Reviews of Local Concerts and Productions

William Adams, DMA Robert Louis Stevenson first brought us the “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde” in 1886. One of the foremost examples of gothic horror, it was initially published as a “penny dreadful.” Richard Mansfield and Thomas Russell Sullivan transformed...

William Adams, DMA What’s that age-old knock against opera? Opera singers can’t act, right? Maybe there was a time when that was marginally true. There have been periods in opera where singers came forward, stood in one place, and simply delivered their aria. Duets,...

William Adams, DMA How do you properly honor the accomplishments and achievements garnered over a thirty year span without seeming self-aggrandizing? Here’s a good option: pull musical selections from concerts over that entire history of the ensemble that not only...

William Adams, DMA It is rare to find large choruses that excel in multiple genres. More often than not, larger choruses focus on oratorios, cantatas, pieces conceived for the scope and power of larger choirs. They usually do not try to sing pieces that were intended...

William Adams, DMA It is a very powerful thing, making music. Both the musician and the listener are transported, taken on a journey that can be whimsical or intensely emotional. Music invites us to explore deeper states of mind, deeper levels of consciousness, deeper...

William Adams, DMA Opera isn’t relatable. Opera is not for the masses. Opera is a dying art form. Et cetera, et cetera. To paraphrase Mr. Twain, it would appear the reports of Opera’s demise may have been exaggerated. Opera companies like the Metropolitan Opera are...

William Adams, DMA We go to concerts to experience music in the moment. The unpredictability of a live performance is always exciting for both the performers and the audience. If we need to hear “perfection” in music, we listen to recordings that have been edited and...

William Adams, DMA The North Carolina State University Choirs under the direction of Dr. Nathan Leaf presented a diverse, somewhat eclectic program with texts ranging from Shakespeare to Native American poetry and music ranging from traditional Appalachian folk music...

William Adams, DMA The operas of Giuseppe Verdi are among the most demanding, vocally, of any in the repertoire. They require strong yet agile voices capable of sustaining demanding tessiture through some of the most dramatic and intense characters seen on the opera...

William Adams, DMAArt celebrates the human experience. Sometimes this means the solemnity of a requiem, sometimes this means the intricacies of human relationships, and sometimes it really is just about having a little fun. The Voices Summer Chorus presented “Not Just...