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 – Maestro Nézet-Séguin leads the Philadelphia Orchestra in a rich, thoughtfully curated program, featuring two female composers of color

Last night, conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin returned to the podium in New York to lead his mighty Philadelphia Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. After an unusually hectic few months following the post-pandemic … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – BEAUTY IN THE ABYSS: A hybrid evening investigating beauty and desire from National Black Theatre and the NY Philharmonic

Last night at the intimate Stanley H. Penthouse, I attended a fascinating and insightful program entitled Beauty in the Abyss, which was curated by National Black Theatre in collaboration with … 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 →

VIEWPOINTS – Broadway’s finest at Feinstein’s/54 Below: Jason Robert Brown and John Lloyd Young give their audiences what they came for

Feinstein’s/54 Below has long attracted Broadway’s finest. This past week was no exception, during which time the upscale cabaret club hosted shows by composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown and Tony-winning musical … 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 →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jeanna de Waal draws enthusiastic DIANA fans out to Feinstein’s/54 Below (on a frigid Monday night)

Last night – a frigid Monday evening – Jeanna de Waal drew two enthusiastic concerts’ worth of fans of the recently shuttered Broadway musical Diana to Feinstein’s/54 Below (the first … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Led by Susanna Mälkki, the NY PHILHARMONIC turns in a mostly majestic performance at Carnegie Hall

This past week, the New York Philharmonic played the first of its four Carnegie Hall outings this year. The occasion marked a true New York moment – the world famous … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway sparkle in the return of their cabaret act BROADWAY THE CALLA-WAY!

This week at Feinstein’s/54 Below, cabaret favorites Liz Callaway and her sister Ann Hampton Callaway have brought back their latest show Broadway the Calla-way!, which they originally unveiled in the … Continue Reading →