chamber orchestra Reviews

May 6, 2008

Exploring Styles of Performing

By Noel Verzosa

The Berkeley Akademie Ensemble seems daunted when playing without a conductor, but blooms with one on the podium.

April 15, 2008

A Salute to Brahms

By Heuwell Tircuit

Lighting the candles for Brahms' 175th birthday, San Francisco Chamber Orchestra plays his Second Serenade.

March 11, 2008

Baroque to Borikén

By Michael Katz

Guitarist David Tanenbaum and seventh-grader Audrey Vardanega enliven San Francisco Chamber Orchestra’s "Variations" concert.

February 12, 2008

Reclothing the “Emperor”

By Michelle Dulak Thomson

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra rides to victory with Beethoven, Schubert, and a quintuple-time overture by Anton Reicha.

January 22, 2008

Classical Music Unwound

By Jessica Balik

New Century Chamber Orchestra moves backward in time with a hip, multisensory program devised to draw young audiences.

December 18, 2007

Innovation Isn’t Enough

By Alexander Kahn

The Berkeley Akademie's European concert model makes a debut, but falls short of its stated goals.

November 20, 2007

Close Examination

By Michelle Dulak Thomson

The New Century Chamber Orchestra's latest concert is a welcome and invigorating concentration on the Baroque.

November 6, 2007

Ardor of the Russian Soul

By Stephanie Friedman

Dmitri Hvorostovsky steals the show at a wide-ranging concert of Russian tunes.

October 9, 2007

The Uncommon Pleasures of Vivaldi

By Michelle Dulak Thomson

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra delves deep into the composer’s lesser-known concertos.

October 2, 2007

Band on the Run

By Michelle Dulak Thomson

New Century Chamber Orchestra tries out guest concertmaster Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg's brand of fearless intensity.

June 12, 2007

The Concertmaster Conundrum

By Beeri Moalem

NCCO's latest concertmaster candidate spotlights the leader's essential role.

April 17, 2007

A Vexing Update of Bach

By Michelle Dulak Thomson

St. Lawrence Quartet's Geoff Nuttall guest conducts the New Century Chamber Orchestra in a problematic period program.

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For reviews older than March 27, 2007, please refer to the Archives.