Page 16 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - February '22

Page 16, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Rex Recommends

By Rex Hearn memory did us all a favor by appointing Maestro Schwarz rushing to get to the end. It is fiendishly difficult to play.
February and the arts as music director before he died. In the sometime snobbish Very little emotional feeling came across from the pianist
are in full swing. The fast world of conducting, five-syllable names appear to get the job. for a piece deliberately written bearing the stamp of high
spreading Omicron bug is Boston’s Kousevitsky; Philadelphia’s Stokowski for instance; romanticism in its sunset years. The great Shostakovich
trying to put a damper on though Stokowski was originally Leopold Stokes, an organist Symphony No. 5 brought the concert to a close. Written in
the proceedings but with from London! What I’m trying to say is that Maestro Schwarz a grand conciliatory sober mood to please Marshall Stalin,
protocols in place, artistic might easily have led one of our great five orchestras with a who, two years earlier had walked out of Shostakovich’s
directors are determined to name change. Instead he has created his own great orchestra, opera Lady Macbeth of Minsk describing it as muddle
win – by filling seats! Palm and we are fortunate to be in at the beginning. instead of music. Marked Opus 47 of 1937 the 5th
Beach Opera celebrates Yefim Bronfman played the Rachmaninoff Piano Symphony celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Russian
60 years in 2022 and the Concerto No. 3 after the dazzling Kikimora piece full Revolution. Stalin was pleased. Honors were poured on
90-piece Palm Beach of orchestral brilliance and mayhem which opened the Shostakovich, but his greatest international recognition
Symphony ranks among program. Written in 1908, pianist-composer-conductor came with the war symphonies, Numbers 7, 8 and 9,
America’s great orchestras now. The Kravis Center offers a Rachmaninoff scored it for his lucrative American debut demonstrating his capacity for tragedy and ironic humor.
cornucopia of wonderful entertainment. where in 1909 he played it twice in New York City: on Palm Beach Symphony gave the 5th Symphony a
Palm Beach Opera Nov. 28 with the New York Symphony and later with stirring and brilliant reading led by Maestro Schwarz.
From Feb. 25 to 27 the opera’s third offering in their 60th the New York Philharmonic under Gustav Mahler. Their next concert will be on Monday, March 7 at 7:30
year is Donizetti’s harmless, amusing and sweet work, The Bronfman’s brilliant technique is unquestionable, and was p.m. featuring Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and
Elixir of Love. Guatemalan tenor Mario Chang who sounds well received but from my point of view he seemed to be Mahler’s Symphony No. 4.
like a young Domingo sings the famous Una Fortuna lagrima
aria in Act ll. Adriana Cuchman is his love interest, Adina;
from Canada she is a rising star having sung soprano roles
at The Met.
Minnesotan Alexandra Razskazoff is Gianetta, her friend,
the “richly faceted silky sounding soprano” (New York
Times). Russian baritone Alexey Lavrov sings Sergeant
Belcore. And bass-baritone Musa Ngqungwana, “a rich
glowing singer with an elegant legato” (New York Times)
from South Africa sings Dr. Dulcamara, who sells the elixir,
otherwise known as burgundy wine! David Stern conducts;
Greg Ritchey is the chorus master and Fenlon Lamb directs.
For tickets telephone the box office: (561) 833-7888 or book
online: pbopera.org.
Palm Beach Symphony
Monday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Dreyfoos Hall at
the Kravis Center sees their fourth concert of the season.
With Portuguese piano soloist, Maria Joao Pires playing
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Mahler’s Symphony
No. 4 conducted by Maestro Gerard Schwarz. Box Office:
(561) 281-0145.
The Kravis Center
The Lloyd-Webber musical Cats goes up from Feb. 8 to
13; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m.; Wednesday and
Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. In the
Young Artists Classical series, Anthony Trionfo, flute, gives
a recital on Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. Pianist, Albert
Cano Smit, accompanies. Next! Philadanco, the innovative
modern dance troupe from Philadelphia hit the boards from
Feb. 11 to 13, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in
the Rinker Playhouse representing the human spirit through
dance. The delightful soprano Audra McDonald appears on
Monday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Take your valentine – it’s bound
to be good. Miami City Ballet presents Swan Lake on Feb.
19 and 20 – music by Tchaikovsky, choreography by Alexei
Ratmansky; both days Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 7:30
p.m. On Feb. 25 and 26 in Persson Hall, celebrate the wit and
wisdom of the Great American Song Book. Showtimes are
Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.: A special surprise
will be presented here!
On Monday, Feb. 28 in the Regional Arts Classical
Concert Series at 8 p.m. the great concert violinist, and all Home Away Home Away
American, Joshua Bell conducts and plays with London’s Legend: Games Games Legend: Games Games
Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields. Then again on Tuesday,
March 1 at 2 p.m. the same team presents a second different
concert. Do not miss them. March 2, a Wednesday, the Kravis Spring Training is right
Center Pops Orchestra appears with that darling of the social
set, Mr. Michael Feinstein, who conducts and sings. Also, the
other excellent, upcoming local dance troupe, Ballet Palm around the corner!
Beach, present Giselle from March 4 to 6. Contact the box
office at (561) 832-7469.
Rex’s Review Get your tickets before it’s too late!

Brilliance All Around At Palm Beach Mark Your Calenders!
Symphony
February 28th - Senior Day
Kravis Center Concert, Jan. 10 Marlins at Cardinals
Review by Rex Hearn Fans ages 55+ may purchase
This orchestra gets better and better. Ninety players $20 reserved box seats!
with astonishing pedigrees reminded us how great they can
sound. In music by three Russians: Liadov, Rachmaninoff
and Shostakovich they shone like a bright new penny, each
section brilliant when their solo time came. Due to the COVID
pandemic I watched them reluctantly “live streamed” in my March 2nd - Throwback Day
home, dreading the “sardine tin” sound effects experienced Cardinals at Marlins
before in such situations. Happily it was not the case. The Help us celebrate our Grand
sound was delightful. Balance favored the lower registers, Opening in 1998 with special
perhaps. A real bonus was watching the conductor, Gerard $19.98 tickets to the game!
Schwarz, from his front. Cameras fixed on him and orchestra
members. What we saw and heard was magnificent. Schwarz For More information:
belongs with the immortals; his baton technique is impeccable, (561) 775-1818 Rogerdeanchevroletstadium.com
crisp, deliberate and masterful. Dale McNulty, of happy