By Mary Elizabeth Nordstrom

Ogunquit, ME, 9 October 2010. Two long rows filled with chamber music lovers stretched across the front of the venue in anticipation. The loyal Southern Coastal Maine classical music audience was well-rewarded by an evening of conspicuous virtuosity. Had there been an SRO Columbus Day tourist audience, the Dunaway Center might have felt warm and welcoming on Saturday night. Actually there were disgracefully few in attendance to receive and respond to the acclaimed DaPonte String Quartet. So much for cultural tourism, yet in this case, I personally do not remember seeing but one announcement of this particular event. That was in the York County Coast Star this past Thursday. All tourists do not have access to that day’s announcements. It is important that the media not ignore press releases and calendar entries.

By Emily Parkhurst

Portland, ME, 3 October 2010. Anyone with any doubt that the Portland Symphony has been reborn under the baton of Music Director Robert Moody must have been convinced after Sunday afternoon’s show. Moody, who came to Portland from the Phoenix, Arizona Symphony and is serving concurrently as music director of the Winston-Salem Symphony, has just begun his third year as music director in our Port City and it seems he’s just getting warmed up.

By Emily Parkhurst

Gorham, ME, 1 October 2010. The University of Southern Maine School of Music season opened with drama this year as pianist Laura Kargul took the stage to play her favorite works by Fredrick Chopin and Robert Schumann on their 200th birthdays. “There’s no Liszt, no Beethoven on this program,” Kargul said in an introductory speech. “This is just pure, unbridled emotion.” Kargul played six Chopin works in the first half of the concert, including several preludes and what she called her favorite scherzo, nocturne and mazurka.

By Mary Elizabeth Nordstrom

Boothbay Harbor, ME, 31 August 2010. The DaPonte String Quartet sent their audience out into the dark night at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens rejoicing as the music of the finale echoed in their minds. For myself, who envisions the life eternal as yet-unfathomed participation in the Music of the Spheres, as I begin to write this review, I now realize that, probably, the so-called “Big Bang” was itself a musical experience!  But enough of poetic imagination and on to the review of the performance that inspired it.