Events Reviews Articles Video

Find articles | William E Ford

William E Ford

William E Ford

William has enjoyed classical music for over five decades. He is a frequent concertgoer and blogs about classical music . He has a YouTube channel in which he interviews a variety of people in the world of music, such as composers, musicians, writers, and artistic directors. William is a clinical psychologist.

Author:William E Ford

Put content in English at top

Showing 50 of 68 articles

Loading image...

Violin megastar Gil Shaham wows Atlanta with Korngold concerto

By William E Ford, 12 November 2022

Guest Conductor Hannu Lintu makes an auspicious Atlanta Symphony debut conducting Sibelius, Korngold and Higdon.

*****

Loading image...

Violin megastar Gil Shaham wows Atlanta with Korngold concerto

By William E Ford

Loading image...

In Atlanta, Avi Avital delights in Jennifer Higdon's Mandolin Concerto

By William E Ford, 02 April 2022

In Atlanta, conductor Robert Spano, mandolinist Avi Avital and composer Jennifer Higdon ignite fiery performances.

*****

Loading image...

In Atlanta, Avi Avital delights in Jennifer Higdon's Mandolin Concerto

By William E Ford

Loading image...

Ksenija Sidorova returns to Symphony Hall and Astor Piazzolla

By William E Ford, 03 February 2022

Kalmar and Sidorova pair up for a powerful performance of Piazzolla's Aconcagua in Atlanta.

***11

Loading image...

Ksenija Sidorova returns to Symphony Hall and Astor Piazzolla

By William E Ford

Loading image...

Thrilling Brahms from Sir Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony

By William E Ford, 02 December 2021

An impressive concert at Symphony Hall also features Melody Eötvös' The Deciding Machine and Jacquelyn Stucker singing Strauss.

****1

Loading image...

Thrilling Brahms from Sir Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony

By William E Ford

A modern staging for Atlanta Opera's Carmen

By William E Ford, 15 April 2021

General and Artistic Director Tomer Zvulun unleashes an unending flow of creativity and originality in The Threepenny Carmen.

*****

A modern staging for Atlanta Opera's Carmen

By William E Ford

Robert Spano conducts Ravel in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 03 December 2020

Robert Spano and Kelley O'Connor produce a gossamer Shéhérazade in Atlanta.

***11

Robert Spano conducts Ravel in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Pagliacci takes to the Big Top in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 30 October 2020

The Atlanta Opera presents a superior live production of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci to a masked, socially distanced audience.

*****

Pagliacci takes to the Big Top in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Reimagined: Mozart and more in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 15 October 2020

Inon Barnatan and Robert Spano perform a taut Mozart piano concerto in Atlanta.

***11

Reimagined: Mozart and more in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Late Romantic classics from Chausson and Brahms in Istanbul

By William E Ford, 27 September 2020

Violinist Anna Tifu and the Tekfen Philharmonic join together for a richly played Poème before Aziz Shokhakimov conducts Brahms' First Symphony.

****1

Late Romantic classics from Chausson and Brahms in Istanbul

By William E Ford

In Atlanta, a special evening with Pinchas Zukerman and Yoel Levi

By William E Ford, 11 March 2020

Yoel Levi and Pinchas Zukerman perform Bruch's gorgeous Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

*****

In Atlanta, a special evening with Pinchas Zukerman and Yoel Levi

By William E Ford

The in-laws in Atlanta: Wagner and Liszt headline Villaume's program

By William E Ford, 05 March 2020

In Atlanta, guest conductor Emmanuel Villaume and pianist Andrew von Oeyen powerfully perform a Liszt concerto.

*****

The in-laws in Atlanta: Wagner and Liszt headline Villaume's program

By William E Ford

Northern Lights: Atlanta Symphony explores rare repertoire

By William E Ford, 27 February 2020

In a bold move, guest conductor Thomas Søndergård conducts three Atlanta premieres by late-Romantic Scandinavian composers.

****1

Northern Lights: Atlanta Symphony explores rare repertoire

By William E Ford

Quirky Rachmaninov from Buniatishvili with the Royal Philharmonic in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 15 January 2020

A most idiosyncratic version of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto from Khatia Buniatishvili along with a notable performance of Sibelius' Second Symphony from the RPO, touring the United States under Mark Wigglesworth.

***11

Quirky Rachmaninov from Buniatishvili and the RPO in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Project your own emotions: Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony play Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky

By William E Ford, 09 November 2019

Donald Runnicles and the Atlanta Symphony play a charged final symphony of Shostakovich and a compelling Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with soloist James Ehnes

****1

Runnicles and the ASO play Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky

By William E Ford

Irfan and Spano collaborate on impressive Bartók in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 03 October 2019

The ASO and Maestro Spano have started out the orchestra’s 75th anniversary year with hot-blooded performances that matched Atlanta's weather.

