Philippa Kiraly
Philippa Kiraly has been a classical music critic for more than 30 years. She wrote for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Akron Beacon Journal in Ohio and, after moving to Seattle in 1991, for the Sun Press and Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Nowadays she writes for The Sun Break blog, The Seattle Times and City Arts.
Recent Articles
Review
A disappointing Mahler symphony at St. James Cathedral
Vocal performances were the highlight of this presentation of Mahler's Symphony No. 2, transcribed for organ and performed by organist David Briggs.
Review
Seattle Opera presents a perfectly eerie ‘The Turn of the Screw’
Benjamin Britten's spare, riveting ghost story keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Preview
Philharmonia Northwest celebrates Taiwanese music
"Orchestras like Philharmonia Northwest are as important a part of the classical music ecosystem as professional ensembles.” Music director Julia Tai leads the venerable orchestra's most far-reaching and ambitious concert yet.
Review
Violinist Augustin Hadelich and SSO in perfect accord on season opener
Hadelich brought delicacy and power to Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, in a program that also included Debussy and Janacek.
Preview
The Core Ensemble presents ‘Don Giovanni’ from a woman’s point of view
In the theater group's take on Mozart's opera, Don Giovanni is punished for his sins against women in a very contemporary version of hell.
Review
Seattle Opera’s ‘Porgy and Bess’ is a cornucopia of vocal and visual riches
The current production is a lively, well-knit, colorful and moving story and production well worth seeing.
Review
‘Wonderful Town’ Lives Up to its Adjective
Seattle Symphony celebrates Leonard Bernstein's centenary with a semi-staged version of his exuberant musical.
Review
JACK Quartet, Joshua Roman at Town Music
On May 10, Town Music wrapped up its 2018 season with a program full of new-to-Seattle works.
Preview
Building an Intimate ‘Aida’
A conversation with E. Loren Meeker, who directs Seattle Opera’s upcoming presentation of Verdi‘s 'Aida.'
Review
Stage Magic and Stravinsky
Seattle Symphony's elaborate production includes piano, puppets, percussion, scenery, dancers, you name it.
Preview
Hero and Antihero at Seattle Symphony
This week at Benaroya Hall, Seattle Symphony juxtaposes heroic Strauss with the world premiere of David Lang's “symphony without a hero.”
Review
An Uncomfortable ‘Cosi’ at Seattle Opera
Mozart’s opera 'Cosi fan tutte' has always been considered scandalous, but in Seattle Opera's current production the real scandal is the cynical consideration of women.
