, half film screening, with bouts of audience interaction and Q&A throughout, this was the most oddly formatted music event we’ve ever attended.
Three powerful artists collectively RISE above expectations
If you’ve never seen the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s Calderwood Hall before, picture the Colosseum, compact, with red plush seats, hardwood floors, and glass banisters. In the middle, instead of warring gladiators, sits a concert grand piano and the band (The AB’s) awaiting the performers of the night.
MITSO’s first concert of the 2018–2019 school year!
Just getting cozy and enjoying the show was literally impossible — whenever the music slowed, rolling like gentle waves, a thundering uproar from the lower registers would jar you back to the moment. The dynamic range of the orchestra was frankly very impressive. Kresge seemed to vibrate, literally, with the energy on the stage.
Music for us in Terezín was a sanctuary
To the prisoners of Nazi concentration camps, music was a way to find peace of mind for even a short moment of the day. “Sanctuary,” the Terezín Music Foundation gala concert, honors the legacy of Terezín with pieces by Satie, Glass, and Schubert, and world premieres of two commissioned works.
The Decemberists visit Boston in October
The Decemberists make music that is anything but typical, but exactly what you would expect from a band based out of Portland, Oregon that sings about whales.
When better doesn’t have to be bigger
More than a historical reproduction, Sergey Malov recreates the past with a forgotten instrument.
A harmony of contrasts and clashes
At Cambridge’s local concert venue The Lilypad, the trio Steve McGinnis, Art Lande and Steve Swallow hosted a night of live jazz, where their three improvisations and three compositions reminded us of the magic of music in a live, intimate concert.
Like spillover happiness from a forgotten dream
On our way back from the concert, we found ourselves humming the melody from the last song. The final moments stayed with us long after the concert was over, like the spillover happiness from a beautiful dream that makes one happy for no apparent reason.
All rock ‘n’ roll, all the time
A night of music that was truly unforgettable. BANNERS comes to town.
Synth, swamp, and soul
The Berklee Popular Music Institute (BPMI) connects student and alumni musicians with students studying management to give aspiring professionals a taste of life in the music industry. Hoping to be the next St. Vincent or Passion Pit, two of BPMI’s more notable alumni, five musical acts were chosen from over 300 submissions to perform at the Sinclair.
I need every instrument you got!
Alan Gilbert conducts the BSO in Sibelius, Debussy, and Adams.
‘You can’t write 3 distinct symphonies in C’ Mozart: ‘Hold my beer’
Conductor Blomstedt and the BSO employ Mozart to show that repetition is, in fact, beautiful.
A once every two year experience
DRUM TAO presents a traditional Japanese art form in a riveting way TEASER BLURB: The best part is when the performers’ energy bleeds into the audience, and you can feel the performance area just brimming with excitement and joy. Everyone’s on the edge of their seat, waiting for the next big bang or trick or acrobatic feat.
May I direct your attention to… orchestral music
I spent most of the performance fixated on the director, rather than on the actual music.
The strange intersection of poetry and symphony
With a new term comes more exciting concerts! This week was a combined performance of selections from Mozart’s “Gran Partita” (Serenade No. 10 in B-flat for winds) and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 14.
Timeless yet nostalgic, Destroyer does not disappoint.
Bejar, along with the half dozen other members of Destroyer performed at The Sinclair near Harvard Square. Much like the opening lines of “Tinseltown Swimming in Blood,” from the latest album Ken, the group’s performance featured wonderfully colorful and evocative phrases that complemented each other with a surprising and wonderful strangeness.
Rostam hasn’t lost‘em
It was nice to be in a theater seat, not jostling for a view of the stage, able to lean back and soak in the untroubled vibrations of Rostam’s creations. There was something very special about being able to hear tunes I know and love performed live, but not feeling pressured to shout along, or cheer louder than anybody else.
Who will be your ideal Toon date?
The MIT/Wellesley Toons invited attendees to experience Dream Toons: A Toon Dating Simulator this past weekend. The show started with a special feature of Out Of Toons, a humble group featuring Toons alumni.
