By Valerie Scher

Golijov's 'Ayre' an impressive showcase for Upshaw

During the final section of Osvaldo Golijov's "Ayre," celebrated soprano Dawn Upshaw sang with her eyes closed and her body swaying, like a diva in the throes of musical rapture. Her voice soared, attuned to the exoticism of the instrumental accompaniment, which reflected both Middle Eastern chromaticism and sultry Latin rhythms.

By David Gregson

eighth blackbird, Dawn Upshaw, Golijov… A terrific combination

Among the somewhat exclusive club of first-rate 21st-century composers, Osvaldo Golijov is perhaps the most beguiling. His music is often disarming, seductive, irresistible. Seemingly effortless and unselfconscious, Golijov's music bridges stylistic and cultural barriers to achieve a surprising profundity. Looking back on a century in which much of the greatest music has frequently been, for all its genius, frightening or ugly, we are surprised to find depth in a sonic world so richly melodic, so unabashedly eclectic, and, finally, so indebted to non-Western folk traditions.

By Timothy Mangan

By Clarke Bustard

Highbrow Hambone 

Three questions come up, more or less simultaneously, when eighth blackbird performs: What's that sound? Where's it coming from? And what's it about?

by Rob Barnett

Cedille do what they do so well. Here in a disc that kicks most of the classical orthodoxies we get three works by Massachusetts-born, Brussels-resident Rzewski. They are ardently and professionally presented by Eighth Blackbird - an ensemble of six musicians.

I had better make it clear - although it will probably be obvious - that this is the first Rzewski I have heard.

By Richard Dyer

Tanglewood fest focused on pleasure, not principle
Works of all styles aimed to stir listeners' imaginations

LENOX -- Composer John Harbison curated an unusually undoctrinaire Festival of Contemporary Music at Tanglewood last week. The pieces were varied in ambition, style, technique, size of performing forces, and length. The composers ranged in age from David M. Gordon, born in 1976, to Elliott Carter, born in 1908. Four women were among them, which would have seemed more remarkable a few years go; it just seems normal now.