Huun Huur Tu

Throat singers from Tuva, who have been touring for several decades now, performed at the Rockwell to a sold-out crowd (produced by World Music/Crash Arts, which added a second concert on the 16th). Quite amazing to watch singers produce these amazing sounds. More than most concerts, I found myself most interested in watching the musicians.

The Rockwell is a small basement venue in Davis Square with a small stage in an alcove. There are definitely seats with bad sight-lines. It was my third new-to-me venue in three concerts this week.

Tyminski

Advertised as “an evening with Tyminski,” I didn’t know quite what to expect.  Tyminski is fronted by Dan Tyminski, famous for bluegrass band Alison Kraus and Union Station and for the hit “Man of Constant Sorrow” from the O Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack. Tyminski performed almost entirely music from his new solo album, Southern Gothic, which was pretty straightforward country rock. They did do “Man of Constant Sorrow” as their penultimate number.

City Winery is a new venue in Boston (open for two months, a server said), and it’s a nice space. The tables in the back are high-tops, so even there the view would be fine.

Slocan Ramblers and the Last Revel

Fun, high-energy concert in the Burren Back Room in Davis Square. Seats were at a table right at the stage. It’s fun to be five-six feet away from a musician. It was my first time there, and now I know there aren’t any really bad seats. It was nice to be at a table and have dinner and drinks, though.

A Boy Is Born

The Tallis Scholars, Boston Early Music Festival, St Paul’s Church, Cambridge. December 12, 2015.

Music by John Sheppard, Thomas Tallis, and Arvo Pärt. The Seven Antiphons were bracing. The singers’ voices were crystalline, and the venue seemed to vibrate with the sound.

Handel’s Messiah with period instruments, countertenor

Boston Baroque, Jordan Hall. December 11, 2015

I decided to attend this performance because there was a single seat available in the center of the first row, and because the alto soloist was a countertenor. Both turned out to be great reasons!

The soloists were Jeanine De Bique, soprano; Christopher Lowrey, countertenor; Thomas Cooley, tenor; and Dashon Burton, bass-baritone. Both Lowrey and Burton were magnificent. Lowrey’s ornamentation was especially fluid.

The conductor-harpsichordist's score was placed on the stage while the instrument was being tuned at the intermission.
The conductor-harpsichordist’s score was placed on the stage while the instrument was being tuned at the intermission.

Handel’s Acis and Galatea

Boston Early Music Festival, Jordan Hall. November 28, 2015.

I was interested in seeing Douglas Williams again, and I enjoyed him in the role of Alexander Pope/Polyphemus. The standout for me was Mark Williams (John Gay/Coridon) singing “Would you gain the tender Creature.”

The poor harpsichordist spent most of the interval retuning.

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