03 January 2010
Top 10 Birmingham Arts Performances in 2009
There was no shortage of excellence in arts presentations in the year just ended, at least here in Birmingham. Whittling a profusion of exhilarating events to the Top 10 of 2009 is no easy chore, so don't be surprised if your favorites didn't make the list.
Top 10 Birmingham Arts Performances in 2009
By Michael Huebner -- The Birmingham News
original link
There was no shortage of excellence in arts presentations in the year just ended, at least here in Birmingham. Whittling a profusion of exhilarating events to the Top 10 of 2009 is no easy chore, so don't be surprised if your favorites didn't make the list. Feel free to express yourself in the online comments section of this story or after the "Second 10" list at http://blog.al.com/mhuebner/
Events are listed in chronological order:
Nikolai Lugansky (Feb. 17). Impetuous and soaring, muscular and supple, the Russian pianist thrilled a sold-out audience for the UAB Piano Series event.
"La Traviata" (March 20, 22). Opera Birmingham staged a top-notch production, with a strong cast led by Alabama's diva-on-the-rise, Susanna Phillips.
Alabama Ballet, "Sinatra Songs"Alabama Ballet, Sinatra Songs (April 3-5). Nostalgic, stylish and alluring, this collection of Twyla Tharp dances raised the spirit. Roger Van Fleteren's "Messin' With Mozart" was the perfect complement.
"Wicked" (April 3-19). An epic story told with sweeping music and performances and production values that rivaled those on Broadway. Kids and adults alike loved this "Wizard of Oz" story.
Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. (May 15-16). Justin Brown led the Alabama Symphony, Birmingham Concert Chorale and a stellar array of soloists in this timeless icon.
Sikkil Gurucharan (May 16). Mesmerizing vocals from this young South Indian artist were accompanied by percussion and violin in ancient song forms such as varnam and thillana. Indian arts presenters Shruthi brought him to Pelham.
Eighth Blackbird (Sept. 22). One of the world's great new music ensembles combined humor, inventiveness and virtuosic wizardry in a program at Brock Recital Hall.
"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" (Oct. 4 through next Sunday). The exhaustive collection from the Yale University Art Gallery is one of the best exhibits the Birmingham Museum of Art has offered.
Concertmaster and Friends (Nov. 3). Composers Paul Lansky and George Crumb combined for a fascinating array of cutting-edge music performed by Alabama Symphony musicians.
David Goode (Nov. 22). Organ music never sounded so orchestral, the British musician placing Independent Presbyterian organ's colorful arsenal of stops into service.
Michael Huebner is classical music and dance critic and fine arts writer for The Birmingham News. E-mail him at
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. Blog at blog.al.com/mhuebner/
