VIEWPOINTS – Female conductors take on iconic Stravinsky Ballet Russes scores: Susanna Mälkki and Marin Alsop conduct PETRUSHKA and THE RITE OF SPRING, respectively

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderfully coincidental double-header, in which two renowned female conductors took on a pair of iconic Stravinsky scores that were commissioned … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Only in New York: Blockbuster evenings with the unstoppable MARILYN MAYE at Carnegie Hall and the glorious 25th anniversary concert of RAGTIME

Over the past few days, I was treated to a pair of blockbuster evenings, during which I caught the truly marvelous Marilyn Maye in her Carnegie Hall debut, as well … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David McVicar’s conservative staging of Bellini’s NORMA returns to the Met with a merely adequate cast

This past week, I made it back to the Metropolitan Opera to catch the revival of David McVicar’s 2017 staging of Bellini’s Norma. The primary reason to catch the production … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The great Donna McKechnie charts her career via Sondheim in TAKE ME TO THE WORLD at 54 Below

Last night at 54 Below, I had the great privilege of catching the great Donna McKechnie’s latest cabaret act. Entitled Take Me to the World — The Songs of Stephen … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – François Girard’s musically resplendent new production of Wagner’s LOHENGRIN continues the bleak saga that began with PARSIFAL

Last night, I attended the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Lohengrin by Richard Wagner. As one of the composer’s Romantic operas, the 1850 work includes elements of traditional grand opera … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The great JENNIFER HOLLIDAY shines brightly in her sensational Diamond Series debut at 54 Below

Last night, I had the great opportunity to catch the final show of the great Jennifer Holliday’s sensational inaugural Diamond Series residency at 54 Below. In short, the Broadway star … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin’s CASSETTE ROULETTE is an ecstatic display of downtown swagger

Over the course of a number of weeks this winter at Joe’s Pub, John Cameron Mitchell (of Hedwig and the Angry Inch fame) and cabaret star Amber Martin have teamed … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Broadway’s MELISSA ERRICO celebrates the femme fatale and all things noir in her cabaret show at Birdland

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, cabaret and musical theater fans wil be able to catch Broadway’s Melissa Errico (My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain, High Society, Dracula, Passion, etc.) … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The fabulous JULIE BENKO flexes her considerable vocal abilities in a Mardi Gras-inspired set

Last night, I caught the fabulous Julie Benko at Birdland Jazz Club. Perhaps best known as being Lea Michele’s — and previously Beanie Feldstein’s — alternate in the current Broadway … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – This week, Herbert Blomstedt elicits ample color from the NY PHIL via Berlioz’s “Symphonie fantastique” and Lidholm’s “Poesis”

This week, maestro Herbert Blomstedt – who this year turned a staggering 95 years old and is still in fine spirits – has returned to the newly revitalized David Geffen … Continue Reading →