*****

Irfan and Spano collaborate on impressive Bartók in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Violin sensation Joshua Bell returns to Atlanta

By William E Ford, 20 September 2019

Violinist Joshua Bell returns to light up the 75th anniversary of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with a fiery performance of Wieniawski's Second Violin Concerto.

****1

Violin sensation Joshua Bell returns to Atlanta

By William E Ford

Honeck leads Pittsburgh Symphony in an astonishing Beethoven 9

By William E Ford, 06 June 2019

The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, under Music Director Manfred Honeck, the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh and soloists gave a brilliant performance of Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony.

*****

Honeck leads Pittsburgh Symphony in an astonishing Beethoven 9

By William E Ford

In Atlanta, Richard Prior's dark work ...of shadow and light... shines

By William E Ford, 09 May 2019

Robert Spano’s love of contemporary music was apparent in this program that featured the return of two intriguing recent works, beautifully performed by the ASO and The Brothers Yancich.

****1

Richard Prior's dark work ...of shadow and light... shines

By William E Ford

Concerto night at Atlanta Symphony Hall

By William E Ford, 04 April 2019

Robert Spano leads the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a powerful performance of Gandolfi's inspired Imaginary Numbers.

****1

Concerto night at Atlanta Symphony Hall

By William E Ford

A taut Tchaikovsky Fourth with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford, 07 March 2019

Henrik Nánási leads the Atlanta Symphony is a dynamnic, yet restrained Tchaikovsky Fourth Symphony.

****1

A taut Tchaikovsky Fourth with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford

A gut-wrenching story of redemption: Atlanta Opera presents Dead Man Walking

By William E Ford, 02 February 2019

Jake Heggie's Dead Man Walking is credited as being the most performed 21st-century opera, and with good reason.

****1

Atlanta Opera presents Dead Man Walking

By William E Ford

Atlanta Symphony Hall: Shostakovich shock and awe

By William E Ford, 19 January 2019

The Atlanta Symphony and Conductor Robert Spano pay tribute to one American and one Russian composer, beloved for their reflections on their homelands.

*****

Atlanta Symphony Hall: Shostakovich shock and awe

By William E Ford

Magnificent Mariinsky at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts

By William E Ford, 28 October 2018

Gergiev and Abduraimov create magic in a dazzling Rachmaninov Rhapsody.

*****

Magnificent Mariinsky at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts

By William E Ford

Märkl leads a first-rate Daphnis et Chloé in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 13 October 2018

Jun Märkl excels in an all-French program entitled “Vive la France”.

****1

Märkl leads a first-rate Daphnis et Chloé in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Lang Lang shines in all-Mozart concert in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 26 September 2018

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, conductor Mei-Ann-Chen, and pianist Lang Lang play a spectacular all-Mozart concert.

*****

Lang Lang shines in all-Mozart concert in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Dreamy Rachmaninov opens Atlanta season

By William E Ford, 22 September 2018

A solid season opener for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, with Kirill Gerstein playing Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto.

***11

Dreamy Rachmaninov opens Atlanta season

By William E Ford

Scheherazade ends the Atlanta season on a high

By William E Ford, 07 June 2018

Robert Spano led the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra closed out its regular season with a thrilling Scheherezade.

**111

Scheherazade ends the Atlanta season on a high

By William E Ford

Nikolaj Znaider plays Tchaikovsky with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford, 02 June 2018

Cristian Măcelaru joins forces with Nikolaj Znaider in a performance of Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

***11

Nikolaj Znaider plays Tchaikovsky with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford

Refined classicism from Rizzi and the ASO

By William E Ford, 26 April 2018

Carlo Rizzi and Elizabeth Koch Tiscione perform exquisitely in Mozart’s Oboe Concerto with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

*****

Refined classicism from Rizzi and the ASO

By William E Ford

A fine performance of Bernstein's Serenade in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 05 April 2018

Violinist Robert McDuffie performs a polished Bernstein Serenade (after Plato's "Symposium") in Atlanta

***11

A fine performance of Bernstein's Serenade in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Abduraimov plays a stunning Prokofiev 3 in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 08 March 2018

Stephen Mulligan again steps in to lead the Atlanta Symphony in exemplary performances.

****1

Abduraimov plays a stunning Prokofiev 3 in Atlanta

By William E Ford

De Waart and Hadelich are first-rate with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

By William E Ford, 01 March 2018

Maestro Edo de Waart and violinist Augustin Hadelich team up to provide a spectacular performance of Shostakovich.

*****

De Waart and Hadelich are first-rate with ASO

By William E Ford

Abbado and Osorio create a masterful Beethoven

By William E Ford, 10 February 2018

Resident soloist Jorge Federico Osorio continues his Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle with Guest Conductor Roberto Abbado and the Atlanta Symphony.

