Argento New Music Project returns to live performance

By Kurt Gottschalk, 17 August 2021

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“a staggering display of control over nuance and tone”

Reviewed at National Opera Center: Marc A Scorca Hall, New York City on 15 August 2021

Crawford Seeger, Andante for Strings

Bartók, Divertimento for Strings, Sz 113

Cleare, eyam i (it takes an ocean not to)

Haas, catch as catch can

Carol McGonnell, Clarinet

Michael Katz, Cello

Steven Beck, Piano

Argento Chamber Ensemble

A timely Mother of Us All at the Metropolitan Museum

Kurt Gottschalk, 11th February

The Mother of Us All isn’t an easy work and it’s far from one of Stein’s best pieces of writing. But in this centenary of women’s suffrage, it’s an important one.

***11

The Messiaen Connection: Salonen and members of the NY Phil

Jacob Slattery, 7th March

As part of the New York Philharmonic’s CONTACT new music series at National Sawdust in Brooklyn, Esa-Pekka Salonen drew connections among Olivier Messiaen, two of his students (Pierre Boulez and George Benjamin) and one outlier (Oliver Knussen).

****1

Bargemusic gives a strong showing for composers old and new

Joseph Pfender, 30th June

The “Masterworks Series” at Bargemusic, featuring such diverse composers as Bach, Stephen Foster, Tan Dun and Gunther Schuller, gave audiences a welcome break from the oppressive New York humidity Sunday afternoon.

****1

A Dancer's Dream: All the old showstoppers at the New York Philharmonic

Rebecca Lentjes, 28th June

Unusual scenes at the New York Philharmonic this past weekend: a ballerina flouncing across the stage; conductor Alan Gilbert lugging a life-size puppet down the aisle amid rows of laughing, bewildered audience members; black-and-white video projections of the orchestra musicians sipping tea.

****1

No illusions: Andris Nelsons and BSO return as clear as crystal

Mark Thomas, 11th February

As if they’d never been apart, Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra pick up where they left off a year ago, with a vibrant Eroica and two mesmerising contemporary pieces.

*****

Riveting Brahms from Mihhail Gerts and the NSO in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 2nd February

Gerts conducts a sublime Brahms 4 while Carol McGonnell gives a lively rendition of Stanford's Clarinet Concerto in A minor.

****1

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Kurt Gottschalk

Kurt Gottschalk is a journalist and author based in New York City. His writings on contemporary and classical music, jazz and improvisation have been published in outlets throughout Europe and America and he has two volumes of short fiction to his name. He produced and hosted the Miniature Minotaurs radio programme on WFMU and currently hosts Afternoon New Music on WKCR.

Argento New Music Project makes an impressive return to live performance in New York