Music & Arts

(02/10/12) Crane School of Music tenor Donald George tells Todd Moe why he chose to record a second volume of music by Boston composer Margaret Lang, who was the first woman to have had her music performed by a major American orchestra. She wrote more than 130 songs during the early 20th century. Though much of her music was popular during her lifetime, Lang was her own toughest critic, sometimes destroying pieces she didn't like.

Donald George and pianist Lucy Mauro have spent the last few years researching Lang's life. They produced a first volume of Lang's music last winter. With this second recording, New Love Must Rise, released this month, the two musicians continue to revive an interest in her nearly forgotten music.

(02/09/12) Artists and arts supporters from around the region will be in Albany next Tuesday to visit with lawmakers and speak up for the arts. Todd Moe talks with St. Lawrence County Arts Council director Hilary Oak about "Arts Advocacy Day", and why the arts are an essential part of the economy.

(02/08/12) The musical Caroline, or Change is running at Syracuse Stage through February 26. Resident theatre critic Connie Meng attended a recent performance and has this review. more

(02/08/12) The Grasse River Players' winter production of The New York Idea opens in Canton Thursday night as part of the annual Winterfest. Todd Moe talks with Libby Brandt and Carole Berard, two long-time members of Canton's community theater group, about the show.

The drawing room comedy was a Broadway hit back in 1906. It's been updated for modern ears by David Auburn. The play offers a slice of Manhattan's upper crust and tackles social change and those who can and cannot adapt. Carole and Libby talk with Todd about the joys of community theater and this latest production, starting with the play's opening scene.

(02/07/12) A St. Lawrence county not-for-profit organization is asking crafters to use their skills to help local people in need.

Alicia Murphy is coordinator of the new "community action angels" program in Canton. She says crafting for charity is nothing new. But people usually send the things they make elsewhere. more

(02/06/12) Creation is running in the Studio at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa through February 20. Resident theatre critic Connie Meng was at the opening night and has our review. more

(02/04/12) Jazz singer Shirley Crabbe's new CD, Home is getting rave reviews and lots of national attention. She joined Joel Hurd on The Bridge (via Skype from her home near NYC) to talk about the new disc, growing up in a musical family, and a vocal cord injury that nearly ended her singing career before it ever even started.

(02/03/12) Artists Matt Burnett and Scott Fuller are known for creating several large scale outdoor art installations from Long Lake to Canton in recent years. They're back again this winter, and despite a lack of deep snow, they've put together an outdoor show at SUNY-Potsdam that combines elements of winter, nature and projected images.

Matt Burnett, who lives in the Adirondacks, and his collaborator Scott Fuller, from Maine, used large snow sculptures as a canvas for video images in a large scale outdoor exhibit at St. Lawrence University last year. They worked on similar outdoor art projects in Saranac Lake and Long Lake.

They launched their outdoor "E-Fraction" show last night on the SUNY Potsdam campus. It will be illuminated nightly on campus through the middle of next week. Todd Moe has a preview. more

(02/02/12) SUNY Potsdam is hosting an indoor/outdoor art exhibit this month that combines elements of winter, nature and video projections. Matt Burnett, who lives in the Adirondacks, and his collaborator Scott Fuller, from Maine, used large snow sculptures as a canvas for video images in a large scale outdoor exhibit at St. Lawrence University last year. They've worked on similar outdoor art projects in Saranac Lake and Long Lake.

The duo is back again this winter and despite a lack of deep snow, are working this week on another outdoor show at SUNY-Potsdam. We'll have more about their "E-Fraction" outdoor illuminated exhibit tomorrow morning during The Eight O'clock Hour.

The two artists are known for creating several large scale outdoor installations in recent years. Todd Moe stopped by campus earlier this week as they unveiled a massive indoor piece of art that dominates a two-story wall in the Gibson gallery. It's so large that they had to create it on Pendragon Theater's stage. Fuller and Burnett used paint, recycled wall paper and wooden panels to create what they call, The Last Painting.

(02/01/12) A new photo exhibit in Potsdam connects art, music, gardens and friendship. Photographer Jane Lammers spent time last spring, summer and early fall in the perennial gardens of three North Country friends.

She also assembled a playlist of music to accompany her exhibit, Perennial Bliss. It includes music by Jean-Pierre Rampal, Yo-Yo Ma and James Galway. The eight photos in the exhibit follow the seasonal flow in flower gardens.

Todd Moe spoke with Jane Lammers about gardens, photography and music. Her show is up through the end of the month at First Crush Bistro in Potsdam.