VIEWPOINTS – Memorable nights at the opera: A dark, prescient new DON CARLOS and a succinct but moving CONCERT FOR UKRAINE

Since returning to in-person performances this March (after a monthlong hiatus in February), the Metropolitan Opera’s programming has been on point. In addition to a heavenly revival of Richard Strauss’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Recent transcendent classical music performances: Lise Davidsen ravishes in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS and Yannick Nézet-Séguin completes his BEETHOVEN CYCLE

Over the last few weeks, I found myself in awe of the power of live classical music. In particular, I found two transcendent performances to be ones for the ages. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Composer Ricky Ian Gordon impressively debuts a pair of new operas in quick succession: INTIMATE APPAREL & THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI-CONTINIS

In recent weeks, composer Ricky Ian Gordon pulled off quite the hat trick by impressively debuting two new operas (with different librettists and creative teams) in quick succession. Here are … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Taylor Mac’s free form jazz opera THE HANG is an ecstatic celebration of queerness and individuality

This past weekend at HERE, I caught Taylor Mac and Matt Ray’s new opera The Hang (the production was supposed to have headlined this January’s Prototype Festival, which was unfortunately … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Notable rising Russian soprano Elena Stikhina shines brightly in the iconic role of TOSCA at the Met

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to catch a performance of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Tosca. The visit – which is likely my final trip to the Met … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at the opera: The Met’s holiday presentation of CINDERELLA and a new RIGOLETTO

Astonishingly, since re-opening this fall, the Metropolitan Opera hasn’t yet had to cancel a performance. This week on consecutive nights, I found myself at the Met relishing a pair of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – THE BEST OF 2021: Theater, Music, and Dance

With 2021 behind us, the time has come to look back and recognize the best of the year’s performing arts offerings. No matter how you look at it, assessing performance … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: Maestro Nézet-Séguin leads the Met and Philly forces in Aucoin’s “Eurydice” and a pair of Beethoven symphonies, respectively

I suspect that no other conductor has been busier nor more engaged in the pulse of New York’s classical music scene than the beloved maestro of the moment, Yannick Nézet-Séguin. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s musically outstanding revival of DIE MEISTERSINGER proves that there’s some appetite for durational indoor performances

I recently had a chance to catch the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of Richard Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Being Wagner’s rare foray into comedy, the opera – which is essentially … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s one-act BORIS GODUNOV, starring the great René Pape, is a striking and oddly satisfying operatic experience

Last night at the Metropolitan Opera, I attended a performance of Boris Godunov – a performance which has the distinction of being the first fully staged opera I’ve experienced in-person in … Continue Reading →