Messiaen and Bach at Carnegie Hall

By Stephen Raskauskas, 05 January 2012

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Reviewed at Carnegie Hall: Stern Auditorium, New York City on 15 December 2011

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto no. 3 in G major, BWV1048

Messiaen, Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine, for orchestra

Bach, Magnificat in D major, BWV243

Orchestra of St Luke's

Robert Spano, Conductor

Susanna Phillips, Soprano

Sasha Cooke, Mezzo-soprano

Nicholas Phan, Tenor

Joshua Hopkins, Baritone

Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus

Norman Mackenzie, Director

Kinan Azmeh offers a sampling of delights with St Luke’s

No’a L. bat Miri, 15th April

As part of St Luke’s ‘Visionary Sounds’ series, Kinan Azmeh joined the chamber ensemble to play a variety of his own compositions.

****1

Minimalism with a beating heart: Julius Eastman's Femenine

Kurt Gottschalk, 4th February

The spirit of the St Luke's Chamber Ensemble makes for a successful performance of Julius Eastman's 1974 composition Femenine.

****1

Pichon crafts inventive Beethoven program with Orchestra of St Luke's

Cameron Kelsall, 6th November

The French conductor pairs Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with several of the composer’s more obscure miniatures, performed alongside thematically related poetry.

*****

A resplendent St John Passion at Carnegie Hall

Susan Stempleski, 10th April

Principal Conductor Bernard Labadie leads the Orchestra of St Luke’s in a superbly sung and played performance of Bach’s fiery and dramatic St John Passion.

****1

Promethean Fire and an homage to Carolyn Adams ignite Paul Taylor

Carla Escoda, 6th November

A chilling masterpiece, a tribute to a beloved dancer, and the announcement of a new resident choreographer galvanized the Paul Taylor Dance gala audience at New York's Lincoln Center.

****1

Three premieres – heard twice – in New York

Kurt Gottschalk, 25th July

It can be a pleasure to hear an unfamiliar piece twice in the same program. Here, we heard three premieres fresh and then repeated after composer comments.

***11

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Stephen Raskauskas

Stephen Raskauskas is passionate about the performing arts. As a performer, he has collaborated on productions acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and Huffington Post. He has received numerous fellowships and awards, and holds degrees in music from the University of Chicago and Princeton University.