Lawrence Budmen

2 months ago | southfloridaclassicalreview.com | Lawrence A. Johnson |Lawrence Budmen

Michael Tilson Thomas has bowed out of the second week of his upcoming concerts with the New World Symphony (April 5 and 6).The artistic director laureate has been battling brain cancer since 2021. He will be replaced by former NWS principal guest conductor Alasdair Neale, who will lead the originally announced program of Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra Overture, Haydn’s Symphony No. 98 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (“Pastoral”).

Jan 17, 2025 | southfloridaclassicalreview.com | Lawrence Budmen

Endless repetitions of standard symphonic repertoire can sound tiresome and routine. When a great conductor and world-class orchestra assay familiar fare in top form, however, the results can be revelatory. Such was the case Thursday night when the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Riccardo Muti opened the Arsht Center’s 2025 classical concert series. At 83, the ensemble’s emeritus conductor for life cuts a vigorous and charismatic figure on the podium.

Dec 23, 2024 | southfloridaclassicalreview.com | Lawrence Budmen

One can hardly think of two composers with more different musical aesthetics than Mozart and Messiaen. Significant works by these two masters formed the portals of the New World Symphony’s final chamber music program of 2024 on Sunday afternoon at the New World Center. Australian composer Melody Eōtvōs’ The King in Yellow was the concert’s spicy opener. Her 2012 score is based on three stories from a late-19th century psychological horror collection by Robert W. Chambers.

Dec 15, 2024 | southfloridaclassicalreview.com | Lawrence Budmen

Leonidas Kavakos has had an impressive week in South Florida. The Greek violinist gave a masterful account of Brahms’ Violin Concerto with the Palm Beach Symphony on Tuesday night. On Saturday, Kavakos took the stage of the New World Center as both soloist and conductor with the New World Symphony and scored in both capacities. Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 4 in D Major is the most virtuosic of the Salzburg genius’ five concertos for the instrument.

Dec 11, 2024 | southfloridaclassicalreview.com | Lawrence Budmen

A superb American miniature, a classic violin concerto and a symphony written by a creative master at the peak of inspiration formed the highly satisfying bill of fare at the Palm Beach Symphony’s concert Tuesday night at the Kravis Center. Violinist Leonidas Kavakos made a belated South Florida debut in a masterful reading of Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D Major and conductor Gerard Schwarz was in top form, drawing fine playing from all sections of the ensemble.