WHEN musical criticism tries to explain or interpret the inner meaning, what may be called the emotional gist of music, it exposes itself to grave dangers. In the first place, it easily degenerates ...

In the mighty fourth symphony, Barenboim and his players’ keen focus on highlighting significant details while always keeping the longer lines in sight paid off handsomely, generating white-hot ...

Aimez-vous Brahms? Some love Brahms, often for the passion. Others can’t stomach the man’s thick-textured, thickly harmonic, tradition-thick music. LA Weekly music critic Alan Rich led the legions of ...