One would be hard put to find someone in the musical world of the greater Akron area who doesn’t know or hasn’t heard of organist and voice teacher James Mismas. Most of that is because Jim (as he likes to be called) is very much a part of the musical fabric of the area and is […]
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Arts“Golden Jubilee Celebration” for James Mismas at Five@Five concert seriesArticle ·
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ArtsChoral music (and a quartet) for a sacred time
The Spektral Quartet. The Western world grows more secular every day, but the rhythms of our concert season are still linked to large religious observances, with things generally wrapping up in early spring with the arrival of Passover and Easter. Two choral concerts this week are firmly in sacred Christian territory, and the Master Chorale […]
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ArtsGil Shaham: One of a kind
By Sebastian Spreng, Visual Artist and Classical Music Writer This season alone, he is scheduled to perform with 20 orchestras on three continents. He is expected in Paris and just played in Munich, but he calls from Berlin, elated after performing Alban Berg’s Violin Concerto with the Philharmonie, and exclaims, “I can’t wait to see the Miami […]
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ArtsIrresistible Menlomania
By Sebastian Spreng, Visual Artist and Classical Music Writer I have to admit that when David Finckel asked me to be Music@Menlo’s “2013 Visual Artist” I had little idea of what it was about or what I should do. Trusting the judgment of the celebrated cellist, who has just left his post in the legendary Emerson String […]
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ArtsTetzlaff + MTT + NWS = The Heavenly Life
By Sebastian Spreng, Visual Artist and Classical Music Writer Had Christian Tetzlaff’s second concert not measured up to his first, it would be tempting to call Tetzlaff’s April 26 recital at the New World Symphony the high point of the 2012-2013 season. But that would be unfair, because for the second straight year the American Orchestral Academy’s programming has […]
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ArtsMahler’s sublime, monumental Third
Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). The Cleveland Orchestra opens its annual Miami residency this Friday and Saturday with the Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler, which at 100 minutes long and six movements is his longest, most sprawling orchestral work. In doing so, the Cleveland makes Miami more of a Mahler city, joining Miami Beach’s annual presentations of […]
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ArtsNicholas McGegan on the authentic practice of being himself
By Sebastian Spreng, Visual Artist and Classical Music Writer To interview Nicholas McGegan is like taking an intensive seminar in serious enjoyment, because the British conductor embodies the joy of making good music. One of the deans of historically informed practice, his knowledge is encyclopedic and so amazingly assimilated it could well go unnoticed. A “total musician” […]
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ArtsDANCECleveland and The University of Akron present dance favorite Trey McIntyre Project
DANCECleveland, a Knight Arts grantee, and The University of Akron have got a good thing going for the dance world. For five years now, the two groups have collaborated to bring outstanding dance companies to the Akron area for performances and to hold special master classes for university students. This year brings a big dance […]
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ArtsAkron Civic Theater shifts from Broadway to blues
How do you segue from a classical Broadway play like “Cats“ to the sultry, smoothness of blues singer Bonnie Raitt? Actually it’s a whole lot easier than it sounds. The Raitt family did it readily enough. John Raitt lit up the footlights on Broadway as star in the original productions of “Oklahoma,” “Carousel” and “The […]
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CommunitiesTemporary digital outposts help Free Library of Philadelphia reach new patrons
At 85, Rev. Harry Hawkins is learning to use a computer for the first time. Everyday, he heads to Heavenly Halls Gospel Church, one of four community centers where the Free Library of Philadelphia has set up computer labs to expand digital literacy training and broadband availability. These “Hot Spots,” funded by Knight Foundation’s Library […]
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ArtsThis season, a bumper crop of pianists
This year promises to be an unusually fine one for those of us who love the art of the piano. Beginning with Chopin Competition winner Claire Huangci this Sunday at Festival Miami and ending next May with Lang Lang at the Arsht Center, an impressive parade of keyboard artists is making its way through South […]
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ArtsVideo Draws Tears – Over 1 Million Hits
Who loves Random Acts of Culture? You do! Knight Foundation’s national initiative to bring the classics out of the performance halls and onto the streets has caught your eye ‘ to the tune of over 1 million YouTube hits, most notably for the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s performance of Hallelujah (included below). Here’s a snippet […]
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ArtsVideo Draws Tears – and Over 3 Million Hits
Who loves Random Acts of Culture™? You do! Knight Foundation’s national initiative to bring the classics out of the performance halls and onto the streets has caught your eye – to the tune of over 500,000 page views on KnightArts.org and three million YouTube hits, most notably the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s performance of Hallelujah […]
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