eighth blackbird in challenging and pleasing Cleveland concert

By Timothy Robson, 01 May 2014

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Reviewed at Cleveland State University, Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland on 29 April 2014

Dessner, Murder Ballades: Suite

Johnson, Counting Duets (arr. Kaplan & Munro)

Reed Parry, Duet for Heart and Breath

Dean, Sextet: Old Kings in Exile

Mackey, Suite: Slide

Ligeti, Etudes for piano (Selected arr. Kaplan & Munro)

eighth blackbird

Inspiring collaboration of music and art

Ako Imamura, 18th January

Instrumental ensemble eighth blackbird performed Hand Eye, a new work by a group of young composers Sleeping Giant, accompanied by stunning visual images.

****1

John Luther Adams breathes life into Mostly Mozart Festival

Rebecca Lentjes, 26th July

This outdoor piece wasn’t just about nature; it took place in nature. The rumbles of bass drums and timpani mingled with the delicate sounds of the wind rustling through the trees and stones being scraped together by musicians.

****1

Steve Reich at 90 celebrated in Liverpool

Pwyll ap Sion, 29th April

A compelling concert at Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium offers a striking Josephine Stephenson’s UK premiere, dazzling John Adams and Steve Reich’s mesmerising Reich/Richter.

*****

Saariaho’s Notes on Light receives its Berlin premiere

Elena Luporini, 29th April

Sakari Oramo and Annsi Karttunen bring Northern lights and folklore to the Philharmonie, closing on a touch of Czech optimism with Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony.

***11

Requiem to a troubled genius at the Southbank’s Multitudes

Chris Garlick, 29th April

As part of the Southbank Centre's Multitudes festival, Unnatural Harmony: Sounds of Lee Alexander McQueen offers a multimedia tribute to the life and creative vision of the iconic British fashion designer.

****1

Dazzling Prokofiev from Alim Beisembayev and the RLPO

Peter Connors, 26th April

In an all-Russian programme in Liverpool, Alim Beisembayev gives a breathtaking performance of Prokofiev's fiendishly difficult Second Piano Concerto.

****1

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Timothy Robson

We are saddened to learn of the death of Tim Robson, a long-time Bachtrack contributor (2012-21). Tim was an organist in Cleveland, Ohio and his repertoire extended to all musical periods, with a special interest in contemporary music. As a blogger he was a regular contributor to ClevelandClassical.com. In his parallel career as a librarian, Tim was Associate Director for Academic Engagement at the Kelvin Smith Library of Case Western Reserve University. Our condolences to his family.