Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Sony Walkman turns 30

On July 1, 1979, thirty years ago today, the original Sony Walkman made its public debut as the world’s first portable music player...   READ MORE in CREATIVE LOAFING

Moonwalking before Michael Jackson?

Michael Jackson made the moonwalk world-famous during his performance in the 1983 TV special, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. But who inspired the King of Pop to make it his signature step?...   READ MORE in CREATIVE LOAFING

Weekly Ear, July 2 - July 8, 2009

Atlanta concert picks

SAT/4 @ 8:00pm
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & U.S. ARMY CHORUS
Bridget Reischl leads the ASO in an All-American patriotic program for Independence Day, featuring the U.S. Army Chorus, based at Fort Myer, Virginia, one of the few professional all male choruses in the nation. $21-$59, Verizon Amphitheatre, 404-733-4800, www.atlantasymphony.org

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Weekly Ear, June 25 - July 1, 2009

Atlanta concert picks

SAT/27 @ 8:00pm
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Grant Llewellyn, conductor of the North Carolina Symphony, leads an all-Mozart program: the Overture to “The Marriage of Figaro,” “Symphony No. 41,” and “Piano Concerto in D minor” featuring brilliant Bosnian pianist Pedja Muzijevic. $21-$59. Verizon Amphitheatre, 404-733-4800, www.atlantasymphony.org

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Weekly Ear, June 18 - June 24, 2009

Atlanta concert picks

FRI/19 @ 7:30pm & SUN/21 @ 3:00pm
2009 HARROWER SUMMER OPERA WORKSHOP SCENES
Public performances of operatic scenes over two days. Of special note is inclusion of Daniel Shore's one-act opera, “The Beautiful Bridegroom,” and premiere of two scenes from Michael Ching's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” amid the panoply of more familiar fare. Each performance is $20 ($10 students with ID). 7:30 p.m., Kopleff Recital Hall, 404-413-5901, www.music.gsu.edu

SAT/20 @ 8:00pm
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA & CHORUS
The ASO's second summer at “VZW” opens with Carl Orff's raucously hedonistic “Carmina Burana” and excerpts from Rossini's popular “Barber of Seville.” Vocal soloists featured are soprano Georgia Jarman, tenor Nicholas Phan, baritone Matthew Worth are featured, plus Gwinnett Young Singers. Robert Spano conducts. $21-$59, Verizon Amphitheatre, 404-733-4800, www.atlantasymphony.org

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Weekly Ear, June 11 - June 17, 2009

Atlanta concert picks

The Weekly Ear takes a week off, as essentially does Atlanta's classical music scene this week. Next week begins summer fare highlights and commentary.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Weekly Ear, June 4 - June 10, 2009

Atlanta concert picks

THU/4, FRI/5 & SAT/6 @ 8:00pm
ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducts this third program in a festival of South American music with a multi-media theme centered around the ancient Inca Empire, featuring Brazilian mezzo-soprano Luciana Souza. $18-$73. Symphony Hall, 404-733-5000, www.atlantasymphony.org

SUN/7 @ 3:30pm
ATLANTA COMMUNITY SYMPHONY ORCHSTRA
Juan Ramirez conducts the premiere of his own composition, "Down-East," inspired by writings of American musicologist George Pullen Jackson, a pioneer in the study of Southern “white spirituals”of regional “fa-so-la” singing. FREE. Congregation Shearith Israel, 404-873-1743, www.acsorch.org