Orchestral Exotica: Tucson Symphony
Tucson Symphony Orchestra last week offered a concert of mostly 19th-century music composed in France, but the standout piece with guest soloist Jing Xia (pictured) was from China. Xia, who…
FOR CHRISTMAS: The Messiah
Handel’s Messiah is now so closely associated with Christmas that the annual arrival of the holiday itself is naturally preceded by a performance of Handel’s most famous work. But it…
How to Ruin the Holidays, Graham Reynolds Style
I’ve written about Graham Reynolds, the virtuoso pianist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, arranger, and jokester. That last bit is new to me as I discovered his wit as a raconteur at…
WOMEN IN JAZZ
Pamela and Kevin Hart, an iconic couple empowering jazz vocalists by entertaining Austin audiences with the best female jazz musicians, have done it again. The holiday concert that took place…
‘Twas The Night Before: Christmas with the Austin Gay Men’s Chorus
The Aluminum Christmas Tree stole the show. For those (like me) who are too young to remember, Christmas trees made of aluminum were all the rage in America from 1960-65.…
SCOTTISH MONTH in AUSTIN
Whether by chance or design, November became Scottish month in Austin. First came the Celtic Festival on the first weekend of the month, and this weekend the Austin Symphony Orchestra…
Suzette Emberton – A Fascinating Look into Synesthesia – A Composer Who Attributes Colors to Musical Notes
By definition a synesthete experiences synesthesia, a condition in which usually separate senses are intertwined. For instance, a person with synesthesia might see colors when they hear music, associate specific…
A Serenade of Support: Swan Songs’ Sold-Out Event and Silent Auction to Benefit Musical Last Wishes
This year’s Swan Songs Serenade, in its 14th year, was a testament to the power of community. Held at the Four Seasons, a crowd of over two hundred and fifty…
Inversion Ensemble
As part of KMFA 89.5 Classical radio’s Offbeat series, Inversion Ensemble performed Fire, Water, and The Air We Breathe for two days at the Navasota Street studio. Inversion is a…
Javier Jara & Stephen Krishnan
Javier Jara Javier Jara is an Ecuadorian singer-songwriter who predominately sings in Spanish. He’s celebrated for his soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics. His music draws deeply from the folk traditions…