Christian McBride sets the baseline for bass
Joined by pianist Christian Sands and drummer Jerome Jennings, McBride promised a fun night even among the serious, erudite scholars of Harvard, and as he puts it, to help maintain the balance.
Have you ever been lost in a piano?
Occasionally, I would be lost in her music, drowning in dulcet notes that were simultaneously warm, strutting and fretting in such a way that did not feel frenetic.
A Hahn-ds down winning performance
Week 4: Ligeti’s “Romanian Concerto”, Dvorak’s Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 53, Schumann’s Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat, op. 38, “Spring”
A gut feeling
Soon, the empty stage, with a beautiful, defunct organ for backdrop, would be graced by the presence of the most well-known and widely praised period-instrument quartet of the day. Quatuor Mosaïques, an Austrian ensemble that came together 30 years ago, distinguishes itself with its singular use of gut-stringed instruments, specializing in the music of the 18th century.
Alice Smith effortlessly brings her audience together
She was restless, though; and she looked as if she was searching for something. Only when she smiled a bit, turned, and without the mic delivered a note as high and strong as the ones with the mic, the playful twinkle in her eyes settled into a look of satisfaction of a performance well delivered.
The tide of expression flows for you
But as with real life, it doesn’t always end how you expect it to, sometimes in the form of a soloist giving a touching soliloquy, sometimes a triumphant explosion of sound, and sometimes, sad chords brought on another theme, but always flowing.
MIT — SO musical
Right from conductor Adam K. Boyles’ downbeat, MIT Symphony Orchestra (MITSO) delivered a brilliant performance, featuring Beethoven’s “Coriolan” Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, as well as Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in E minor, by MITSO’s own Bertrand Stone ’18.
The great gamelan
What the songs had in common is their construction — a careful kind of chaos that stops just long enough on a tone for me to commit it to memory. I spent the journey home contented, my ears still wrapped in the concert’s final note.
The orchestra starts a dialogue with a piano
This was a performance to be reckoned with. The performers delivered all of the emotion and story-telling of an opera wordlessly, telling the history of a people with their instrumentation. While the piano concerto was dramatic and, for lack of a better term, very Beethoven-esque, it was blown out of the water by the majesty and conflict of “The Year 1905.”
Feel the Bern-stein
This was an astounding concert, really putting BSO’s best foot forward with contrasting styles, magnificent solos, and tremendous sound.
Alison Krauss brings bluegrass to Boston
I am not religious, but when I heard this music, I could understand a little better how it feels for those who are. When Krauss’s voice rises on the line “In your love, I find release/ A haven from my unbelief,” it’s like you can feel a presence wrapping around you.
Jacob Collier: The art of musical intention
This is a once-in-a-lifetime musician with a profound sense of the strong connection between emotions and music as a communicative vehicle. Every magical moment, spontaneous or planned, is grounded in a deep understanding of music through the lens of emotions.
Just take me to your hideaway
The concert opened with the gorgeously sultry voice of Joanna Teters, after which Collier took the stage and jumped right into an energetic performance “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing.” Of course, the Stevie Wonder cover was Jacob Collier-ified with jaw-dropping harmonies and an array of instruments from tambourine to upright bass — every single one of which he ran around playing himself.
A return to the classics
Philharmonia Quartett Berlin Presented by the Celebrity Series of Boston NEC’s Jordan Hall Mar. 3, 2017
Jelly and George brings two composers together for one evening
Two guys walk into a bar. They might even be frenemies, as pianist Aaron Diehl joked to the audience, but they would have something in common—jazz-imbued music. If Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton and George Gershwin had met in history, the result would be spectacular.
An invigorating and stunning performance of strings
The Danish String Quartet has drawn critical praise for its performances since its 2002 debut at the Copenhagen Summer Festival. Its four members--violinists Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen and Frederik Øland, violist Asbjørn Nørgaard, and cellist Fredrik Schøyen Sjölin--are renowned for their wonderful balance in their performances, a difficult feat to pull off. I confess that I am indifferent to string quartets but the Saturday evening performance warmed me up to the sound and timbre of strings.
Technology and music intertwine in a stellar performance
His homemade YouTube videos reflect one of the great things about MIT: the boldness to innovate and a humane compassion for the world.
