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American Symphony Orchestra at Riverside Church. (photo from americansymphony.org)
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

The American Symphony Orchestra and Händel’s Judas Maccabaeus

It was a stellar evening at Riverside Church with the American Symphony Orchestra and Handel’s oratorio, Judas Maccabaeus (1746). This splendid production inspired just as it projected hope, faith, and perseverance in the face of adversity through the story’s characters, Judas Maccabeaus (Jack Swanson), Man (Deborah Nansteel), Woman (Brandie Sutton), and Simon (William Guanbo Su). The ensemble conveyed well the emotional and spiritual significance of the Oratorio.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Angels of Many Signs. (Image by Saya Woolfalk)
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Angel of Many Signs

The New York Choral Society presented Angel of Many Signs, a superb digital, instrumental, choral, and visual art synthesis. This production was billed as “a multi-media and multi-disciplinary concert bridging centuries of feminine imagination and power.”

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Main Kent Tritle conducts Musica Sacra. Photo from MusicaSacraNY.com
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Musica Sacra Presents SurRound

Tonight’s special program, Musica Sacra Presents SurRound, was set in the magnificent Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in Manhattan, New York City.  The audience was treated to a mélange of a capella music from organum of the Middle Ages to the complexity and richness of the Renaissance and seminal works of contemporary times. In addition, we were treated to a world premiere of Daniel Ficarri’s  Blessed Are the Pure in Heart, which shall undoubtedly join the canon of vital choral literature.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Venice City of Lights
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Venice City of Lights

This was an evening of Venice City of Lights at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. Superlatives hardly describe the quality of the Cathedral Choir in the Rose of the Compass space. The evening offered a transformative musical experience for listeners and performers alike. The beauty and artistry utilized to guide our journey through the historical, artistic and cultural milieu of Venice evoked elation, wonder, and exhilaration. Onlooking participants experienced profound tranquility and introspection, reflection and contemplation, transcendent joy and longing.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
MasterVoices presents Iolanthe
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

MasterVoices presents Iolanthe

This production of Iolanthe by MasterVoices at Carnegie Hall portrayed the essence of superlative artistry coupled with modern technological tools. Audience members were masterfully delivered full access to every quip, idiom, and reference intended by Gilbert and Sullivan. During the production, laughs, chuckles, cheers, and other affirmations continued. Applause occurred frequently, and the denouement was acknowledged through an extended standing ovation and multiple bows. The soloists, dancer, orchestra, costumes, choreography, and lighting were superb. Sperling’s conducting was masterful, precise, effective, and expressive.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Musica Sacra at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Musica Sacra at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Kent Tritle and Musica Sacra have once again brought important musical works to the forefront in an opulent setting with superb artists. Tritle’s conducting was expressive and precise, while the Chorus performed with an aplomb to which audiences have become accustomed. Listeners experienced glorious sweeps of sound, delicate shadings, impeccable clarity and vocal precision, superb blend, unerring expression, apposite dynamic range, ineffable artistry, and inspired interpretation. It was an awe-inspiring and memorable musical experience.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
MasterVoices Presents Jewish Sacred Music
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

MasterVoices Presents Jewish Sacred Music

Tonight’s O How Good was a celebration of the life of MasterVoices board member Lois Conway and the years of philanthropy and insightful leadership characterizing her service. The venue chosen for this event was inspiring and magnificent and set in New York City’s Central Synagogue, a stunning example of Moorish Revival architecture and a testament to the beauty and richness of Jewish tradition and culture.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Light of Paradise at St. John the Divine
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Light of Paradise at St. John the Divine

Maestro Kent Tritle opened this “Light of Paradise” program with the strings of his world-class orchestra performing George Walker’s Lyric for Strings (1946). This work set the tone for the contemplative, elegiac, spiritual, and pathos-rich musical experience about to unfold. This music performed in the magnificent Cathedral of St. John the Divine created rich, transcendent sound reverberations of grandeur and timelessness. The orchestra’s offering of the beautiful, memorable Lyric for Strings was an exquisite sonic experience of poignant and profound emotional character.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
The ACO presents Healing Bach
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

The ACO presents Healing Bach

The The ACO presents Healing Bach featured sopranos Sherezade Panthaki and Corrine Byrne, mezzo-soprano Sylvia Leith, countertenor Daniel Moody, tenors Brian Giebler and Lawrence Jones, and bass-baritones Edmund Milly and Joseph Parrish. This astounding coterie of gifted musicians presented continuously breathtakingly beautiful and inspired performances.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
Organ and Orchestra by the American Symphony Orchestra
Choral Music
Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic

Organ and Orchestra by the American Symphony Orchestra

Tonight’s concert was entitled Organ and Orchestra by the American Symphony Orchestra! St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Park Ave in New York City was the apposite venue for Maestro Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra. They performed two works incorporating the rich sounds of the marvelous Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ with organist Paolo Bordignon, the Bard Festival Chorale directed by James Bagwell, and vocal soloists Soprano Anya Matanovič, Mezzo-soprano Eve Gigliotti, Tenor Joshua Blue, and Bass Adam Lau.

Edward A Kliszus, Editor-in-Chief / Music and Arts Critic
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The American Symphony Orchestra and Händel’s Judas Maccabaeus

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