I was fortunate to catch most of two fascinating programs last weekend, the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra on November 5, and Network for New Music on November 6.



The Black Pearl under music director Jeri Lynne Johnson is an organization devoted to increased minority participation in classical music. Success in this goal was evident particularly in the very large, racially mixed, and extremely enthusiastic audience at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral at 38th and Walnut. The…

On Wednesday night the Perelman Theater of the Kimmel Center hosted the local premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich's Quintet for strings and piano, presented by the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, one of the co-commissioners of this new work. It has the same instrumentation as Schubert's "Trout" Quintet, violin, viola, 'cello, double bass, and piano, and was played by the Joseph Kalichstein, Jaime Laredo, Sharon Robinson piano trio, joined by violist Michael Tree and Philadelphia Orchestra…

Last evening in the Academy of Vocal Arts' baroque yet intimate theatre on Spruce Street, I was privileged to hear a wonderful performance of Sir Arthur Bliss' rarely played Quintet for oboe and four strings. The Philadelphia Orchestra's principal oboist Richard Woodhams was joined by the Wister Quartet, which is the core of the presenting organization, 1807 and Friends, the now 30-year-old chamber music series. The audience members were primarily well-seasoned music lovers, joined by a…