The Scen3

Review by Toni Tresca On a crisp evening in Denver, as the city brushed away the remnants of recent snow, Dazzle Denver came alive with a vibe that was anything but cold, thanks to the fiery ensemble known as Miguel ‘ Espinoza Fusion.  The quartet, known for their virtuosic blending of musical traditions, performed as […]

Preview by Marc Shulgold Cynthia Katsarelis spoke with enthusiasm as she discussed her Pro Musica Colorado’s season-ending chamber orchestra concert. She gave particular emphasis to the concluding work – a rarely heard Symphony by a rarely heard French composer. Then, when a question about next season came up, she turned serious and delivered some unexpected […]

Preview by Betsy Schwarm Raisins and almonds:  not only tasty ingredients in certain holiday breads, but also a well-known Jewish lullaby.  It is, moreover, what the Colorado Hebrew Chorale (CHC) calls its mid-winter event of music, food, and celebration.  Culturally, there is a connection to the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shvat, a festival honoring a […]

A preview by Betsy Schwarm In this case, ‘Rare Byrd’ is not an unexpected avian visitor.  Rather, Seicento Baroque Ensemble – drawing its name from the 17th century – will be spotlighting less familiar works by English composer William Byrd (1543 – 1623).  Sacred verse anthems, madrigals and secular consort songs, the latter for voices […]

CD Review by Kelly Dean Hansen During Zachary Carrettin’s ten-year tenure as music director, the Boulder Bach Festival gradually moved away from a compressed series of concerts in a single festival week to a spread-out season model like those typical of symphony orchestras.  In May 2022, however, the organization made a brief return to the […]

Preview article by Betsy Schwarm Apply the word Passione to a musical program and thoughts may drift immediately to Romeo and Juliet.  Those legendary lovers are absent from Pro Musica Colorado’s season opening program Passione, though passion in other forms is quite present.  There is, of course, the ever-present passion for presenting top-flight performances of […]

Preview article by Betsy Schwarm          Spheres of Influence:  that might suggest influences we experience as individuals or groups, though also influences we exert as individuals or groups upon others.  In the case of the Colorado Chamber Players’ launch of its 30th anniversary season on September 8, 9 and 10, it is perhaps both.  When a […]

Preview by Betsy Schwarm For its season finale concert, set for Saturday, April 29, Pro Musica Colorado will offer a program linking to its mission to evoke “the full range of human expression.”   In this case, that ideal is summed up in three works from three centuries, with two big names, one current name, and, […]

Review​​​ ​​by Betsy Schwarm In the world of classical music, The Firebird is a familiar title, though perhaps more as an orchestral suite than as a choreographed work. Ballet Ariel’s spring production (two more performances remaining) gives audiences a chance to see it more as Stravinsky intended.   Moreover, being paired with Minkus’ Paquita (1881), Firebird (1910) is presented in a […]

Preview by Betsy Schwarm Spoken words, stage action, live music, an engaging story of an imaginative child and her personal superhero:  what more could one desire of a theatrical experience, especially one for the entire family? It’s playwright Josh Hartwell‘s new work, Music of Flight: The Falcon. Hartwell attests that the musical element came first.  […]