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

Andris Nelsons and the BSO arrive in New York, with baggage in tow

Cameron Kelsall, 9th April

In his first New York appearance since the termination of his contract as BSO Music Director, Nelsons courts public sympathy and makes some thrilling music.

***11

Nelson Goerner shines with the CBSO and Rachmaninov's Rhapsody

Robert Gainer, 9th April

The CBSO present the work of three European émigré composers of the 1930s and 40s, who reimagined their musical influences with contrasting approaches and results.

****1

Karabits and Szeps-Znaider carouse with the LPO

Christopher Woodley, 8th April

The sparkle of Max Bruch's Fecond Violin Concerto and the drama of Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony overcome the gloom of Anna Thorvaldsdottir’s dark forebodings.

****1

Savall conducts Beethoven and Haydn at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 3rd April

Beethoven's Christus am Ölberge is paired with Haydn's Die sieben letzten Worte, a journey from agony to transcendence in which the agony proves the more honest companion.

***11

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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.