Review by Danny Gaisin

Hamilton has been fortunate to have housed some citizens who are recognized by a single name… Linc; Sheila; (politics) Karen (dance); Mrs. Dick; and of course – BORIS. Maestro Brott has been conductor of the Hamilton Philharmonic; is artistic director of the National Academy Orchestra; and conductor of McGill’s renowned Chamber orchestra. He’s been on the platform of the West L.A.; Israel Philharmonic plus countless European podia. Lately, he’s achieved successes with Italy’s Bari Opera and most recently; a personal request from Pope Francis.

Maestro Brott and his Cardinals

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Review by Danny Gaisin

               Nov. 15^th, 2009   “Conductor/arranger/performer/writer Rainer Hersch is a knowledgeable and highly talented musician. What Victor Borge did for (and to) the piano; Stan Freburg to many pop songs of the fifties; and Anna Russell to Wagner’s Ring Cycle- Hersch does to all classical music. He also destroys every preconception about the orchestra, its sections and its instruments. A learning opportunity- hardly; a comedic instance –CERTAINLY. I actually was concerned about peeing in my pants!”

 The above intro paragraph is what this journalist opined about Rainer Hersch’s last visit with the Hamilton Philharmonic. Last night; more of the same except that London (the other one) and Beethoven plus Mozart were the subjects for his clever barbs.

Sutherland toasting the audience with her bottle of ‘gargle’

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Review by Danny Gaisin

This was the week that a local groundhog interrupts his burrowing to see what the winter duration will be. The Hamilton Philharmonic’s Pops Concert paid tribute to the rodent by presenting a concert that was…Boring!  Promoted as a jazz event with guest soloist Diana Panton, the selections and arrangements were stereotypically ‘piano bar’ and should have had the percussion team clinking glasses as background.

Panton & quartet with the H.P.O.

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