Donald E. Osborne,  Director
California Artists Management
564 Market Street, Suite 420, San Francisco, CA
  94104-5412
415 362-2787 / fax: 415 362-2838 / Skype: calartistsdon  /
Email
Susan Endrizzi Morris,  Director
California Artists Management
P.O. Box  2479, Mendocino, CA
  95460-2479
707-937-4787 / cell: 415-302-1083 / Skype: sueendrizzi /
Email
 
Chamber Ensembles Conductors Instrumentalists Singers Theater Vocal Ensembles Attractions/World Music Downloads News



July 2009

 

- RINDE ECKERT joined Steven Mackey and Eighth Blackbird for the premiere of "Slide" at the Ojai festival:
"The actor/singer Rinde Eckert has to be one of the most exciting figures in music today. His acting is great, his singing is extraordinary, and he commands the stage, expressing an encyclopedic range of feelings and ideas. Eckert left a strong impression." Santa Barbara Independent - June 18

"The blackbirds brought to Ojai several of their like-minded, and in some astonishing instances, similarly multitasking, multitalented friends.  Resident at Ojai this year were three barrier-breaking artists interesting enough to be subjects of their own festivals. The third resident genius was the curious singer, actor Rinde Eckert. 'Slide' epitomized the kind of new musical world that eighth blackbird is ushering us into. The show, directed by Eckert, is an elaboration of a series of elliptical songs.  Mackey wailed away on his guitar and served as effective narrator.  Eckert enacted a sad-sack who could boogie.  The blackbirds brought their irresistible elan." Los Angeles Times - June 16

- Pianist CHRISTOPHER O'RILEY was soloist and conductor with the Columbus Symphony in May:
Headline: "Pianist and conductor O'Riley injects life, joy" "Last night's Columbus Symphony concert did the orchestra proud. The concert was an energetic romp through some of the most brilliantly orchestrated music in the repertory. O'Riley's liquid piano tones came through as effortlessly beautiful. Ravel's Piano Concerto in G left O'Riley little opportunity to use his arms to lead the orchestra. He and the band turned this dense virtuoso work into chamber music of crystalline clarity. Brahms' First Symphony was the sole work of the concert's second half.  With his lighter touch, O'Riley achieved an idyllic buoyancy in the third movement without losing substance. He led the orchestra through stellar solos in the horns, in a beautifully burnished brass chorale and in Brahms' take on the 'Ode to Joy.' It was a fitting finale for a musician whose joy in playing, conducting and talking about music is infectious." Columbus Dispatch - May 9

- The SHANGHAI QUARTET received an excellent review at the Westport Arts Center (CT):
"Beautiful music flowed from the strings of the world renowned Shanghai Quartet tonight. The distinguished musicians performed string quartets by Hayden, Debussy and Penderecki." WestportNo.com - June 6

Just back from two weeks in Taos, NM, the Shanghai Quartet appears this month at the Maverick, Bowdoin and Mt. Desert Festivals, ending up at the Festival Pablo Casals in Prades, France where they give 8 concerts, including the festival's closer: playing the Mendelssohn Octet with Gil Shaham. Gérard Poulet, Paul Coletti and Arto Noras. Plans for the 2010-11 season include 3 quintet commissions: Marc Neikrug, composing a piano quintet with Yuja Wang; Lei Liang, a quintet for pipa with Wu Man; and Stewart Wallace, a work for string quartet with Chinese percussion, based on "The Bonesetter's Daughter" with Li Zhonghua, principal percussionist of the China National Peking Opera.