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition comes to life
What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow and NEC Philharmonia — Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition Presented by Celebrity Series of Boston NEC Jordan Hall Dec. 2, 2016
Dutilleux’s 'Tout un monde lointain…' transports its audience to a new world
Thursday’s concert opened to the quaint charms of Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune. The prelude conjured the image of a forest in the natural, rural world and the flutes carried this atmosphere well. The main themes of the clarinet and flute parts were dreamlike and serene, a strange juxtaposition with Zander’s animated conducting during the more invigorating passages.
A passionate and dedicated performance
The MIT Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Adam K. Boyles, presented classical music in a beautiful way and with great passion.
Humorous yet poignant, Imogen Cooper delivers a charming performance
An evening listening to a solo piano recital by internationally renowned pianist Imogen Cooper is therapeutic for the soul. Cooper stepped out onto the stage, greeted warmly by applause. Her first piece, “The Virgin of Frydek” by Leoš Janáček, was performed with sublime tenderness, a sensitivity that is carried through her performance.
A centennial tribute to four jazz greats
Jazz is defined by its malleability. Every arranger brings his own style to well-worn standards, and Danilo Pérez is no different. The Panamanian pianist brought a distinctively Latin style to some respected standards from four jazz greats: Thelonious Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Mongo Santamaria, and Ella Fitzgerald. He's collected a set of world-class musicians to realize his artistic goals, spawning Jazz 100, a celebration of the centennial birthdays of the four legends.
Classical music and brassy improvisations find harmony in Killian Hall
Almost every single seat in MIT’s intimate Killian Hall recital space was filled last Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, for Grammy-award winning tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano’s performance.
A look at FredFest
An eclectic mix of band performances ranging from avant-garde to punk rock, East Campus’s annual concert FredFest is a reflection of the dorm community itself: idiosyncratic yet inclusive.
Julia Holter’s exquisite live performance
After the captivating live rendition of “Goddess Eyes I,” Julia Holter smiled to the audience and remarked that the only thing she could see that night in the background of Allston’s dimly-lit Great Scott was the live stream of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders’ Democratic presidential debate on TV. The audience immediately burst into laughter.
Mack Avenue Superband: jazz legends, educators
The Mack Avenue Superband, an energetic and star-studded six-piece jazz ensemble, performed at the Berklee Performance Center last Thursday.
Pairing young musicians with young listeners
The Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra is a vibrant group of 12- to 21-year-olds who devote their Saturday afternoons to practicing together and putting up roughly three performances a year. Many are currently in college as well, including MIT freshman Jueun Lee on the cello. Formed in 2012 as an offshoot of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, BPYO aims to provide opportunities for young musicians to grow.
Cold War Kids at the House of Blues
Given that this was my first time at the Boston House of Blues, I was underwhelmed by the grimy building and the barely filled general admission section. Was this really the iconic Boston venue that had been graced by artists like Miley Cyrus, Chance the Rapper, and this time, the Cold War Kids?
An evening of strings with Pinchas Zukerman
The Boston Symphony Orchestra continued its wide-ranging selection of fall programs with a collection of works by Tchaikovsky, Elgar, and Schubert, featuring guest conductor-violinist Pinchas Zukerman last weekend.
A rousing mixture of old and new at the BSO
The Boston Symphony Orchestra moves from strength to strength, following its successful season opener with another exceptional program — putting together a new composition by Sebastian Currier, Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, and a particularly spellbinding rendition of Brahms’ Symphony No. 2.
BSO opens 135th season with an all-Russian program
The Boston Symphony Orchestra opened its first concert of the season in a fashion that reflected the all-Russian program: quick and to the point. Upon entering, conductor Andris Nelsons was greeted with a standing ovation; however, the audience barely had time to sit down before the BSO began Shostakovich’s playful Ninth Symphony. It was easy to appreciate the lightness of the strings and winds juxtaposed with the fanfare of the brass. I found myself captivated by Nelsons’ conducting, which conveyed excitement and scrutiny to detail, and the way the orchestra responded in kind. Navigating through Shostakovich’s bright Allegro, his eerie Moderato, and his loud Presto, the musicians demonstrated their versatility in both technical and emotional depth.
