Art in NYC: Hilma af Klint at the Guggenheim Museum

Art in NYC: Hilma af Klint at the Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum presents Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future; on view until April 23, 2019

Hilma af Klint, Group IV, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood, 1907
Hilma af Klint, Group IV, The Ten Largest, No. 7, Adulthood, 1907 from untitled series; tempera on paper mounted on canvas, 315 x 235 cm The Hilma af Klint Foundation, Stockholm / Photo: Albin Dahlström, the Moderna Museet, Stockholm

The Guggenheim Museum in New York City presents an extensive expose of works by Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. Stunning and mysterious, af Klint’s large and small paintings of abstract forms and shapes were created years before Abstract art took its place in the hearts and minds of artists and the public.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, af Klint started developing her own expressive language from 1906. Stripped bare from imagery, her works were way ahead of the established giants of Abstractionism like Kandinsky, Mondrian or Malevich. Yet af Klint’s art remained unknown to the public partly due to her belief that the world was not ready for her art and in accordance with her wish to show her works 20 years after her death.

Many of af Klint’s paintings were inspired by and served as a medium to express the spiritual beliefs which emerged from occult teachings and Theosophy. The cycle of the large bright-colored canvases at the entrance of the exhibition was conceived as The Paintings for the Temple. The lively palette of pastel colors with pink symbolizing femininity, yellow for masculinity, and gentle blue for the universal unity express the unseen world channeled through the art. Walk up the spiraling hall of the museum to absorb the art created a century ago in all its untouched novelty.

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Opera in NYC: Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Met Opera

Opera in NYC: Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Met Opera

The most Romantic Mozart masterpiece fills the Met Opera house with delightful music and incredible singing; performances run thru April 18, 2019

Luca Pisaroni as Don Giovanni and Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Donna Anna in Mozart's "Don Giovanni."
Luca Pisaroni as Don Giovanni and Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Donna Anna in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

Delicious music, dynamic staging, and incredible singing are all on view in the Metropolitan Opera production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni. Bringing much-needed theatricality and energy to the centuries-old genre of dark comedy, the vibrant arias of the sopranos that vie for and suffer from the frivolity and ferocity of the Don are contrasted with the lower register voices of the male cast, who are well-meaning but helpless. The built-up tensions can only be resolved by a divine intervention, stressing the intransigent nature of philanderers and seducers. And Mozart’s music rescues the improbable plot!

This year Don Giovanni cast features bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni and baritone Peter Mattei alternating in the title role, bass Ildar Abdrazakov and bass-baritone Adam Plachetka as Don’s servants, and an exciting line-up of sopranos Rachel Willis-Sorensen, Federica Lombardi, Aida Garifullina, Guanqun Yu, and Susanna Philips in the roles of Donna Anna, Donna Elvira, and Zerlina.

On the first 3 nights of the performances the tender and soaring lines by grieving Donna Anna (Rachel Willis-Sorensen) and the wordy and artistically rich roles of Leporello (Ildar Abdrazakov) and the Don (Luca Pisaroni) were rightfully rewarded by the audience. Thanks to the tactful casting the old tale looks fresh and engaging. But the strongest round of applause still belongs to Mozart for his unbeatable musical fete.

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Music in NYC: “Archduke Rudolph: Beethoven’s Pupil and Patron” Program Presented by Aspect Foundation

Music in NYC: “Archduke Rudolph: Beethoven’s Pupil and Patron” Program Presented by Aspect Foundation

A program of works by Beethoven dedicated to the composer’s student and patron Archduke Rudolf is presented by Aspect Foundation on Wednesday, April 17, 2019 at 7:30 pm at Bohemian National Hall 

Archduke Rudolf, Ludwig van Beethoven; Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Violinist Korbinian Altenberger, Cellist Na-Young Baek
Archduke Rudolph, Ludwig van Beethoven; Ignat Solzhenitsyn: photo by Yuri Klekovkin; Violinist Korbinian Altenberger, Cellist Na-Young Baek : images courtesy of the artists

The Aspect Foundation’s April event will be an aspiring night of Beethoven’s music and an illuminating lecture by Ignat Solzhenitsyn about the relationship between the composer with his talented student and patron Archduke Rudolph. Ignat Solzhenitsyn, an acclaimed Russian-American pianist, and conductor, is joined by violinist Korbinian Altenberger and cellist Na-Young Baek for an all Beethoven program of “Archduke” Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97 and the Violin Sonata No.10 in G major, Op.96.

The youngest son of Emperor Leopold II, Rudolph, destined by the canons of the early 19th century to lead the clergy, was appointed Archbishop of Olomouc and Cardinal in 1819. From 1803 Rudolph began taking piano and composition lessons from Beethoven. They became friends and continued their relationship until the end of their lives. Beethoven dedicated 14 of his compositions to his friend including the Archduke Piano Trio.

The superb program, top-notch musicians, and an engaging atmosphere created by the Aspect Foundation will surely make it a night to remember.

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Music in NYC: Il Divo Timeless Tour at Beacon Theater on April 6, 2019

Music in NYC: Il Divo Timeless Tour at Beacon Theater on April 6, 2019

Only one concert in New York City at The Beacon Theater on April 6, 2019 at 8.30 pm 

Il Divo live in Sydney, 2012
Il Divo live in Sydney, 2012; photo by Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0

Elegant and chic, a classical crossover vocal group Il Divo doesn’t need an elaborate introduction. Well-known and extremely popular, the group travels around the world performing at the major music halls  for the admiring fans. Its repertoire is loved by the public, the celebrities, the state dignitaries, and even the Queen. Singing popular love songs and romantic melodies, Il Divo offers top-notch entertainment delivered by high caliber classical singers to the awe of the enthusiastic followers.

The group has a truly international roster of members. Baritone Carlos Marin is from Spain, tenor Urs Buhler is from Switzerland, pop singer Sebastien Izambard is French and tenor David Miller is American. They are celebrating their 15th Anniversary with a release of their 8th studio album, TIMELESS, and are taking it on a world tour.

This latest collection of songs offers a delightful voyage in time letting the listeners to sample some of the best scores rearranged for four magnificent voices. Whether you are a fan of the vocal genre or are on a quest to discover new experiences you surely will love the music and the graceful singing.     BUY TICKETS

 

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