by David Evan Thomas | Sep 29, 2019 | Composers, Musicians, My Blog, Performers, Poets, Singers |
Listening to Anna Tivel Idon’t remember how I discovered the songs of the Portland-based folk-singer Anna Tivel. It was probably through Folk Alley, an internet radio station that keeps me company while I’m doing computer work. I admired the clear harmony and...
by David Evan Thomas | May 6, 2018 | Composers, Concerts, My Blog, Performers |
In two recent and marvelous Schubert Club International Artist Series recitals with harpsichordist Richard Egarr, cellist Steven Isserlis played Bach’s 5th Cello Suite, BWV 1011. That work includes a singular sarabande, shown here in in Anna Magdalena Bach’s...
by David Evan Thomas | Dec 5, 2016 | Concerts, movies, My Blog, Performers |
When Augustin Hadelich and Joyce Yang played Manuel Ponce’s “Estrellita” as an encore at a Schubert Club International Artist Series recital in Saint Paul last week, I remembered that the song had also graced Renée Fleming’s IAS recital in October. In that program...
by David Evan Thomas | Apr 17, 2016 | Concerts, Musicians, Performers, Public figures, Singers |
This coming Wednesday, April 20, 2016, The Schubert Club will welcome the Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel back to Saint Paul. There is no better ambassador for Welsh song—for song, period—than Terfel. That’s “Terrrvel.” (For pronunciation help from actual humans, I go...
by David Evan Thomas | Jan 15, 2016 | My Blog, Performers |
We lost Alan Rickman yesterday. The younger generation knows him as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter films, but he was a subtle and versatile actor, equally adept at playing characters or leads. His deep voice, warm with affection or dripping with malice, was perhaps...
by David Evan Thomas | Dec 31, 2015 | Musicians, My Blog, Performers |
I’m remembering Thelma Hunter today, listening to her CD, Reflections: The Music of my Life. She’s slithering through the sometimes twisted dream-figurations of Chopin’s hypnotic Berceuse, motoring in high gear to Busoni’s transcription of Bach’s Rejoice, Beloved...