John Shand Posts

February 12, 2014 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

Eternity Playhouse, February 11 When was the last time you heard a musical performed unamplified? No, I can’t remember, either, the odd workshop apart. I doubt that any of the cast of Falsettos has done it before, and so the performers’ leap of faith and courage required to undertake this…

February 11, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

VJs, February 5 Occasionally a prophet-like musician arrives to demolish preconceptions of a particular instrument’s limits. Franz Liszt did so with the piano, John Coltrane the saxophone, Jimi Hendrix the electric guitar and Renaud Garcia Fons the double bass. Canada’s Francois Houle is such a clarinettist. He has borrowed some…

February 8, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Concert Hall, February 4 About nine years ago – well into her phenomenally successful career – Diana Krall began to come out of her shell. Now the need for that shell is almost gone. Having gradually grown chattier and more at ease with the frightening reality of an audience over…