David Patrick StearnsWhat I DoDavid Patrick Stearns is a classical music critic and columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Don Giovanni’ is a bit of a bumpy ride but with a fascinating setMozart’s greatest opera often requires miracles to pull off well. Created on relatively short notice, this production is a good-under-the circumstances show.David Patrick Stearns April 28, 2025Link copied to clipboardLang Lang’s artistic maturity shines at Kimmel concertThe Curtis Institute alum's great coloristic sense was most welcome after the pianist's career sidetracks and hiatuses.David Patrick Stearns March 24, 2025Link copied to clipboardJohn Luther Adams world premiere is a prayer to Earth as we know itThe opening movement in the piece about the decline of Planet Earth is succinct, covering 2 billion years of rock formation in less than 15 minutesDavid Patrick Stearns March 30, 2023Link copied to clipboardPhiladelphia Orchestra performs its freshest Messiah in yearsEarly-music specialist Jeannette Sorrell was on the podium, bringing revelations.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 17, 2022Link copied to clipboardRossini’s ‘Otello’ at Opera Philadelphia: Vocal Olympics with a plot. And much plottingCertainly, it’s epic — three spirited hours, though best heard by those who already know the playing field of this 200-year-old piece that doesn’t always reach across the centuries.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 26, 2022Link copied to clipboardThe classically trained, bluegrass-infused ‘garage band’ Time for Three has a whole new soundLong familiar to Philadelphians for buoyant, high-velocity music with the rhythm of stand-upstandup comedy, the string trio Time For Three is in a new phase that was often envisioned but out of reachDavid Patrick Stearns Aug. 4, 2022Link copied to clipboardOpera returns to the Academy of Music with updated Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ in the ‘burbsOverall, the opening was medium voltage — it felt more like a dress rehearsal — with everything in the right places but with no molten core of primal emotions.David Patrick Stearns April 30, 2022Link copied to clipboardCurtis Opera ‘Candide’ is generally good with some exceptional sparksLeonard Bernstein called this version a 'sliver' of the original, but it manages to entertain and amuse.David Patrick Stearns April 12, 2025Link copied to clipboardMeet the 24-year-old Philly native conducting No Name Pops and ‘The Nutcracker’ shows this yearPhilly-born Na’Zir McFadden joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2021. This holiday season, he's back home.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 13, 2024Link copied to clipboardSuperstar pianist Yuja Wang to play all Rachmaninoff works with Philadelphia Orchestra "There’s an actual sound to playing Rachmaninoff, a kind of golden, gilded sound," says the pianist.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 19, 2023Link copied to clipboardWhat’s that music? 13 pieces from screens and memes, and where to catch them live in Philly.These are the pieces you'll want to use in your next Instagram reel.Peter Dobrin and David Patrick Stearns Nov. 27, 2022Link copied to clipboardMost operas are lucky to have one star tenor. Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Otello’ has three.Rossini's "Otello" opens Opera Philadelphia's Festival O22.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 20, 2022Link copied to clipboardNo conductor. Few tuning forks. A sound all their own. Philly’s Variant 6 choir is breaking out.Who is Variant 6? A diverse collection of people, with a meeting of the vocal cords, resembling hipsters, grad students and a potential fashion model.David Patrick Stearns May 11, 2022Link copied to clipboardPhiladelphia Orchestra’s Beethoven successfully migrates to Carnegie Hall — without the high-tech special effectsTroubles that beset the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Thursday night Kimmel Center performance of "Missa solemnis" were absent.David Patrick Stearns April 9, 2022Link copied to clipboardThe Philadelphia Orchestra performs Mahler’s ‘loud’ ‘Symphony No. 6′ at the top of its considerable formWhen everything seems to be happening all the time, you wonder how can music have so much traffic and still cohere? It’s possible with this orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.David Patrick Stearns April 11, 2025Link copied to clipboardEighty years ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra cut some superhit records. No one knew that until recently. America was emerging from the Great Depression, German musicians fleeing Hitler were raising musical standards, and Philadelphia Orchestra musicians were recording anonymous albumsDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 16, 2024Link copied to clipboardNewspaper ads seeking the return of enslaved people inspires new music for Singing FreedomThe detailed classifieds offered rewards. They are taking on a new power in song.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 12, 2023Link copied to clipboardMarin Alsop leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in ‘The Planets’ and a post-pandemic concertoWith violin soloist Jennifer Koh, the Philadelphia Orchestra reaches dramatic filmic heights and a pandemic-induced lull and despair, under Marin Alsop's batonDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 19, 2022Link copied to clipboardThe great Philly-born composer who influenced Leonard BernsteinThe Communist overtones in his work that polarized 20th century listeners — plus the circumstances of his 1964 death, a gay hate crime on the island of Martinique — make him all the more intriguingDavid Patrick Stearns Sept. 2, 2022Link copied to clipboardPhilly’s Singing City sings of peace in time of warSaturday's event at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Seeking Peace in a Weary World, has three great composers, spanning 200 years, writing music to the words “dona nobis pacem” (grant us peace).David Patrick Stearns May 3, 2022Link copied to clipboardSee more stories
Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Don Giovanni’ is a bit of a bumpy ride but with a fascinating setMozart’s greatest opera often requires miracles to pull off well. Created on relatively short notice, this production is a good-under-the circumstances show.David Patrick Stearns April 28, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Don Giovanni’ is a bit of a bumpy ride but with a fascinating setMozart’s greatest opera often requires miracles to pull off well. Created on relatively short notice, this production is a good-under-the circumstances show.David Patrick Stearns April 28, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Lang Lang’s artistic maturity shines at Kimmel concertThe Curtis Institute alum's great coloristic sense was most welcome after the pianist's career sidetracks and hiatuses.David Patrick Stearns March 24, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Lang Lang’s artistic maturity shines at Kimmel concertThe Curtis Institute alum's great coloristic sense was most welcome after the pianist's career sidetracks and hiatuses.David Patrick Stearns March 24, 2025Link copied to clipboard
John Luther Adams world premiere is a prayer to Earth as we know itThe opening movement in the piece about the decline of Planet Earth is succinct, covering 2 billion years of rock formation in less than 15 minutesDavid Patrick Stearns March 30, 2023Link copied to clipboard
John Luther Adams world premiere is a prayer to Earth as we know itThe opening movement in the piece about the decline of Planet Earth is succinct, covering 2 billion years of rock formation in less than 15 minutesDavid Patrick Stearns March 30, 2023Link copied to clipboard
Philadelphia Orchestra performs its freshest Messiah in yearsEarly-music specialist Jeannette Sorrell was on the podium, bringing revelations.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 17, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Philadelphia Orchestra performs its freshest Messiah in yearsEarly-music specialist Jeannette Sorrell was on the podium, bringing revelations.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 17, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Rossini’s ‘Otello’ at Opera Philadelphia: Vocal Olympics with a plot. And much plottingCertainly, it’s epic — three spirited hours, though best heard by those who already know the playing field of this 200-year-old piece that doesn’t always reach across the centuries.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 26, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Rossini’s ‘Otello’ at Opera Philadelphia: Vocal Olympics with a plot. And much plottingCertainly, it’s epic — three spirited hours, though best heard by those who already know the playing field of this 200-year-old piece that doesn’t always reach across the centuries.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 26, 2022Link copied to clipboard
The classically trained, bluegrass-infused ‘garage band’ Time for Three has a whole new soundLong familiar to Philadelphians for buoyant, high-velocity music with the rhythm of stand-upstandup comedy, the string trio Time For Three is in a new phase that was often envisioned but out of reachDavid Patrick Stearns Aug. 4, 2022Link copied to clipboard
The classically trained, bluegrass-infused ‘garage band’ Time for Three has a whole new soundLong familiar to Philadelphians for buoyant, high-velocity music with the rhythm of stand-upstandup comedy, the string trio Time For Three is in a new phase that was often envisioned but out of reachDavid Patrick Stearns Aug. 4, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Opera returns to the Academy of Music with updated Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ in the ‘burbsOverall, the opening was medium voltage — it felt more like a dress rehearsal — with everything in the right places but with no molten core of primal emotions.David Patrick Stearns April 30, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Opera returns to the Academy of Music with updated Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’ in the ‘burbsOverall, the opening was medium voltage — it felt more like a dress rehearsal — with everything in the right places but with no molten core of primal emotions.David Patrick Stearns April 30, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Curtis Opera ‘Candide’ is generally good with some exceptional sparksLeonard Bernstein called this version a 'sliver' of the original, but it manages to entertain and amuse.David Patrick Stearns April 12, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Curtis Opera ‘Candide’ is generally good with some exceptional sparksLeonard Bernstein called this version a 'sliver' of the original, but it manages to entertain and amuse.David Patrick Stearns April 12, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Meet the 24-year-old Philly native conducting No Name Pops and ‘The Nutcracker’ shows this yearPhilly-born Na’Zir McFadden joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2021. This holiday season, he's back home.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 13, 2024Link copied to clipboard
Meet the 24-year-old Philly native conducting No Name Pops and ‘The Nutcracker’ shows this yearPhilly-born Na’Zir McFadden joined the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2021. This holiday season, he's back home.David Patrick Stearns Dec. 13, 2024Link copied to clipboard
Superstar pianist Yuja Wang to play all Rachmaninoff works with Philadelphia Orchestra "There’s an actual sound to playing Rachmaninoff, a kind of golden, gilded sound," says the pianist.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 19, 2023Link copied to clipboard
Superstar pianist Yuja Wang to play all Rachmaninoff works with Philadelphia Orchestra "There’s an actual sound to playing Rachmaninoff, a kind of golden, gilded sound," says the pianist.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 19, 2023Link copied to clipboard
What’s that music? 13 pieces from screens and memes, and where to catch them live in Philly.These are the pieces you'll want to use in your next Instagram reel.Peter Dobrin and David Patrick Stearns Nov. 27, 2022Link copied to clipboard
