United States Bellini, I Capuleti e i Montecchi (The Capulets and the Montagues): Soloists, chorus and orchestra of San Francisco Opera, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. 3.10.2012 (HS)
Harvey Steiman
Aspen XIII: Harbison’s “Gatsby,” Superb Thibaudet, Brilliant Copland
United States Aspen Music Festival (XIII): Harbison’s The Great Gatsby in reduced orchestration; Thibaudet entrances with superb Debussy; Pro Arte settles down with Schubert; and a brilliant Copland Sextet 13-16.2012 (HS)
Aspen XII: Visits to France, Germany and…the USA
United States Aspen Music Festival (XII): Thibaudet plays Saint-Saëns; Gil Shaham find the soul in Britten’s concerto; Ray Chen gets loud with Bach, Beethoven and Franck; Spano leads uplifting Messiaen. 12.8.2012 (HS)
Aspen XI: Potent Dvořák Cello Concerto, Spano as Quarterback
United States Aspen Music Festival (XI): Denk dashes off Schoenberg concerto, Isbin shows pluck, Weilersteins wow in Dvorak and Shostakovich. 6.8.2012 (HS)
Aspen X: Percussion Detonates a Memorable Week
United States Aspen Music Festival X: American String Quartet wows with Beethoven Op. 130; a Weilerstein family recital emphasizes the “chamber” in chamber music; McDuffie and Spano make Brahms sing; and the Percussion Ensemble rattles the walls of Harris Hall. 3.8.2012 (HS)
Aspen IX: Bronfman in Brahms, Dazzling Jackiw and Yang
United States Aspen Music Festival IX: Bronfman finds the soul in Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2; Jackiw and Yang dazzle with Mozart, Strauss, Bartók and Fulmer; and Yang gets crisp with Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2. 30.7.2012 (HS)
Aspen VIII: Sondheim and Mahler Rule
United States Aspen Music Festival (8): Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, plus a stunning Rückert Lieder from Michelle DeYoung, a lively program from Gil Shaham and friends, and lapidary piano playing from Ann Schein. 27.7.2012 (HS)
Aspen VII: Riveting Schuman, Fascinating Ligeti
United States Aspen Music Festival (7): Wolff, McDuffie triumph with Schuman; Fliter delivers impassioned Beethoven; Kahane’s Beethoven more elegant. 23.7.2012 (HS)