Page 8 - The Islander - February '22

Page 8, The Islander

theatre happeningS

Rex Recommends

By Rex Hearn

February and the arts Minnesotan Alexandra Razskazoff is Gianetta, her friend, dance troupe from Philadelphia hit the boards from Feb. 11 to
are in full swing. The fast the “richly faceted silky sounding soprano” (New York Times). 13, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in the Rinker
spreading Omicron bug is Russian baritone Alexey Lavrov sings Sergeant Belcore. And Playhouse representing the human spirit through dance. The
trying to put a damper on bass-baritone Musa Ngqungwana, “a rich glowing singer delightful soprano Audra McDonald appears on Monday, Feb.
the proceedings but with with an elegant legato” (New York Times) from South Africa 14 at 8 p.m. Take your valentine – it’s bound to be good. Miami
protocols in place, artistic sings Dr. Dulcamara, who sells the elixir, otherwise known City Ballet presents Swan Lake on Feb. 19 and 20 – music by
directors are determined to as burgundy wine! David Stern conducts; Greg Ritchey is the Tchaikovsky, choreography by Alexei Ratmansky; both days
win – by filling seats! Palm chorus master and Fenlon Lamb directs. For tickets telephone Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 7:30 p.m. On Feb. 25 and 26
Beach Opera celebrates 60 the box office: (561) 833-7888 or book online: pbopera.org. in Persson Hall, celebrate the wit and wisdom of the Great
years in 2022 and the 90-piece Palm Beach Symphony American Song Book. Showtimes are Friday at 8 p.m. and
Palm Beach Symphony ranks Monday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall at the Saturday at 8 p.m.: A special surprise will be presented here!
among America’s great Kravis Center sees their fourth concert of the season. With On Monday, Feb. 28 in the Regional Arts Classical Concert
orchestras now. The Kravis Portuguese piano soloist, Maria Joao Pires playing Beethoven’s Series at 8 p.m. the great concert violinist, and all American,
Center offers a cornucopia of wonderful entertainment. Piano Concerto No. 3 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 conducted Joshua Bell conducts and plays with London’s Academy of
Palm Beach Opera by Maestro Gerard Schwarz. Box Office: (561) 281-0145. St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Then again on Tuesday, March 1
From Feb. 25 to 27 the opera’s third offering in their 60th The Kravis Center at 2 p.m. the same team presents a second different concert.
year is Donizetti’s harmless, amusing and sweet work, The The Lloyd-Webber musical Cats goes up from Feb. 8 to Do not miss them. March 2, a Wednesday, the Kravis Center
Elixir of Love. Guatemalan tenor Mario Chang who sounds 13; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Wednesday and Pops Orchestra appears with that darling of the social set, Mr.
like a young Domingo sings the famous Una Fortuna lagrima Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. In the Michael Feinstein, who conducts and sings. Also, the other
aria in Act ll. Adriana Cuchman is his love interest, Adina; Young Artists Classical series, Anthony Trionfo, flute, gives a excellent, upcoming local dance troupe, Ballet Palm Beach,
from Canada she is a rising star having sung soprano roles at recital on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Pianist, Albert Cano present Giselle from March 4 to 6. Contact the box office at
The Met. Smit, accompanies. Next! Philadanco, the innovative modern (561) 832-7469.

Rex’s Review

Brilliance All Around At Palm Beach Symphony

Review by Rex Hearn
Kravis Center Concert, Jan. 10 the 5th Symphony celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Palm Beach Symphony gave the 5th Symphony a
This orchestra gets better and better. Ninety players Russian Revolution. Stalin was pleased. Honors were stirring and brilliant reading led by Maestro Schwarz.
with astonishing pedigrees reminded us how great they can poured on Shostakovich, but his greatest international Their next concert will be on Monday, March 7 at
sound. In music by three Russians: Liadov, Rachmaninoff recognition came with the war symphonies, Numbers 7, 7:30 p.m. featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3
and Shostakovich they shone like a bright new penny, 8 and 9, demonstrating his capacity for tragedy and ironic and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
each section brilliant when their solo time came. Due to humor.
the COVID pandemic I watched them reluctantly “live
streamed” in my home, dreading the “sardine tin” sound
effects experienced before in such situations. Happily
it was not the case. The sound was delightful. Balance
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favored the lower registers, perhaps. A real bonus was
watching the conductor, Gerard Schwarz, from his front.
Cameras fixed on him and orchestra members. What we Happy Holidays
saw and heard was magnificent. Schwarz belongs with
the immortals; his baton technique is impeccable, crisp,
deliberate and masterful. Dale McNulty, of happy memory
did us all a favor by appointing Maestro Schwarz as
music director before he died. In the sometime snobbish
world of conducting, five-syllable names appear to get
the job. Boston’s Kousevitsky; Philadelphia’s Stokowski WISHING ALL A JOYOUS & HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON
for instance; though Stokowski was originally Leopold MAY THE NEW YEAR BRING YOU “MANY BLESSINGS”
Stokes, an organist from London! What I’m trying to say
is that Maestro Schwarz might easily have led one of our
great five orchestras with a name change. Instead he has
created his own great orchestra, and we are fortunate to I want to thank all my clients and new friends for a
be in at the beginning. successful 2021 year. Together we can make the
Yefim Bronfman played the Rachmaninoff Piano
Concerto No. 3 after the dazzling Kikimora piece full New Year all that you want it to be, you can count on
of orchestral brilliance and mayhem which opened the my continued commitment to excellence & integrity.
program. Written in 1908, pianist-composer-conductor
Rachmaninoff scored it for his lucrative American debut
where in 1909 he played it twice in New York City:
on Nov. 28 with the New York Symphony and later
with the New York Philharmonic under Gustav Mahler. JUST SOLD

Bronfman’s brilliant technique is unquestionable, and
was well received but from my point of view he seemed IN SUGAR SANDS
to be rushing to get to the end. It is fiendishly difficult Building 1051 | Unit 357
to play. Very little emotional feeling came across from $567,500.00
the pianist for a piece deliberately written bearing the An exceptional waterfront community,
stamp of high romanticism in its sunset years. The great considered a hidden gem on Singer
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 brought the concert to a Island, just steps to the ocean.
close. Written in a grand conciliatory sober mood to please
Marshall Stalin, who, two years earlier had walked out of
Shostakovich’s opera Lady Macbeth of Minsk describing
it as muddle instead of music. Marked Opus 47 of 1937
Bill Conda REALTOR ®
New Moon Full Moon
February 1 February 16
207.450.5030
First Quarter Third Quarter bconda@ipre.com | www.billconda.ipre.com
February 8 February 23
1265 Plaza Circle | Singer Island, FL 33404