Boston Calling
Boston Calling took place in City Hall Plaza this past weekend, and the entire area buzzed with energy and excitement the whole time. Surrounding the two stages were dozens of tents where local companies and vendors sold food, flower crowns, and handed out samples. People flowed in and out between performances, but there was also a constant, huge mass of people right in front of the stages, waiting for the next performer to come out. The energy increased greatly during performances, fed by both the performers’ and the crowd’s excitement to be there. The crowd danced and sang along with the performers, all whilst cheering, tossing around beach balls, and waving their arms and blue light sticks along to the music (in the attempt to join the camaraderie, someone even waved his crutch instead). Boston Calling is truly an event that captures the youthful and fun personality of Boston.
The 2nd annual Cambridge Jazz Festival
Nothing says summer quite like jazz: they are both relaxed yet spontaneous, fun, and lively. The annual Cambridge Jazz Festival took place this year on July 26. Located in University Park (just a couple of streets behind Simmons Hall), it was the perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon. The free festival drew the attention of people from all different walks of life — young children and longtime jazz aficionados alike all sat together in the grass enjoying the live music and the sunshine.
Afro-Latin jazz gains new fans
As part of the Celebrity Series of Boston, an initiative that brings famous performing artists to the Boston area, Arturo O’Farrill and Donald Harrison set the Berklee Performance stage aflame with flying fingers on the piano and alto sax, respectively. The pair and the Grammy winning Afro-Latin Jazz orchestra (founded by O’Farrill himself) had audiences shimmying in their seats during a performance that earned three standing ovations.
Of All the Flowers: Songs of the Middle Ages
This past Friday, the Boston Camerata performed at Walker Memorial as part of the MIT Sounding Series sponsored by the MIT Center for Art, Science, and Technology. The night’s program was specifically commissioned for MIT and included some of the first performances (in the past 600 years or so) of newly reconstructed pieces from 14th-century French and Italian composers Guillaume Machaut, Johannes Ciconia, Francesco da Firenze, and others.
A night full of a cappella
At the end of February, the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) held the last of four Northeast Quarterfinals of the season in MIT’s Kresge Auditorium. This was the ICCA’s 19th season of student a capella competitions, which have become increasingly popular due to the movie Pitch Perfect. And looking around, I could see the extent of a capella’s popularity — all of Kresge’s 1200 seats were filled with enthusiastic students and supportive families.
Yo-Yo Ma’s modern-day Silk Road
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has done more than create music with his Silk Road Ensemble — he’s united the world with an innovative approach to cross-cultural exchange. His eclectic group, which performed at Symphony Hall as part of the Celebrity Series of Boston last Wednesday, consistently breaks down the borders of music. Featuring instruments, composers, and musicians from every corner of the globe, the Silk Road Ensemble performed six original pieces — at times scattered, but thoroughly vibrant and entertaining.
Stravinsky, Debussy, and Brahms at the BSO
When you hear Igor Stravinsky’s name, what comes to mind? For most, it would be the Rite of Spring, a revolutionary work that sparked a riot the night of its premiere. For others, the name may conjure up visions of Petrushka or the supernatural Firebird Suite. What is definitely not associated with Stravinsky is Johann Sebastian Bach, the master of fugue and counterpoint, whose groundbreaking musicality was deeply rooted in the German Baroque tradition. That is, unless you know the story behind Stravinsky’s Concerto in E-flat for chamber orchestra.
Debussy, Birtwistle, Liadov, and Stravinsky at the BSO
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is one of the country’s five major symphony orchestras, and because they feature a new lineup of pieces and performers weekly, there is always something new to see. Earlier this month, the concert conducted by Stefan Asbury and Ken David Masur consisted of four pieces arranged strategically to depict the show’s central theme: vitality.
Who knew a ukulele orchestra even existed?
When an eight-person ukulele band from across the Atlantic comes to Boston, you stop everything you’re doing to see what in tarnation a band with more than one ukulele could possibly do. A lot, it turns out.
