Keith Powers

Classical Music Writer

Keith Powers writes about classical music for The ARTery and for the GateHouse newspapers. Follow him on Twitter at @PowersKeith.

Recently published

Harry Christophers conducts the Handel & Haydn Society. (Courtesy Stu Rosner)

Handel & Haydn Elevate Purcell's 'Dido And Aeneas' Beyond A Typical Concert Experience

"Dido and Aeneas" is Purcell's only true opera, and one of the earliest known English operas. It tells the story of doomed love and devotion to duty.

Local Coverage

Mar 19, 2019

Director Sarna Lapine discusses a scene with Brandon Cedel and Duncan Rock. (Courtesy Liza Voll)

Staging 'The Rape Of Lucretia' In The #MeToo Era

“Lucretia’s response stirred a rebellion and overthrew the monarchy,” director Sarna Lapine says. “She held him accountable. She laid herself at the feet of the people. It’s an incredibly resonant...

Local Coverage

Mar 5, 2019

Jacques-Louis David's "The Loves of Paris and Helen." (Wikimedia Commons)

How Gluck's 'Paride Ed Elena' Marked Opera's Shift From Singing To Storytelling

Largely neglected since its 1770 debut, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s opera gets a rare staging by Odyssey Opera for one weekend.

Local Coverage

Feb 11, 2019

Now With A MacArthur, Composer Matt Aucoin Plans To Focus On 'Things That Haven’t Been Done Before'

“What I want to do is going to take me beyond the rest of my life,” Aucoin says. That might sound like excessive modesty — or hubris — but it...

Local Coverage

Dec 13, 2018

Blue Jays by John James Audubon (Courtesy National Audubon Society)

Chorus Pro Musica's 'Audubon' Weaves Life And Death Of Famed Naturalist John James Audubon

Chorus pro Musica’s upcoming world premiere of “Audubon,” an oratorio by James Kallembach, weaves a story about the famous 19th century naturalist and illustrator.

Local Coverage

Nov 6, 2018

Hannu Lintu led the BSO in the opening night concert Thursday, Oct. 11. (Courtesy Hilary Scott)

Bartók's Concerto Fires Up Boston Symphony Orchestra Opening Night

In five bracing movements, the “Concerto for Orchestra” is a powerful reminder that the BSO has championed works that not only remain audience favorites, but have transformed the repertory, writes...

Local Coverage

Oct 12, 2018

The Blue Heron ensemble. (Courtesy Liz Linder)

With A 'British Grammy' In Tow, Blue Heron Kicks Off Its Season With An Ear To The Future

The Gramophone Classical Music Award “shows that we are as good as the Europeans,” says Blue Heron's manager John Yannis, “that there’s no reason that Boston can’t have a group...

Local Coverage

Oct 10, 2018

Milad Yousufi “Refuge" is said to be the first classical string quartet ever written by an Afghani composer (Courtesy Terezín Music Foundation)

Terezín Music Foundation's Legacy Of Elevating Musical Voices From Holocaust Continues In Spirit With Afghani Composer

Milad Yousufi's “Refuge,” which will be performed at symphony hall on Oct. 8 is said to be the first classical string quartet ever written by an Afghani composer.

Local Coverage

Oct 5, 2018

The tapestries in the Gardner Museum. (Courtesy Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum)

'True Pearl' Tells The Story Of The Gardner Museum's Tapestries In Opera Form

The opera, which will be performed one time only, was written in response to five huge works hanging in the Gardner's Tapestry Room that tell the story of Cyrus the...

Local Coverage

Oct 2, 2018

Apollo from the video game played in "PermaDeath." (Courtesy Madame White Snake)

'PermaDeath,' An Opera About Playing A Video Game, Reveals Truths About How We Want To Live

The characters play a life-or-death video game that determines the fate of the protagonist, Sonny, who has progressively debilitating ALS.

Local Coverage

Sep 26, 2018