VIEWPOINTS – Laurie Anderson’s upbeat LET X = X and Gregory Maqoma’s transcendent BROKEN CHORD kick off BAM’S Next Wave 2023 with a bang

This week, the 2023 version of the Brooklyn Academy of Music‘s Next Wave Festival kicked off with a bang with a pair of memorable offerings (see below for my further … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – More than two decades onwards, Heggie and McNally’s DEAD MAN WALKING arrives at the Met in a new, clear-eyed staging

This week, I was also able to catch up with the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Dead Man Walking, American composer Jake Heggie and the late playwright Terrence McNally’s opera adaptation … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In her exceptional NY PHILHARMONIC debut, conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla firmly leads a program comprised of Schumann, Sibelius, and Šerkšnytė

This past week at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla made an exceptional debut conducting the New York Philharmonic. Before stepping onto the podium to commence … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The unpinnable and fascinating Arca holds court as only she can in MUTANT;DESTRUDO at the Park Avenue Armory

Last night, I found myself at the Park Avenue Armory to take in Arca perform her latest work Mutant;Destrudo. Commissioned by the Park Avenue Armory, the piece straddles both pop … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In his intimate, storytelling driven new show, Tony-winner NORBERT LEO BUTZ gets into his feelings

This past Monday, Norbert Leo Butz unveiled his latest cabaret act at 54 Below. Entitled Norbert Leo Butz Sings Torch Songs for a Pandemic, the show finds the two time Tony-winner … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jonas Kaufmann gives a haunted performance in DOPPELGANGER, Claus Guth’s immersive staging of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang”

This weekend at the massive drill hall at the Park Avenue Armory, I was able to attend the opening night performance of Doppelganger, Claus Guth’s staged presentation of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang”, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Joyce opens its season with the curious dance theater piece HEART OF BRICK, a sensitive if undercooked look at Black Queer love

This past weekend saw the opening of The Joyce Theater’s 2023/2024 season with Heart of Brick. Using singer/songwriter serpentwithfeet’s latest album as the springboard for this curious dance theater concoction … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Fall season teasers at Lincoln Center: Extraordinary soprano LISE DAVIDSEN at the Met and the NY PHILHARMONIC accompanies “West Side Story”

This past week, two of Lincoln Center’s major music constituents – the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic (City Ballet’s season commences next week) – teased audiences of what’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The end of an era: Bidding a very fond farewell to the longstanding MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL and beloved maestro Louis Langrée

This summer marks the final season of Lincoln Center’s longstanding Mostly Mozart Festival. Originally established in 1966 as “Midsummer Serenades: A Mozart Festival”, the indoor summer festival was rebranded in … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Uniquely fascinating sonic/visual experiences at The Shed: The exquisitely intimate KAGAMI and the grandiose SONIC SPHERE

Currently at The Shed, you’ll find a pair of uniquely fascinating sonic/visual installations that had my head buzzing. Together, these boundary-pushing experiences showcase the The Shed’s programming at its best, … Continue Reading →