by Paul E. Robinson

My first encounter with Tchaikovsky’s “Manfred“ Symphony was most likely Toscanini’s 1953 recording with the NBC Symphony; it is intense, exciting and almost life-changing in its range of emotion. The sound of the recording left a lot to be desired, of course, but for its time, this was a great performance.
Over the [...]

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Review by Paul E. Robinson

Classical Travels
THIS WEEK IN TEXAS
There is no doubt about it. A new era of musical excellence is underway in Dallas. Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden has just finished his first season as music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) and even the musicians are shaking their heads in disbelief. Is [...]

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Review by Paul E. Robinson

Conductors come and go, but it is always a thrill to see one who really makes a difference. At the beginning of this season, Jaap van Zweden assumed the music directorship of the Dallas Symphony (DSO) and musical life in Dallas has not been the same since.
Jaap van Zweden is not [...]

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