Filling in for an injured Joana Carneiro, Edwin Outwater’s arrival at the Berkeley Symphony didn’t just save the day, his vigorous and focused approach effected an outstanding set of performances.
A rapt listen to Dead Man Walking recorded from Houston Grand Opera’s 10th anniversary performances confirms that the opera’s brilliantly balanced score amplifies and personalizes the story’s emotional core beyond the realm of words.
Mardi Gras, Nubian arabesques, garden insects, enchantments: All great subjects for evocative works of orchestral wizardry at the S.F. Symphony, deftly conducted by Stéphane Denève and superbly performed.
The Cleveland Orchestra did Veni, Vidi, Vici one too far. Following Caesar's example, this splendid ensemble came, played, and won in Davies Symphony Hall on Sunday and Monday, but then they left, more is the pity.