Word: virtuoso
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Despite Hindemith's avowed intention always to keep in mind the limitations of the human voice when composing, Das Marienlaben requires a virtuoso soprano with an acute sense of rhythm, unerring breath control, and a versatile, disciplined voice. Phyllis Curtin possessed all these, as well as what appeared to be a profound knowledge of the work's structure. Her intimate style is well suited to the darkly lyrical numbers, and in expressing the stark misery of a song like the Pieta, she sounded desolate, cerie, and thoroughly convincing...
...closing work, a stupendous Fantasia on the Old 104th Psalm Tune for piano, chorus, and orchestra, should quiet once and for all those critics who call Vaughan's Williams' music austere. This is virtuoso piece with colorful orchestral effects and dramatic abandon for all concerned. The performers, supposedly the largest assemblage of musicians in Sanders Theatre's history, sounded truly jubilant. The final "Prayse ye the Lorde's name," sung fortissimo with cymbals and brass blaring in the orchestra, drew cheers even before the theatre had stopped reverberating. Richard Sogg '52, deserves special credit for his energetic playing...
Concertgoers the world over have heard the Kurtz brothers-but rarely together. Conductor Efrem, 51, has always shied away from family favoritism in picking his soloists. Cellist Edmund, 43, a front-rank virtuoso, has always agreed, but he adds, "Brothers can come together occasionally to have a little musical outing." Up to last week, they had had only three such outings in 25 years: in Stuttgart, Berlin and Kansas City, Mo. Houston, where Efrem has led the symphony since 1948, was treated to the fourth...
...Rome in 1924. After nine years in Stuttgart, and another nine conducting the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo orchestra on international tours, Efrem settled down in the U.S., built up the Kansas City Philharmonic for five years before moving on to Houston. Edmund made his U.S. debut as a virtuoso in 1945. Meanwhile, their eldest brother, Arved, had become an educator; he now heads the New York College of Music...
...recaptures all the reckless will-power from her role in All About Eve and every malicious intent and tortured-expression from The Little Foxes days. Injected into a murder intrigue, these attributes would be formidable, except for one fact. Her movie personality, which has been geared to a virtuoso performance, does not quite reveal its unique psychological assets in a double lead, especially in this murder story...