THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jonathan Tunick’s enhanced orchestrations sparkle in the starry concert version of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

These past few weeks have been a treat for Stephen Sondheim devotees. In addition to the well deserved triumph of Maria Friedman’s acclaimed revival of Merrily We Roll Along at … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Under Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the MET ORCHESTRA shows off its range in an operatic program of unsettled love

This past weekend, the mighty orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera returned to Carnegie Hall to perform an off-season concert informed by a trio of distinctive operas with overarching themes of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Karlheinz Stockhausen’s slow-burning INSIDE LIGHT immerses audiences in organic electronic soundscapes

Currently at the Park Avenue Armory, you’ll find the American premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen’s Inside Light, a two-part presentation that assembles selections from Licht, the pioneering composer’s rarely-performed cycle of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met revives Mark Morris’s inspired hybrid staging of Gluck’s ORFEO ED EURIDICE starring Anthony Roth Costanzo

For my final production of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2023/2024 season, I chose to show up for Gluck’s masterpiece Orfeo ed Euridice, the composer’s take on the ubiquitous ancient Greek tale … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Over at Birdland, the legendary KAREN AKERS gives a master class in the art of cabaret

Earlier this week on Memorial Day proper, I had the great pleasure of catching the great Karen Akers perform her cabaret act Water Under the Bridge at Birdland Jazz Club. To say … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Maestro Jaap van Zweden commences his farewell as Music Director of the NY PHILHARMONIC

This week, Maestro Jaap van Zweden commenced his official farewell as Music Director of the New York Philharmonic (he assumed the coveted position just in 2018). Over the course of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A recap of recent contemporary operas: Huang Ruo’s AN AMERICAN SOLDIER at PAC NYC and reassessing Kevin Puts’s THE HOURS at The Met

Over the past week or so, I had the opportunity to take in two notable contemporary opera productions, the New York premiere of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier at the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In Sutton Lee Seymour’s savvily conceived BROADWAY BARBIE, the seasoned drag queen continues to mine the musical theater songbook

This past weekend at The Green Room 42, I had the opportunity to catch the final night — at least here in New York — of Sutton Lee Seymour’s latest … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Tony-winner BETTY BUCKLEY returns to Joe’s Pub with an eclectic, exquisitely-arranged set

This week, the legendary Betty Buckley returns to New York with an ambitious slate of six back-to-back shows at Joe’s Pub (I attended the second show on the first night), … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Women taking the baton: Marin Alsop conducts John Adams’ EL NIÑO and Jane Glover leads the NY PHILHARMONIC

This past week over at Lincoln Center, I was able to catch a pair of accomplished women conductors take the baton at two flagship performing arts institutions. See below for … Continue Reading →