South Florida Classical Review

Editorial

Gavrylyuk brings polish, seasoned artistry to Miami Piano Festival

Editor Editorial 0

Alexander Gavrylyuk returned to the Miami International Piano Festival for the first time since 2007 in an impressive recital Sunday afternoon at the Aventura Arts and Culture Center. Now in the midst of a busy international career and artist residency at upstate New York’s Chautauqua Institution, Gavrylyuk emerged as a less impulsive, more seasoned and polished artist. Ferrucio Busoni’s transcription of Bach’s Toccata … +

Editorial

Second-cast principals deliver the goods in FGO’s “Masked Ball”

Editor Editorial, Music 0

Jonathan Burton and Alexandra LoBianco star in the second cast of FGO’s “A Masked Ball.” Photo: Lorne Grandison Florida Grand Opera’s second-cast performance of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera at the Arsht Center introduced two new singers in the leading roles at Sunday’s matinee. Both gave impressive performances and blended well with the ensemble cast of this excellent production. As King Gustavo … +

Editorial

FGO wraps season with first-class Verdi singing in “A Masked Ball”

Editor Editorial 0

Rafael Davila and Tamara Wilson star in FGO’s production of Verdi’s “Un ballo in maschera” (A Masked Ball). Photo: Brittany Mazzurco Opera lovers who have missed their Verdi in recent years at Florida Grand Opera can rejoice. The FGO production of Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball), which opened Saturday night at the Arsht Center, is a world-beater. First-rate singing, impassioned … +

Editorial

Orchestra Miami provides strong advocacy for Levy’s “Atonement”

Editor Editorial 0

Elaine Rinaldi conducted Orchestra Miami in Marvin David Levy’s “Atonement” Sunday at Temple Israel of Greater Miami. Orchestra Miami marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a performance of Marvin David Levy’s moving oratorio, Atonement. The concert took place Sunday afternoon at Miami’s historic Temple Israel as part of the ensemble’s “Discover Miami Through Music” series, which features concerts at landmark venues. The program opened, … +

Editorial

MLO’s “Butterfly” offers ardent singing alongside wooden theatrics

Editor Editorial 0

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of opera’s timeless perennials and for good reason. This tale of love, betrayal and clash of cultures wedded to Puccini’s passionate score never fails to  provide its audience with a moving experience. The enthusiastic response to Miami Lyric Opera’s production Saturday night at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center attested to this masterpiece’s continuing immediacy but … +

Editorial

From Bach to Kallembach, Seraphic Fire bridges the centuries in Easter program

Editor Editorial 0

Patrick Quigley conducted Seraphic Fire in an Easter program Friday night at The Sanctuary Church in Fort Lauderdale. Death and resurrection were the themes Friday, as the choir Seraphic Fire ushered in Easter weekend. Led by artistic director Patrick Dupré Quigley at The Sanctuary Church of Fort Lauderdale, the choir gave resonant, sensitive performances of music that spanned nearly 400 years, with … +