VIEWPOINTS – Two icons of music lend their considerable talent and star power to Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival

Two recent high points of the ongoing White Light Festival were the contributions of two icons of the music world – classical music’s superstar conductor Gustavo Dudamel and jazz legend … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Proof that classical music can be among the coolest things in town: Philip Glass’s AKHNATEN & the Currentzis-led Verdi REQUIEM

Last week, I attended two highly anticipated classical music events that were among the hottest tickets in town, proving that art form can be — contrary to the general thought … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Christine Goerke unveils a very human Isolde via the NSO’s dramatically and musically alert performance of Wagner’s intoxicating score

Yesterday at David Geffen Hall, Gianandrea Noseda led the National Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Act II of Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. The raison d’être for the concert, an offering at this … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in full swing with the welcome return of THE MANGANIYAR SEDUCTION and James MacMillan’s searing new STABAT MATER

This past week found Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival in full swing with two offerings that exemplified, at its purest, the festival’s core tenet – the belief that transcendence and illumination of the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – “The Scottish Play” two-ways (or maybe three or four): CSC’s MACBETH, Roundabout’s SCOTLAND, PA, etc.

This fall in New York, “The Scottish Play” is all the rage, as evidenced by two high profile productions of and inspired by the Shakespeare tragedy that recently opened Off-Broadway. At … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – BAM’s Next Wave continues with a barrage of ninja-like, boundary-pushing offerings (and not all of them involve live performance)

Last week saw BAM’s 2019 Next Wave — so far — at its most daringly eclectic via a barrage of short, ninja-like productions. Collectively (if not individually), they pushed the boundaries of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Lincoln Center’s genre-blurring WHITE LIGHT FESTIVAL commences its 10th anniversary, looking to the past for transcendence

Last week marked the commencement of Lincoln Center’s White Light Festival, which this year is celebrating its 10th anniversary. In this incredibly crowded fall theater, dance, and classical music season, what … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Legends of ballet at work: Wendy Whelan collaborates in THE DAY and Herman Cornejo’s 20th anniversary celebration

This weekend, I had the privilege of catching superstar dancers Herman Cornejo and Wendy Whelan, two legends of the ballet world whose careers continue to inspire and awe. On Saturday … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Gershwins’ PORGY AND BESS receives a sturdy new staging at the Met, led by the superb pairing of Eric Owens and Angel Blue

This afternoon, I caught a performance of the Metropolitan Opera’s new staging of the Gershwins’ 1935 American folk opera Porgy and Bess. The production launched the mighty opera company’s 2019-2020 season … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Lincoln Center’s MOSTLY MOZART FESTIVAL necessarily evolves into an eclectic festival of riches

This weekend marks the conclusion of this year’s Mostly Mozart Festival, courtesy of Lincoln Center. With the demise of the Lincoln Center Festival a few years ago, the institution’s other performing … Continue Reading →