By Hedy Weiss

'Pierrot' an inspired collaboration

Those in search of the finest model of cross-disciplinary artistic collaboration needed to look no farther than this weekend's program at the Museum of Contemporary Art Theater. On display was an inspired collaboration uniting the virtuosic talents of eighth blackbird (the altogether brilliant and fearless young sextet that champions both modern music and dramatic experimentation), Lucy Shelton (a singer who has led the charge of the avant-garde for decades) and Chicago-based master puppeteer Blair Thomas.

By Richard Dyer, Globe Staff

Blackbird displays dramatic flair

CAMBRIDGE -- Eighth blackbird's gift is to make new-music concerts feel fun and sexy. The six musicians started working together as students at Oberlin College; 10 years later, they are still attractive, energetic people with superb chops. They wear what they are comfortable in -- on Sunday at Sanders Theatre, pianist Lisa Kaplan was outfitted in a halter top, camouflage pants, and platform heels -- and they often play from memory, which enables them to roam the stage, group and regroup. Their concerts are a form of music theater.

By Allan Kozinn
The New York Times

Surprises and Delicacies in a Year of Exciting Classical CD's

The classical music critics of The New York Times select the year's most notable CD's

For the adventurous soul interested in where classical music is going: Eighth Blackbird, "Fred: the Music of Frederic Rzewski" (Cedille).

By Peter Burwasser

Several years ago, I attended a live performance of Steve Reich’s Different Trains played by the dedicatees, the Kronos String Quartet. I had the same reaction as I did the first time I heard the Kronos play it; the piece moved me deeply, haunted me, actually, and in doing so succeeded as a unique and accessible work of music. I continue to consider it a masterpiece. After the performance, I ran into the producer of the concert, whom I know, and expressed my admiration for the music. His response floored me. “I hated it. It doesn’t work at all as a piece of music.”

By Ann Hicks

Fun night out with eighth blackbird

The extraordinary young sextet “eighth blackbird” made its first appearance in Greenville on Wednesday night, and proved just how much fun modern music-making can be.