Boston Calling returns for round four
The fourth installment of Boston Calling this past weekend had its ups and downs but was overall an exciting, enjoyable festival that catered to Boston’s immensely diverse music scene.
Nearly perfect
One of the benefits of attending a concert by a new-ish band is that you get to hear their whole repertoire. For Foster the People, this included songs from their second album Supermodel, their first album Torches, B-sides from both albums, and everything in between.
Let’s talk about gender
How would you feel if you went to a concert where a performer dressed as an aerobics instructor with tights, a wig, and glittery shorts asked you to repeat, “I am not a woman, I am not a man, I am both, I am neither, if you don’t like it, take a breather?”
Jupiter String Quartet masterfully performs Beethoven
Over lunch on the day of their first Beethoven String Quartet Cycle concert, I asked the members of the Jupiter String Quartet what makes their string ensemble unique. They answered that unlike many other musical ensembles, all the instruments in the string quartet are from the same family, meaning each voice blends uniquely with the others. The Jupiter String Quartet’s third Beethoven Cycle concert last Friday was dramatic validation of their answer.
A prodigious piano performance
The stage of Symphony Hall — usually packed with over a hundred Boston Symphony Orchestra performers — seemed empty on Sunday evening, as it had nothing but one grand piano. But that all changed when Evgeny Kissin released the first chord of Franz Schubert’s Sonata No. 17. The sheer power of that first note, which filled the entire Hall, marked the beginning of a night of phenomenal piano music.
Reykjavík Calling in Cambridge
Iceland’s population is just around 320,000 (which means the island has fewer inhabitants than Alaska), but the nation has an astonishingly high propensity for music. The country boasts ninety music schools, about four hundred choirs, four hundred orchestras and marching bands, and a vibrant scene in rock, jazz, and electronic genres.
MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble: Homegrown Portraits
The MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble played a charming ten piece set last Saturday night, highlighted by the world premiere of an original composition, “Solace,” by Adrian M. Grossman ’14 and the first performance of Charles Mingus’ “Portrait” (1963) as arranged by Peter T. Godart ’15. Mark Harvey took over as a guest conductor for two of his compositions: “De-Evolution Blues” (2005) and “Saxophrenia” (2002).
St. Vincent’s accessible theatricality
“You guys,” St. Vincent announced in front of the crowded House of Blues, “there was a ghost in the machine.”
Rhye at Royale
It’s been almost a year since the Canadian-Danish duo Rhye released their critically acclaimed debut album Woman. Despite the lack of any new official material, lead singer Milosh paid a visit to Boston with his touring band last week and performed most of the album’s songs.
Panic! at the hip rolls
Opening for Panic! at the Disco is a daunting task. Fans trickled into the venue after braving the biting Boston chill while waiting in a line that, quite literally, wrapped around the block. It’s hard to please an overly excited, impatient group of people who are here for the main act and would likely be content to skip your performance entirely.
The sounds of indie rock from Scotland
Rumor has it they sold out within the hour. As soon as they started their first song, it’s easy to see why. The Fratellis, an indie rock band hailing from Scotland, played this past Sunday at the iconic Paradise Rock Club as part of their We Need Medicine Tour, promoting their new album which came out in October of this year.
Frankie Rose and Franz Ferdinand rock the Orpheum
The Orpheum Theater in Boston is a beautiful old opera house in Boston that seems a little past its glory days, but it was perfect for the indie rock and dance mashups of Casual Sex, Frankie Rose, and Franz Ferdinand.
Janelle Monáe: electrifying and astonishing
Upon entering Boston’s House of Blues on October 16th, the attendees were given a short pamphlet entitled “The Ten Droid Commandments”. Besides instructing the audience on how to get the most out of Janelle Monáe’s conceptual concert, the pamphlet also contained Monáe’s special request for the audience — to never reveal the show’s secrets to their friends. Before the Electric Lady appeared on the stage to actually share the mysterious secrets, Roman GianArthur (one of the key figures in the production and arrangement of Monáe’s albums) opened the show with a stellar musical and vocal performance. In addition to performing some of his own songs, he also delivered several fantastic covers, including MGMT’s “Electric Feel” and Erykah Badu’s “Bag Lady”. Similarly to Monáe, his continuous communication with the audience and the ability to instill the “jam” factor into each of his songs made his appearance nothing less than mesmerizing.
