THE HANGOVER REPORT – Under the baton of maestro Nézet-Séguin, the mighty MET ORCHESTRA performs a glorious rendition of Brahms’ “German Requiem”

Last week for one night only, the mighty Met Orchestra performed the first of its two season-capping concerts at Carnegie Hall. Vividly led by the Metropolitan Opera’s beloved music director … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – François Girard’s grim “new” production of DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER returns to the Met, magnificently performed

The pandemic may have been the best thing that could have happened to François Girard’s production of Der fliegende Holländer by Richard Wagner. The Metropolitan Opera’s staging – co-production with … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At 95-years-young, the unstoppable MARILYN MAYE still belts, kicks, and puts on one helluva joyous show

This past week, the marvelous Marilyn Maye concluded her most recent stint at 54 Below. Having just recently celebrated her 95th birthday, I treasure every opportunity to catch the late-blooming … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Superstars JOSHUA BELL and DANIIL TRIFONOV team up at Carnegie Hall for a terrific evening of chamber music for violin and piano

Earlier this week, violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Daniil Trifonov teamed up at Carnegie Hall for a terrific evening of chamber music. Those of you who at all follow classical … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Marin Alsop leads the NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC in a beautifully balanced program including Barber, Corea, and Prokofiev

This weekend at David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, I attended a performance by the New York Philharmonic. The concert was led by the great Marin Alsop, who conducted a … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Simon McBurney’s new human-scaled staging of DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE basks in low-tech spectacle and literally elevates the music

Last week, the Metropolitan Opera unveiled its new production of Die Zauberflöte. Helmed by British theater director Simon McBurney, the production partially replaces Julie Taymor’s long-running staging (I say partially because … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Extraordinary 19-year-old prodigy YUNCHAN LIM makes a smashing debut with the New York Philharmonic

Yesterday, I attended a memorable performance by the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall. As helmed by the exciting young American conductor James Gaffigan, the orchestra has rarely sounded … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ivo van Hove’s potent new DON GIOVANNI arrives at the Met, splendidly sung and surprisingly straightforward

Last night, I caught up with Ivo van Hove’s anticipated new production of Don Giovanni, which opened last week at the Metropolitan Opera. The Belgian auteur’s production replaces Michael Grandage’s lifeless … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – They’ve still got it: Downtown theater artists RIZO and KAREN FINLEY urgently return to live performance

Over the course of the past week, I had the opportunity to catch the return to live performance of two revered downtown artists, both of whom have come out of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The 81-year-old MasterVoices performs a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert & Sullivan’s IOLANTHE

Earlier this week at Carnegie Hall, MasterVoices finished off its astonishing 81st concert season with a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (or, The Peer and … Continue Reading →