What’s that music? 13 pieces from screens and memes, and where to catch them live in Philly.These are the pieces you'll want to use in your next Instagram reel.Peter Dobrin and David Patrick Stearns Nov. 27, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Most operas are lucky to have one star tenor. Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Otello’ has three.Rossini's "Otello" opens Opera Philadelphia's Festival O22.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 20, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Most operas are lucky to have one star tenor. Opera Philadelphia’s ‘Otello’ has three.Rossini's "Otello" opens Opera Philadelphia's Festival O22.David Patrick Stearns Sept. 20, 2022Link copied to clipboard
No conductor. Few tuning forks. A sound all their own. Philly’s Variant 6 choir is breaking out.Who is Variant 6? A diverse collection of people, with a meeting of the vocal cords, resembling hipsters, grad students and a potential fashion model.David Patrick Stearns May 11, 2022Link copied to clipboard
No conductor. Few tuning forks. A sound all their own. Philly’s Variant 6 choir is breaking out.Who is Variant 6? A diverse collection of people, with a meeting of the vocal cords, resembling hipsters, grad students and a potential fashion model.David Patrick Stearns May 11, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Philadelphia Orchestra’s Beethoven successfully migrates to Carnegie Hall — without the high-tech special effectsTroubles that beset the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Thursday night Kimmel Center performance of "Missa solemnis" were absent.David Patrick Stearns April 9, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Philadelphia Orchestra’s Beethoven successfully migrates to Carnegie Hall — without the high-tech special effectsTroubles that beset the Philadelphia Orchestra’s Thursday night Kimmel Center performance of "Missa solemnis" were absent.David Patrick Stearns April 9, 2022Link copied to clipboard
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Mahler’s ‘loud’ ‘Symphony No. 6′ at the top of its considerable formWhen everything seems to be happening all the time, you wonder how can music have so much traffic and still cohere? It’s possible with this orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.David Patrick Stearns April 11, 2025Link copied to clipboard
The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Mahler’s ‘loud’ ‘Symphony No. 6′ at the top of its considerable formWhen everything seems to be happening all the time, you wonder how can music have so much traffic and still cohere? It’s possible with this orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.David Patrick Stearns April 11, 2025Link copied to clipboard
Eighty years ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra cut some superhit records. No one knew that until recently. America was emerging from the Great Depression, German musicians fleeing Hitler were raising musical standards, and Philadelphia Orchestra musicians were recording anonymous albumsDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 16, 2024Link copied to clipboard
Eighty years ago, the Philadelphia Orchestra cut some superhit records. No one knew that until recently. America was emerging from the Great Depression, German musicians fleeing Hitler were raising musical standards, and Philadelphia Orchestra musicians were recording anonymous albumsDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 16, 2024Link copied to clipboard
Newspaper ads seeking the return of enslaved people inspires new music for Singing FreedomThe detailed classifieds offered rewards. They are taking on a new power in song.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 12, 2023Link copied to clipboard
Newspaper ads seeking the return of enslaved people inspires new music for Singing FreedomThe detailed classifieds offered rewards. They are taking on a new power in song.David Patrick Stearns Jan. 12, 2023Link copied to clipboard
Marin Alsop leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in ‘The Planets’ and a post-pandemic concertoWith violin soloist Jennifer Koh, the Philadelphia Orchestra reaches dramatic filmic heights and a pandemic-induced lull and despair, under Marin Alsop's batonDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 19, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Marin Alsop leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in ‘The Planets’ and a post-pandemic concertoWith violin soloist Jennifer Koh, the Philadelphia Orchestra reaches dramatic filmic heights and a pandemic-induced lull and despair, under Marin Alsop's batonDavid Patrick Stearns Nov. 19, 2022Link copied to clipboard
The great Philly-born composer who influenced Leonard BernsteinThe Communist overtones in his work that polarized 20th century listeners — plus the circumstances of his 1964 death, a gay hate crime on the island of Martinique — make him all the more intriguingDavid Patrick Stearns Sept. 2, 2022Link copied to clipboard
The great Philly-born composer who influenced Leonard BernsteinThe Communist overtones in his work that polarized 20th century listeners — plus the circumstances of his 1964 death, a gay hate crime on the island of Martinique — make him all the more intriguingDavid Patrick Stearns Sept. 2, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Philly’s Singing City sings of peace in time of warSaturday's event at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Seeking Peace in a Weary World, has three great composers, spanning 200 years, writing music to the words “dona nobis pacem” (grant us peace).David Patrick Stearns May 3, 2022Link copied to clipboard
Philly’s Singing City sings of peace in time of warSaturday's event at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, Seeking Peace in a Weary World, has three great composers, spanning 200 years, writing music to the words “dona nobis pacem” (grant us peace).David Patrick Stearns May 3, 2022Link copied to clipboard