Igniting the Steinway
Yuja Wang, moving vigorously to music in a bright red dress and silver stilettos, was a ball of life in stark contrast against the still black Steinway; her rapidly movwing fingers pulling powerful strings of melodies from the grand piano. Her fervent movements threw her hair dancing and accented the notes she drew from an instrument that she had clearly mastered. In her musical interpretation, it was clear her Tweet quoting Mahler, “Tradition is tending the flame, it’s not worshiping the ashes,” was deeply embedded into her modern, energetic style.
An evening of Bach and bluegrass
Greeting the crowd with good wishes for the 20th day of Oktoberfest, mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile took the stage at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, playing a set of Bach compositions intermixed with bluegrass, jazz, and gospel jams of his own and by others. Setting out on the evening’s program, he described the set list as “Bach, ill-advisedly broken up and played with bits of stuff in between.”
A dramatic and intense classical performance
There was no doubt the entire room was awaiting the legendary Yo-Yo Ma to take the stage at Boston Symphony Hall as the sold-out room stood with thunderous applause as he walked onto stage. Yo-Yo Ma’s presence was undeniably that of a prodigious musician as his first bow strokes of the cello resonated powerfully in the hall. French conductor Stéphane Denève engaged animatedly with Yo-Yo Ma in the intense Cell Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat, Opus 107 by Shostakovich.
Admiring our musical peers
Last semester, I went to my first MITSO concert to write a report for 21M.011 Introduction to Western Music. I remember enjoying the concert very much and wishing that I had known about MITSO performances earlier. Since I had somewhat put western classical music in the back of my mind, I decided to start off my Columbus Day Weekend by attending the first MITSO concert of the 2013–2014 season, in hopes of refreshing my musical knowledge. While I was perhaps only partially successful in that regard, the student orchestra was once again nothing short of spectacular.
From Italy to Kresge
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Giuseppe Verdi, the celebrated Italian operatic composer, and in support of the relationship between Eni and MIT, the La Scala Chamber Orchestra performed a special MIT-exclusive concert at Kresge Auditorium on Oct. 7. The concert performance was proceeded with brief introductory remarks by MIT President Reif and Eni’s Chairman
“Radioactive” rockstars return to Boston
To my left, the stormy horizon was just visible from underneath the sweeping white canopy of the Bank of America Pavilion. The sun had just sunk out of sight, its last glow illuminating the clouds with dark red and orange colors. Before me, the stage lights followed suit, letting the stage sink into darkness. A cool breeze drifted in. Behind me, the voices of five thousand people faded to an expectant murmur…
CHVRCHES and Still Corners
The Scottish synth-pop band Chvrches (usually stylized as CHVRCHES) released their first EP Recover this March to very positive reviews, and just recently embarked on their first U.S. tour. Taking the London-based musical project Still Corners along with them, the band paid Boston a visit last month to play some of their acclaimed songs and present forthcoming album material.
Evoking the Arab Spring through music
The MIT Wind Ensemble (MITWE) scored a coup last Friday when PBS aired the television world premiere of MIT-produced documentary Awakening: Evoking the Arab Spring Through Music. The documentary featured MITWE’s performance of Awakening, composed by MIT alumnus Jamsheid Sharifi ’83. The piece is intended to encourage listeners to contemplate the movement that swept Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and other Arab countries. MITWE director Dr. Frederick Harris commissioned the piece from Sharifi, a renowned New York-based composer, who felt personally connected to the Arab Spring because of his Middle Eastern heritage.
Remember “Don’t Worry Be Happy”?
Bobby McFerrin is a virtuoso, and his instrument is his own windpipe and chest. He is not a powerful singer, but he is a beautiful singer. Although he practices many forms of music (directing classics, singing duets with Yo-Yo Ma’s cello, etc.), he truly excels at just a few of them. The same can be said about his most recent concert in Boston. As part of a multi-city tour for his upcoming album “spirityouall”, and through the felicitous auspices of the Celebrity Series of Boston, Bobby McFerrin paid a visit to Beantown last Sunday, and treated a full Symphony Hall to an afternoon of good music.
