VIEWPOINTS – Nurturing artists past, present, and future: Reflecting upon the enduring legacy and ongoing impact of HERE

Over the course of the past week or so, I attended a number of performances that had me reflecting upon the enduring legacy and ongoing artistic impact of HERE, that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Star countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo singlehandedly takes on THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

This past weekend at “The Amph” venue on Little Island, I had the opportunity to catch the delightfully scrappy new production of The Marriage of Figaro starring countertenor Anthony Roth … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Karlheinz Stockhausen’s slow-burning INSIDE LIGHT immerses audiences in organic electronic soundscapes

Currently at the Park Avenue Armory, you’ll find the American premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Inside Light, a two-part presentation that assembles selections from Licht, the pioneering composer’s rarely-performed cycle of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met revives Mark Morris’s inspired hybrid staging of Gluck’s ORFEO ED EURIDICE starring Anthony Roth Costanzo

For my final production of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023/2024 season, I chose to show up for Gluck’s masterpiece Orfeo ed Euridice, the composer’s take on the ubiquitous ancient Greek tale … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A recap of recent contemporary operas: Huang Ruo’s AN AMERICAN SOLDIER at PAC NYC and reassessing Kevin Puts’s THE HOURS at The Met

Over the past week or so, I had the opportunity to take in two notable contemporary opera productions, the New York premiere of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier at the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Women taking the baton: Marin Alsop conducts John Adams’ EL NIÑO and Jane Glover leads the NY PHILHARMONIC

This past week over at Lincoln Center, I was able to catch a pair of accomplished women conductors take the baton at two flagship performing arts institutions. See below for … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Terence Blanchard’s powerful contemporary opera FIRE SHUT UP IN MY BONES returns to The Met

This week, the Metropolitan Opera’s acclaimed production of Fire Shut Up in My Bones — a powerful contemporary opera by award-winning jazz musician Terence Blanchard (music) and Kasi Lemmons (libretto) — returned … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A stellar cast ignites the Met’s cinematic new staging of Verdi’s LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

One of the Metropolitan Opera’s most anticipated offerings during the winter/spring months is its new production of Verdi’s eventful and unabashedly dramatic La Forza del Destino, which is currently concluding … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Matt Ray’s gargantuan score shines in BARK OF MILLIONS, the latest of Taylor Mac’s sprawling creations

Last night at the BAM Harvey Theater, I had the great pleasure of basking in the queer paradise that is Bark of Millions, the latest in Taylor Mac’s line of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – PROTOTYPE 2024: Immersing audiences in out-of-the box experiences and beguiling new soundscapes

If you’re a fan of adventurous opera and music theater, you’ll likely be familiar with Prototype, an annual festival which for over a decade has produced an accomplished collection of … Continue Reading →