South Florida Classical Review

Barbara Hannigan

The music of Alban Berg, the most accessible of the 12-tone composers who came out of Vienna in the early 20th century, rarely appears on South Florida concert programs.

Berg’s music will occupy a prominent place in the Cleveland Orchestra‘s concerts Friday and Saturday at the Arsht Center in Miami, which will feature selections from his unfinished opera Lulu, a rare chance to hear a live performance of selections from one of his most important works.

Also unusual will be the conductor. While many pianists and other instrumentalists take to the podium, or at least try their hand at it, few singers do. But leading the concert, as well as appearing as vocal soloist, will be the Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan.

Hannigan, a modern music specialist, will lead the orchestra in a program of rarities, at least for Florida. In addition to a suite from Lulu, the orchestra will perform Gershwin’s Girl Crazy Suite in a modernist orchestration by Bill Elliott, Haydn’s Symphony No. 86 and Sibelius’ Luonnotar, with Hannigan again as soloist. Hannigan’s recording of the Berg and Gershwin works, called “Crazy Girl Crazy,” made the New York Times list of best classical recordings of 2017.

In addition, Joshua Smith, the orchestra’s principal flute will perform Debussy’s solo flute work Syrinx. 

The program takes place 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Arsht Center in Miami. clevelandorchestra.com

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