A jazzy story
MIT is unquestionably known for science and technology — many of the world’s cutting-edge research projects and ideas have either been developed here or are at least somehow connected to the Institute.
Refreshing to the ears
Starting precisely together, the basses and cellos began the concert with vibrant depth in their tones. Immediately after, the soloist Vadim Repin began his violin entrance with his eyes closed and a serene face.
Contemporary classical celebrity
Seventeen years ago, my grandmother presented me with my first violin, and introduced me to the world of classical music. That same year, at the age of sixteen, violinist prodigy Hilary Hahn made her debut recording.
Looking back, moving forward
On Sunday, November 18, Yellowcard played before a sold-out crowd in the Boston House of Blues after performances from special guests The Wonder Years and We Are the In Crowd. The concert lasted nearly two hours and consisted of a twenty-song setlist, three of which were performed during the encore.
A symphony fit for the goddesses
Last Wednesday, over a thousand Zelda fans descended on San Francisco’s Davies Symphony Hall in the heart of the city. The event? The 25th anniversary celebration of one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchise: The Legend of Zelda. “Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses,” is a musical tribute to the history of Zelda and the great scores composed by Koji Kondo. The concert, directed by Irish conductor Eímear Noone, works with local musicians in each town to put together an entire orchestra to play the show.
Symphony Hall resonates with the sounds of Final Fantasy
The Boston Symphony Hall hosted a very special event last Saturday. It featured not Dvorak, nor Bach, nor Mendelssohn, but instead video game pieces from almost 25 years of Final Fantasy scores. Even though this event did not attract Symphony Hall’s regular audience, the place was sold out. Symphony Hall was overflowing with Final Fantasy fans, many of them dressed as original characters from the game. A number of fans brought their copies of Final Fantasy soundtracks or games so they could get an autograph after the show.
Educating ourselves about Lauryn Hill (and her thesis)
In the non-Prince music section of the Purple One’s fan site Prince.Org last week, a contributor asked quite a pertinent question about The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album and its world-renowned female rapper-author:
Music and fashion, as the French do
Last Thursday’s French-themed program at the Boston Symphony Orchestra featured a fashion show to complement the performance of Debussy’s La Mer. Project Debussy, part of an annual fashion competition based on the works of a composer, featured eleven Debussy-inspired designs by local fashion students. This Project Composer series adds a new dimension to the usual symphony-goer’s experience, as couture and music — at least classical music — is rarely explored together.
Copland conductorless, and Stravinsky interrupted
With all of the drama and lack of a permanent conductor at the BSO, the orchestra found an opportunity to do something completely out of the ordinary for their concert series from January 21–24. The entire first half of the program consisted of different sections of the orchestra performing pieces for chamber-size groups — without a conductor. A conductor was eventually contracted for the second half of the concert and worked with the orchestra for the week leading up to the first performance. The second half of the concert featured Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, one of the most controversial yet brilliant pieces of repertoire in classical music.
A night at the Brit-rock sock hop
Reading too many I Saw You MIT posts making you feel angsty? If you feel like you’re still going through the same tensions of high school over and over again, you’ll probably fit right in with The Postelles and The Kooks, two bands whom, although grown-up now, are still rehashing the trials and tribulations of their young romances. They certainly don’t take those pains too heavily though, both bands pairing their cheekily tortured lyrics with upbeat rock and roll.
Re-Learning the New. The Emerson String Quartet Performs works by Ives, Janáček, Barber and Shostakovich
Twentieth century music is generally associated with atonality and avant-garde experimentation; this is not necessarily an untrue association, and many of Friday evening’s composers are specially known for their forays into these movements. The music is not without its own narrative, its own tonal lexicon and rationale that somehow culminates in a cohesive thesis. All of Friday evening’s music was older than fifty years old, and it was striking to hear how much of this music has been adapted in to the collective idiom in the twenty-first century.