Author Archives: Alan Rich

Last Breaths During the several years’ survey of the symphonies of Dmitri Shostakovich, the Philharmonic has had the admirable idea of preceding each symphony with the like-numbered string quartet in a pre-concert presentation, performed by orchestra members. Those quartet performances … Continue reading →

Bravely, Uphill Alone on a concert stage or facing an orchestra, András Schiff is a comforting presence. He puts on no airs, nor does his music-making. Something about his quiet, undemonstrative manner tells us that we, and his chosen music, … Continue reading →

Two concerts, on successive nights of a recent weekend, were enough to restore anyone’s faith in the continued strengths of our music, our music makers and the people who make music happen. Both drew capacity, cheering crowds. I’ll write about … Continue reading →

Still Bound Just that teasing first chirp from the superb woodwind contingent was news good enough to start off the Philharmonic’s 87th season, its third in Disney Concert Hall, the first of its “Beethoven Unbound” series. That sound – the … Continue reading →

The Clouds Gather Like the explosive “gadget” that forms its centerpiece, John Adams’ Doctor Atomic casts a blinding light upon the gloomy musical landscape. Suddenly there is something new and famous in classical music: an American opera, no less – … Continue reading →

“Look, here’s a young couple back from their fellowship in Europe. They’ve had a year of good bread, good cheese, good wine. They should be able to enjoy those things here and for not very much money. They can’t do … Continue reading →

Photo by Dan PorgesShake Ernest Fleischmann summoned me to lunch a few weeks ago, to share the following concern: Under no circumstances, stated Ernest in his familiar brook-no-opposition tones, was I to miss the forthcoming Hollywood Bowl engagement of the … Continue reading →

Marni Nixon is probably best known as the voice of Audrey Hepburn’s Eliza Doolittle in the film version of My Fair Lady. She continues her own stage career as well – most recently in a nationwide tour as Frau Schneider … Continue reading →

More or Less Offenbach at the L.A. Opera in the hands of Garry Marshall . . . need I go on? Doom descends even before a note is sounded, when a smarmy character, gotten up to impersonate composer Jacques Offenbach … Continue reading →

Photo by Betty FreemanBoy Wonderful At 35, Thomas Adès continues to surprise, delight, mystify and elude me. If I had my way, everyone on the planet would own the new EMI recording of his recent Piano Quintet, as the indisputable … Continue reading →