VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: NY PHIL’s “Messiah” at the new David Geffen Hall and the mighty PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA at Carnegie Hall

This past week, I had the opportunity to touch base with two of the East Coast’s powerhouse orchestras, the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra at, respectively, the radically … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Kevin Puts’s starry, much hyped opera adaptation of THE HOURS fails to mine the riches of Michael Cunningham’s novel

Last night at the Metropolitan Opera, I attended a performance of the starry, highly anticipated opera adaptation of The Hours by Kevin Puts (music) and Greg Pierce (libretto). Based on … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The fabulous Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway return to 54 Below with a crowd-pleasing “highlights” show

On Thanksgiving Eve, I attended the latest nightclub act from cabaret circuit favorites Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway, who have settled into 54 Below for a weeklong holiday run. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jill Sobule finally kisses a girl in her plucky rock concert memoir F*CK7THGRADE

Last night, I trekked to the East Village to see Jill Sobule’s autobiographical F*ck7thGrade, which is currently completing its extended run at the wild project. The self told and sung … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Broadway leading man SANTINO FONTANA charms his way through his solo 54 Below debut

Last night, I was back at 54 Below to catch the opening night of Broadway leading man Santino Fontana’s new cabaret act. Mr. Fontana’s show — his first solo act … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s grim production of PETER GRIMES returns, featuring a shattering performance by Allan Clayton in the title role

This weekend, I was able to attend the final performance of the Metropolitan Opera’s fall run of Peter Grimes. With music by British composer Benjamin Britten and libretto by Montagu … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Melissa Etheridge’s amiable theatrical memoir MY WINDOW generously chronicles the rocker’s life and career

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to catch My Window: A Journey Through Life, Melissa Etheridge’s new Off-Broadway mostly-solo show at New World Stages. Set in the mold of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Soprano Sondra Radvanovsky positively smolders in The Met’s new production of Cherubini’s MEDEA

Last night, I was finally able to catch up with David McVicar’s new production of Medea, which opened The Metropolitan Opera’s 2022/2023 season in late September. The staging marks the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Esa-Pekka Salonen leads the mighty CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in evocative and vividly colored readings of Shaw, Salonen, and Ravel

Also while in Chicago, I had a chance to take in a performance by the great Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the acoustically welcoming Orchestra Hall. The performance was led by … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s handsome production of Stravinsky’s rarely-performed THE RAKE’S PROGRESS returns with a vocally sterling cast

This week, Jonathan Miller’s production of The Rake’s Progress returned to the Metropolitan Opera. Given its relatively infrequent appearance in the company’s repertory (the work was last scene at the Met … Continue Reading →