THE HANGOVER REPORT – Playing with drama and discipline, the Pappano-led LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA triumphantly returns to Carnegie Hall

After a hiatus of two decades, the great London Symphony Orchestra makes a highly anticipated return to Carnegie Hall this week for two performances only. As led by newly-appointed music … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jake Heggie‘s distilled operatic adaptation of MOBY-DICK powerfully launches the Met’s spring season

Last night marked the opening of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Moby-Dick — Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s powerful adaptation of Herman Melville’s iconic literary work — launching the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Led by Muti, the revered VIENNA PHILHARMONIC returns to Carnegie Hall with its annual weekend of concerts

This past weekend, the highly revered Vienna Philharmonic returned to New York for its annual set of performances at Carnegie Hall, this time around conducted by the great maestro Riccardo … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – City Ballet stars making their mark: TILER PECK nightcaps with Hilary Hahn and MIRA NADON debuts in “Swan Lake”

Two of New York City Ballet’s brightest stars — star principal Tiler Peck and arguably the company’s current “it” girl Mira Nadon — made indelible impressions in their recent appearances … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Thrilling vocals course through LINDA EDER’s pop, jazz, and Broadway-infused set at 54 Below

Last night, I had the great privilege of attending Linda Eder’s popular cabaret show at 54 Below, her go-to venue to play when touring New York. For those unfamiliar with … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Opera as downtown theater: Heartbeat Opera’s intimately scaled SALOME is an in-your-face thriller

This past holiday weekend, I also had the opportunity to catch the final performance of Heartbeat Opera’s compact version of Salome. Based on Oscar Wilde’s 1891 play of the same … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Divas of distinction: JOAQUINA KALUKANGO, MELISSA ERRICO, and KLEA BLACKHURST strut their stuff in song

This holiday weekend at various venues across the city, I had the opportunity to catch some wonderful nightclub acts from a trio of truly distinctive divas. Collectively, they proved that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In these tenuous times, JINKX MONSOON shined like a beacon in her captivating Carnegie Hall debut

On Valentine’s Day, I had the great opportunity to catch Jinkx Monsoon make her highly anticipated Carnegie Hall debut in front of an adoring sold out audience. For those of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – MasterVoices’ well-judged presentation of BLIND INJUSTICE powerfully makes its point

Earlier this week at the Rose Theater at Jazz Lincoln Center, I attended the first of only two performances of composer Scott Davenport Richards and librettist David Cote’s opera Blind … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Paola Prestini and Magos Herrera’s immersive processional opera PRIMERO SUEÑO is a transfixing marriage of music and setting

On Sunday night, I attended the final performance of Paola Prestini and Magos Herrera’s new opera Primero Sueño at The Met Cloisters. Essentially, the opera is presented as a fever … Continue Reading →