Lloyd Schwartz

Always A Rose: Elliott Carter Remembered

Lloyd Schwartz — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:38:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRTfbViCmM8

All About The Budapest String Quartet

Lloyd Schwartz — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:36:07 +0000

The Budapest String Quartet has always been my standard-bearer for chamber music. I grew up listening to their recordings, and especially admired not only their gorgeous sound, but also the uncanny interaction among all four players, even when there were changes in personnel. They had a way of playing as if they were speaking to each other, expressing deep and sometimes complicated feelings.

One of my most memorable concert experiences was the only time I ever heard the Budapest in person, when I was 20. The concert was sold out, but the management decided to sell seats on the stage.

Tanglewood Celebrates 75th With Free Web Stream

Lloyd Schwartz — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 16:56:00 +0000

On July 20, 1958, at Tanglewood — the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra — pianist Leon Fleisher played an electrifying Brahms First Piano Concerto with the orchestra under its former music director, Pierre Monteux. This remarkable teaming has not been heard since then.

But the BSO has come up with an inspired way to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Tanglewood.

'St. Matthew Passion:' A Monumental Bach Feast

Lloyd Schwartz — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:51:00 +0000

Facing Bach's St. Matthew Passion, I often feel a combination of anticipation and dread. It's a great work, profound in its humanity and spirituality, with sublimely beautiful music. But it's a long haul, and if it's not a good performance, well, I'm stuck. And it can be not-good in various ways: either too solemnly pious or too much an exercise in musical style rather than emotional drama. A new DVD recorded in 2010 at Berlin's great concert hall, the Philharmonie, would be of major interest under any circumstances.