‘Expressions’ series now taping … and you’re invited

A quick reminder that WSKG is taping new segments of the “Expressions” series (for airing later), on several Thursdays in October, and you can be part of the studio audience.

This Thursday (Oct. 4) is the Dave Eggar Quartet; Oct. 18 is tenor Steve Nanni and pianist Pej Reitz; Oct. 25 is young pianist, Gretchen Hull. All are at WSKG studios on Gates Road in Vestal, generally starting with a reception (good food!) at 6:45 p.m.; taping begins at 7:30 p.m.

Visit http://wskg.org/expressions-classical-series-2012 to RSVP. Although you can watch the shows on WSKG later, there’s nothing like live performance!

— Lee Shepherd

Crabb funeral arrangements complete

A funeral service for Binghamton Downtown Singers co-founder Alan C. Crabb will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday (Sept. 22) at Christ Episcopal Church, 187 Washington St., Binghamton, with the Rev. Stephen Heiss officiating. Heiss is pastor of Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Binghamton, which in recent years has been the rehearsal home of the Downtown Singers.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday (Sept. 21) at the Barber Memorial Home Inc., 428 Main St., Johnson City.

Crabb died Sept. 15. Here’s a link to his complete Press & Sun-Bulletin obituary, which was published this morning (Sept. 20): http://tinyurl.com/cxpldka. The BAMirror obituary below is followed by many comments from his friends and fellow musicians.

— Barb Van Atta

Know Theatre does first-rate job with provocative play

Reviewed by George Basler

When David Mamet’s Oleanna first opened 20 years ago, fistfights reportedly broke out in the theater lobby. The two-character play is designed to provoke intense arguments, debate and even anger. The riveting production that runs through Sept. 30 at the KNOW Theatre in downtown Binghamton does just that.

Tim Gleason and Amoreena Wade do first-rate jobs in portraying Mamet’s flawed characters whose misunderstandings and failure to communicate honestly escalate to violence. Director Brandt Reiter keeps the interplay between the characters moving at a fast pace — the key to making a Mamet play work — as the tension rises through the three scenes.

Cranberry Coffeehouse is an unsung local treasure

Reviewed by Lee Shepherd

Last Saturday (Sept 15), Bill Christophersen and Dave Howard launched the fall Cranberry Coffeehouse season with a rousing fanfare! The duo, on fiddle and guitar, serenaded the crowd with everything from Texas rags to Appalachian ballads, from modal melodies to dance tunes. Their repertoire stretched from the 1790s to the 1970s, with cool licks and beautifully executed vocal harmonies. Their songs were poignant, humorous and altogether delightful.

Cider Mill actors strong, but opening show is weak

Reviewed by George Basler

Alan Ayckbourn is a busy guy. In his career, the British playwright has produced a remarkable 76 plays. Although it can’t be proven, some have called him the most produced English playwright in history, other than William Shakespeare.

One hopes, then, that It Could Be Any One Of Us, is one of his lesser efforts.

Downtown Singers co-founder Alan Crabb dies in Pa. hospital

Alan Crabb

By Barb Van Atta

Alan C. Crabb, Artistic Director and co-founder of the Binghamton Downtown Singers, died Saturday morning (Sept. 15) at University of Philadelphia Hospital, of multiple complications following heart surgery. He was 70. Funeral arrangements are pending at Barber Memorial Home in Johnson City.

A gifted singer, he was well-known in both local and national music circles. As a conductor, he was commended for his ability to inspire the musicians under his baton to the highest levels of musical excellence.

Crabb, a graduate of the Crane School of Music (SUNY-Potsdam), appeared with many of the major orchestras of North America, including those of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, St. Louis, Denver, Seattle, San Antonio, New Jersey, and Vancouver, Canada, as well as in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In addition to his symphonic and oratoria work, he was, for many years, a well-regarded operatic tenor, performing locally with Tri-Cities Opera and also with the Syracuse, Pittsburgh and other companies. His affiliation with Tri-Cities Opera began in the late 1960s as chorus master, and, during the 1970s, he sang leading roles from lyric (Rodolfo in La Boheme) to heroic (Manrico in Il Trovatore).

Cider Mill director charting a new course for established theater

EDITOR’s NOTE: Over the next few weeks, BAMirror will be chatting with recently appointed leaders of local arts organizations. We begin, appropriately, at the Cider Mill Playhouse, which opens its 37th season tonight (Sept. 13).

By George Basler

As he begins his first full season as executive director of the Cider Mill Playhouse in Endicott, Robert Rogers knows he has taken over a theater with a proud heritage.. He knows that the venerable playhouse, which is starting its 37th season this week, has become an important part of the region’s cultural fabric.

Biggers’ concert bountiful and beautiful

Reviewed by Lee Shepherd

A couple of dozen lucky people sat in Binghamton’s United Presbyterian Church at dusk yesterday (Sept. 11) to hear a reprise of Jonathan Biggers’ July 11 concert at Atlanta’s Peachtree Road United Methodist Church.

Violin/piano duo brings Phelps audience to its feet

Editor’s note: Julian Shepherd is the husband of  BAMirror reviewer Lee Shepherd and, like her, an accomplished string musician.

Reviewed by Julian Shepherd

You probably keep track of the Tri-Cities Opera and Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra schedules, but do you know that there is (and has been for a few years) an excellent series of chamber concerts on the second Sunday of each month at the Phelps Mansion Museum, 191 Court St., Binghamton?

‘Songs From the Land of Morning Calm’ are unexpected delight

Reviewed by Lee Shepherd

So what if PBS has The Three Tenors. We’ve got The Tenor, The Baritone and The Fabulous Piano Accompanist.
In a stellar concert Saturday evening at the Anderson Center at Binghamton University, Tri-Cities Opera artists Mario Eun Hwan Bae (tenor) and Robert Heep-Young Oh (baritone) treated their audience to an evening of romantic Korean classical songs.