- RECONSTRUCTION was a hit opening the Indianapolis Early Music Festival:
"On Friday we had Reconstruction, with their noteworthy program 'Bedlam, Back and Beyond' referring to love in its various elements. These attractive young women displayed an astonishing fecundity in pieces from the late Renaissance/early Baroque period. Soprano Elizabeth Ronan-Silva, being pregnant, showed no compromise in delivering the best solo of the evening. Her vocal acrobatics were nothing short of astonishing, her sustained vocal modulation perfect for a song of this period. The three sopranos sang together with perfect pitch and well-matched modulation. They produced all the apropos moods in perfect, beautiful harmony. They produced all the apropos moods in perfect, beautiful harmony, " NUVO - July 1

"Purcell's 'Bess of Bedlam' was the keystone of a magnificent arch of love songs, more picturesque, beguiling and elaborate than most modern examples. Then again, how appropriate an a cappella rendition of Willie Nelson's 'Crazy' by the group's three sopranos proved to be right after. The instrumental selections shouldn't be overlooked: harpsichordist Holly Chatham's subtly inflected Frescobaldi toccata, cellist Joanna Blendulf's crisply articulated yet flowing ricercar by Antonii, plus the full quintet's bravura reading of two Spanish dances. Vocalized love-as-sickness ruled the selections, framed by Caccini's 'Chi desia.' As vividly as the words carried the theme forward, the singing put the point across best. Ronan-Silva's 'Gelosia,' by Luigi Rossi, etched every phrase expertly.  The women's voices blended flawlessly in the duets and trios, including a poignant contemporary setting by Karen Hansen." Indianapolis Star - June 27

- MARTIN HASELBOECK conducted a gala concert at the Halle Handel Festival with Jennifer Larmore:
"There was every reason for the champagne corks to fly at the conclusion of Sunday evening's concert in the sold-out Galgenbergschlucht. As Martin Haselböck stepped up to the podium, the rain stopped as if on command. And the night sky faded to the past as we listened enthralled. A gentle, excellent concert, it was worthy of the vociferous apotheosis. The Staatskapelle played as splendidly as possible, like chamber music played by musicians with solid, heartwarming esprit." Mitteldeutsche Zeitung - June 15

Haselbøck also received wonderful reviews conducting at the International Organ Week, Nuremberg:
"The 'Stabat Mater' bloomed under Haselböck and his instrumentalists in its seemingly organic proportions and lively detail. The drama and unpredictable pain were transformed perfectly balanced art. Much applause.  - Nürnberger Zeuitung - June 22

A busy July began with Martin Hasleböck conducting 5 sold-out performances of "The Infernal Comedy" in Vienna with John Malkovich portraying the notorious serial killer, Jack Unterweger (reviews to follow next month).

The following reviews will be posted to our homepage:
- Soprano ELLEN HARGIS at the Boston Early Music Festival:
"One of early music’s greatest singers and BEMF veteran, Ellen Hargis." Berkshire Review - June 6

- Baritone CHRISTOPHEREN NOMURA in Haydn's "Creation," Oregon Bach Festival:
"The performance offered many excellent moments, including elaborate arias for baritone Christopheren Nomura."  Oregonian - June 27

- Mezzo-soprano JULIANA GONDEK in Purcell's "The Fairy Queen" at the Astoria Music Festival:
"Titania's lament, 'O let me weep,' stopped the show when Gondek brought forth a voice of mahogany tone and aching musical depth in her halting phrases." Oregonian - June 28

- Tenor Steve Davislim as Max in Der Freischutz in Baden Baden:
"Steve Davislim sang Max with unfailingly smooth tone." New York Times - June 10

- Baritone FRANCOIS LEROUX in the role of Koletany in "The Makropoulos Case," Netherlands Opera: "The superb French baritone François Le Roux brings his crisp and beautiful timbre to the role of Koletany." Concertonet.com  - May 18

- The Paratore Piano Duo at the Mozart Festival, Würzburg: "A great evening, thanks to Anthony and Joseph Paratore." Main Post - June 14
Best regards,
Don Osborne
California Artists Management
tel: 415-362-2787 / fax: 415-362-2838 / Skype: calartistsdon
Susan Endrizzi
tel: 707-937-4787 / cell:415-302-1083
www.calartists.com
in association with Mariedi Anders
tel: 415-752-4404 / fax: 415-752-7451

We hope you find these messages of interest.  Should you prefer not to receive them, let us know and we'll be pleased to remove your name from our list.




--
Susan Endrizzi Morris, Director
California Artists Management
707-937-4787 / 415-302-1083 - cell / Skype: sueendrizzi
sue.endrizzi@gmail.com / www.CalArtists.com