VIEWPOINTS – The NY PHIL rushes through a wordless Ring, and Muti leads the CSO to produce Italianate heat and a glorious Tchaikovsky

Over the past week or so, I was able to take in a pair of classical music concerts that endeavored to bring heat to these frigid early days of 2025. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – PROTOTYPE 2025 Roundup: Continuing to push form and content in opera and music theater in exciting and unexpected ways

Over the years, Prototype has become an integral platform for presenting new opera and music theater, often time pushing the envelope in terms of form and content in exciting and … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The robustly-voiced matinee idol DEREK KLENA effortlessly appeases his fans at 54 Below

Over at 54 Below, Broadway’s Derek Klena recently concluded a week of sold out performances, to which many of his adoring fans flocked (I attended his final performance on Monday). … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s new AIDA aims to appease both traditionalists and woke audiences, to mixed results

This past weekend, I made a trip to the Metropolitan Opera to take in the company’s new production of Aida. Having glamorously premiered on New Year’s Eve, Michael Mayer’s anticipated … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – THE BEST OF 2024: Theater, Music, and Dance

With 2024 recently behind us, what better time to take stock of the year that’s just transpired to highlight the performances that have particularly distinguished themselves from the pack. Read … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – More holiday fare to end the season on a high: BIG APPLE CIRCUS, the NY POPS, and the tour of ANNIE muster good cheer

To close out the year, I attended a flurry of diverse performances that mustered good cheer, further ushering me into the holiday spirit. Here are my thoughts on the these … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ravishing music-making permeates the Met’s triumphant revival of DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN

Any chance to catch the rarely-performed opera Die Frau ohne Schatten is an opportunity well worth taking. The fourth of the stories collaborations between composer Richard Strauss and poet/librettist Hugo … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Holiday cheer for adults only: JOE ICONIS and JACKIE BEAT craft Christmastime entertainments that are more naughty than nice

Over the course of the past week or so, I had the chance to take in a pair of Christmastime entertainments for adults, and are by design definitely more naughty … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – HANDEL’S MESSIAH, two-ways: Assessing New York Philharmonic’s spirited rendition beside Trinity Church’s urgent take on the beloved oratorio

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to compare, side-by-side, arguably two of New York’s premiere presentations of Handel’s Messiah. As always, read on below for my thoughts on these … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Bespoke, immersive music-making: JOURNEY LIVE at BAM and Death of Classical’s THE LITTE MATCH GIRL PASSION

This past week, I pursued two live music experience that immersed audiences in compelling and unique ways beyond your typical concert outing. Here are my thoughts on these adventurously bespoke … Continue Reading →