The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

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Category: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

  • Vivica Genaux at PBO

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra just completed a run of performances with mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux (pictured left, photograph by Christian Steiner) last weekend in Berkeley. The ensemble, conducted by Nicholas McGegan, started Sunday evening's performance with Johann Friedrich Fasch's Concerto for Two Flutes, Two Oboes, and Two Bassoons in D minor. The orchestra lilted, but…

  • PBO plays Mozart, Beck, & Haydn

    * Notes * Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra opened the 2011-2012 season with Mozart, Beck, and Haydn. The concert started with Mozart's Symphony No. 38 in D major. The playing lilted, the brass seemed slightly rawer in style compared to the strings and woodwinds. The featured soloist of the program was R.J. Kelley (pictured left,…

  • MMDG’s Dido and Aeneas

     * Notes * The Mark Morris Dance Group (pictured left, photograph by Beatriz Schiller) opened the new season at Cal Performances with Dido and Aeneas yesterday evening. The audience seemed completely rapt by the experience, and I have never attended a Baroque opera with so little fidgeting or noise. Morris fills all the music with choreography,…

  • PBO Summer Festivals Tour 2011

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra left San Francisco today to start a tour of summer festivals. The ensemble plays Händel's Orlando at the Ravinia Festival tomorrow, at Mostly Mozart on Saturday, and at Tanglewood next Tuesday. The semi-staged opera was performed by PBO in the Bay Area last year, with many of the same soloists.…

  • Costa at PBO

    Michael Costa (pictured left) has been named General Manager of Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. Costa was previously the Director of Finance and Administration of PBO. Biography | PBO's Official Site | PBO's Blog

  • The Creation at PBO

    * Notes * Nicholas McGegan and Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra end the season with five performances of The Creation by Haydn. Last night's offering in Berkeley was gratifying and jubilant. McGegan kept the proceedings vivacious, and only a few moments were chaotic, most evident in the end of Part II. The dynamics throughout were distinct. The chorus…

  • PBO’s 2011-2012 Season

    September 15-17 2011: Dido & Aeneas September 22-25 2011: Mozart & Haydn October 25-30 2011: Arias for Farinelli November 18-22 2011: Marion Verbruggen & The Italian BaroqueDecember 2-6 2011: Bach's Mass in B minor January 26-29 2012: Richard Egarr: Masters of the English Baroque March 6-11 2012: Steven Isserlis: The Classical Cello April 20-25 2012:…

  • David Daniels at PBO

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra opened a run of performances featuring countertenor David Daniels last night in Berkeley. Nicholas McGegan first conducted Telemann's Concerto for Three Horns and Violin in D major. The orchestra bounced delightfully but despite their efforts, the horns had more than one painful moment. One imagines this instrument must be devilishly…

  • Messiah at PBO

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra's latest offering of Händel's Messiah was very jolly. Nicholas McGegan conducted the third of four concerts last Sunday in Berkeley in his usual chipper way. The orchestra was together and in tune, as was the chorus. The soloists included soprano Mary Wilson, countertenor Daniel Taylor, tenor John McVeigh, and bass…

  • Le quattro stagioni at PBO

    * Notes * Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra's latest program features Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, and the first of five performances under Nicholas McGegan occurred last night at Herbst Theatre in San Francisco. The first piece, Corelli's Concerto grosso Op. 6, No. 11 in B-flat major, was played jauntily but seemed a bit flustered. The Pergolesi that came…