***11

Abbado and Osorio create a masterful Beethoven

By William E Ford

Mulligan leads a stellar Beethoven “Emperor" Concerto

By William E Ford, 28 January 2018

Stephan Mulligan steps up to lead tight and virtuosic performances of music by Kurth, Bernstein and Beethoven.

*****

A stellar Beethoven “Emperor" Concerto

By William E Ford

Oundjian and Coucheron play Saint-Saëns

By William E Ford, 11 January 2018

Guest Conductor Peter Oudjian teams with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and concertmaster David Coucheron to perform Saint-Saëns’s Third Violin Concerto.

****1

Oundjian and Coucheron play Saint-Saëns

By William E Ford

Jun Märkl and the Atlanta Symphony conjure a powerful El amor brujo

By William E Ford, 02 November 2017

The Atlanta Symphony and guest conductor Jun Märkl spin a spell with Falla's El amor brujo, with soprano Catalina Cuervo.

***11

A powerful El amor brujo in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Morlot and Chen team up for thrilling Prokofiev in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 19 October 2017

Ludovic Morlot makes a grand return to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in a program of 20th-century works, highlighted by a masterful performance of Prokofiev's Second Violin Concerto, with soloist Ray Chen.

*****

Morlot and Chen team up for thrilling Prokofiev in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Spano conducts a concert version of Verdi's Otello in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 07 October 2017

With Verdi's Otello, Music Director Robert Spano continues a recent Atlanta Symphony Orchestra tradition of presenting grand operatic works in a concert hall version

***11

Spano Conducts a Concert Version Otello in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Runnicles and Smith master an all-French program in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 25 May 2017

The Atlanta Symphony, under Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles, was joined by one of its own, flute soloist Christina Smith, in fine performances of late 19th-century are mid-20th-century French music.

****1

Runnicles and Smith master an all-French program

By William E Ford

Spano and the Atlanta Symphony focus on Rachmaninov

By William E Ford, 07 April 2017

Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra play an all-Rachmaninov concert, with pianist Stephen Hough performing in the First Piano Concerto.

**111

A Rachmaninov focus in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Spano and Theofanidis create a powerful partnership in Creation/Creator

By William E Ford, 23 March 2017

Robert Spano leads a masterfully staged performance of Theofanidis' grand oratorio Creation/Creator.

*****

Spano and Theofanidis create a powerful partnership

By William E Ford

Beautifully played Vaughan Williams crowns program in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 23 February 2017

Conductor Michael Francis and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor have an auspicious debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Vaughan Williams 5 crowns program in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Robert Spano leads a resplendent Mahler 1 in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 09 February 2017

A powerful performance of a Beethoven piano concerto and a Mahler symphony highlight Robert Spano's return to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

*****

A resplendent Mahler 1 in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Runnicles and Gerstein deliver searing Tchaikovsky in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 12 January 2017

Donald Runnicles has been principal guest conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for about a decade. He has developed a reputation as someone who how can shake things up, in a good way, each time he visits.

Runnicles and Gerstein deliver searing Tchaikovsky in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Oundjian leads polished Bartók in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 05 January 2017

Guest Conductor Peter Oundjian led outstanding interpretations of three familiar pieces by Rimsky-Korsakov, Haydn and Bartók.

****1

Oundjian leads polished Bartók in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Vivaldi with abandon: Atlanta Symphony hosts Avi Avital

By William E Ford, 01 December 2016

Guest Laura Jackson leads the Atlanta Symphony in three light pieces and a masterwork, with soloist Avi Avital.

***11

Vivaldi with abandon: Atlanta Symphony hosts Avi Avital

By William E Ford

From Prometheus to Firebird, Spano and the Atlanta SO strike sparks

By William E Ford, 10 November 2016

After Knussen's Flourish with Fireworks, a program of mighty works from the early 20th century find Spano and the ASO on superb form.

*****

Spano and the Atlanta SO strike sparks

By William E Ford

Drenched by the sea in Atlanta: Elgar and Vaughan Williams from Spano and the ASO

By William E Ford, 03 November 2016

The summer’s extreme heat and lack of rain have created drought conditions in Atlanta. As fate would have it, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra this week programmed two works drenched with water, albeit of the salty variety.

****1

Drenched by the sea in Atlanta

By William E Ford

Joseph Young leads the Atlanta Symphony in Dvořák

By William E Ford, 20 October 2016

Assistant Conductor Joseph Young led a flat performance of the beloved Dvořák New World Symphony and violin soloist Joseph Swensen played an eccentric version of the Barber Violin Concerto.

**111

Joseph Young leads the Atlanta Symphony in Dvořák

By William E Ford

Polite Mozart, powerful Shostakovich in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 06 October 2016

Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra provide polite Mozart, with soloist Pedja Muzijevic, and a powerful Shoshtakovich Fifth.

***11

Polite Mozart, powerful Shostakovich in Atlanta

By William E Ford