Peter Dobrin is a classical music critic for The Inquirer. Since 1989, he has written music reviews, features, news and commentary for the paper, covering such topics as the Philadelphia Orchestra's 64-day strike in 1996, the development of a new performing arts center in Philadelphia, changes in the classical-recording industry and the finances of Philadelphia's arts organizations.
He has also covered the Philadelphia Orchestra's tours in Asia, South America and the United States. Dobrin was a French horn player. He earned an undergraduate degree in performance from the University of Miami, and received a master's degree in music criticism from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied with Elliott Galkin. His work has also appeared in the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post.
Read his blog "ArtsWatch" to find out who's making news, noise and splash in the Philadelphia arts world and beyond.
Email Peter at pdobrin@phillynews.com
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Chamber Music Society a Phila. paragon
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If ever our town could pull together enough ambition to stage a string-quartet festival, it would be like striking a vein of artistic gold. Were any presenter visionary enough to host visits from the world's most charismatic pianists, aficionados would rush in.
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Peter Nero goes out in style in a lovefest
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Even before his first elegant keyboard gesture, Peter Nero got a standing ovation. "Can we try that again, please?" Nero asked ironically, drawing a big laugh from his admirers.
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Pianist Lang Lang's antics tempered and abetted by conductor Simon Rattle
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If a night at the orchestra were a pure investment-return transaction, Lang Lang certainly gave Thursday's audience its money's worth. It's when the actual music entered the equation that things got a little dicey.
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Nero making his last stand with Philly Pops
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It is entirely possible that somewhere, somehow, there is a jazz joint Peter Nero never played, a TV show or variety hour on which he did not banter, a belter or hoofer with whom he never shared the stage, or a pops orchestra he failed to lead.
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Orchestra still lives hand-to-mouth
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It was a rare sight. Not long ago, a woman stood at the entrance to the Kimmel Center before a sold-out Philadelphia Orchestra concert, holding a sign: "Need one ticket." A few weeks earlier, a couple called the box office the day after a performance of The Rite of Spring and made a $10,000 gift.
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Free Library, Rosenbach seek merger
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The Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation would take over the Rosenbach Museum and Library under the terms of a letter of intent approved Tuesday by their boards.
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Distinct stylists, dynamic sharing
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Mann Center is targeting families with summer program
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Cartoons, sports, video games, Jerry Garcia, the Great American Songbook: Orchestra season at the Mann Center continues to track ever more toward pop culture.
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Van Zweden offers deft, rousing touches
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With the orchestral repertoire as wide and deep as the sea, orchestras don't need to go out and borrow pieces from other realms. But some melodies are too good to pass up, and so the Philadelphia Orchestra reached into chamber music for Friday afternoon's concert, returning with a transcription of Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence.
