Category: Uncategorized
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ArtsATL Preview: With “Crossing Over,” Skylark a cappella vocal group explores life’s deepest mystery
March 29, 2016 By STEPHANIE ADRIAN Five years ago music lover and businessman Matthew Guard founded the a cappella vocal ensemble Skylark on a wing and a prayer. His intention was to get back to the music that had so inspired him during his college days at Harvard as music director of its oldest a cappella…
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artsATL Review: Joshua Bell, the shining star of the violin, captivates a capacity Spivey Hall audience
February 3, 2016 By STEPHANIE ADRIAN In 2007, The Washington Post arranged an experiment at L’Enfant Plaza, a metro station in Washington D.C. Writer Gene Weingarten persuaded world famous violinist Joshua Bell to play his 1713 Stradivarius during the morning rush hour while Washington Post representatives were scattered about to observe passersby on their morning commutes. (A hidden camera documented those 43 minutes…
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artsATL Preview: Kennesaw’s Robert Henry featured in Spivey Hall concert that celebrates Suzuki
January 14, 2016 By STEPHANIE ADRIAN Is musical talent inherent or can it be developed? Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) believed the latter. Suzuki’s philosophy was rooted in the principle that the development of any child — Japanese, British or aboriginal — depends upon his cultural environment. Using the example of language acquisition, Suzuki pointed out…
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In the January Issue of Opera News…
La Bohème ATLANTA Atlanta Opera 10/11/15 LA BOHÈME is an opera about little things. Neither the subject matter nor the characters have any involvement with kings, queens, or political intrigue. The bohemians—poet, painter, philosopher and musician—are concerned with their artistry and their daily bread. The leading lady sings about the embroidery of flowers and rose-colored bonnets.…
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The Sensibility of Children
FOLLY When my oldest child was born fifteen years ago I was in the middle of a doctoral program in music. I spent all of my time practicing opera arias and taking music history classes in which we debated whether the Classical Music Period began in 1723 or 1750, as if man’s existence hinged…
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In the December 2015 Issue of Opera News Online
Winterreise ATLANTA Atlanta Opera 9/12/15 ON SEPTEMBER 12, Atlanta Opera launched its 2015-16 season with a semi-staged production of Franz Schubert’s song cycle Winterreise, featuring baritone David Adam Moore, at Kennesaw State University’s Bailey Performance Center. It’s the first of several offerings within the opera’s new Discoveries Series, in which AO will present smaller-scale musical works at…
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artsATL Review: The Force is with them as the ASO treats a packed house to the music of John Williams
November 30, 2015 By STEPHANIE ADRIAN Movie music — the scoring or background music within a cinematic presentation — affects how the viewer feels about what’s happening onscreen. The music can be literal, synchronized with and reinforcing what is already happening in the scene. It can direct our emotions if the visual portrayal isn’t providing us…
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Published in October Issue of Opera News Online
Three Decembers ATLANTA Atlanta Opera 5/29/15 The Atlanta Opera concluded its 2014-15 season with the inauguration of its Discoveries series and Jake Heggie’s chamber opera Three Decembers at the intimate Alliance Theatre (seen May 29). Next season, in addition to three main stage productions at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, the Atlanta Opera will cater to audiences that…
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ArtsATL Review: Soprano Christine Brewer and organist Paul Jacobs kick off Spivey Hall’s 25th year
October 12, 2015 By STEPHANIE ADRIAN Anyone who has visited Spivey Hall — Clayton State University’s exquisite concert venue — has undoubtedly noticed the 50-foot-high and 37-foot-wide pipe organ, adorned with gold leaf casework that serves as the focal point of the space. It is the pièce de résistance of the theatre: a 79-rank, 3-manual, 4,413-pipe organ, designed…
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In the June Issue of Opera News Online: Adrian’s Review of Le Nozze di Figaro at the The Atlanta Opera
Le Nozze di Figaro ATLANTA Atlanta Opera 4/4/15 On April 4 the Atlanta Opera offered an exceedingly fast-paced rendition of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Stage director Tara Faircloth made her AO debut this night with distinction, creating an unstoppable momentum of manipulation and misunderstandings. Buffa characters Susannah…
Stephanie Adrian 