Ellen Chickering

Latest Articles

Divine operas

USM shows off two Puccini one-acts
USM shows off two Puccini one-acts
By MEGAN GRUMBLING | March 18, 2009

James Levine’s gala and Brahms, Russell Sherman’s Liszt, the Bostonians’ Kurt Weill
The most moving moment of this year’s Boston Symphony Orchestra opening gala came before the concert started — the standing ovation for James Levine, who looked rested and recuperated after his kidney surgery this summer, an operation that forced him to cancel most of his Tanglewood season.
By LLOYD SCHWARTZ | October 01, 2008

The golden age

The USM School of Music celebrates 50 years
The University of Southern Maine’s School of Music celebrates a golden anniversary, with a performance featuring nearly 300 performers and two world premieres by Maine composers.
By BEN MEIKLEJOHN | April 25, 2007

In the right field

Daniel Sonenberg gets everyone into the compositional league
In his third year as resident composer and professor at the University of Southern Maine, Daniel Sonenberg is making his mark in the field.
By BEN MEIKLEJOHN | March 12, 2007

Mixing it up with Strauss

USM performs Johann Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus
Although the works of German composer Richard Strauss rank among my favorites, it was unfair to give him credit last week for Die Fledermaus .
By BEN MEIKLEJOHN | February 14, 2007

Orpheus ascending

Monteverdi’s Orfeo, Richard Conrad, Dolores Ziegler, and John Ferrillo
Chinese-born director Chen Shi-Zheng is the latest in a line of original opera directors (Sarah Caldwell, Peter Sellars) who’ve developed a Boston following.
By LLOYD SCHWARTZ | September 26, 2006