THE HANGOVER REPORT – The 81-year-old MasterVoices performs a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert & Sullivan’s IOLANTHE

Earlier this week at Carnegie Hall, MasterVoices finished off its astonishing 81st concert season with a starry, utterly delightful staged concert of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe (or, The Peer and … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Tony nominee JOHN-ANDREW MORRISON explores his complicated relationship with love through song and banter

Tony nominee John-Andrew Morrison follows up his acclaimed Broadway debut in the award-winning musical A Strange Loop (in which he gave an exquisitely layered performance) by taking a shot at performing … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at the opera: A tenor wows in his Met debut in L’ELISIR D’AMORE and the last days of a monumental AIDA

Over the past week or so, I twice paid a visit to the Metropolitan Opera to take in two staples of the repertoire. Read on for my thoughts. L’ELISIR D’AMOREThe … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Catching up with two storied American orchestras: NY PHIL at Geffen Hall and the BSO at Carnegie Hall

Over the last few days, I had the opportunity to catch up with two storied American orchestras – the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Geffen Hall … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nights at the opera: Terence Blanchard’s jazzy, turbulent CHAMPION opens & Lise Davidsen glimmers in DER ROSENKAVALIER

On two consecutive nights this week, I had the opportunity to take in a pair of notable productions at the Metropolitan Opera – one an anticipated premiere and the other … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At NYU Skirball, Phelim McDermott reveals his immense, deep obsession with Philip Glass in TAO OF GLASS

This past weekend, I attended the New York premiere of Tao of Glass at NYU Skirball by actor and director Phelim McDermott (who, on the day I attended the show, won a … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Female conductors take on iconic Stravinsky Ballet Russes scores: Susanna Mälkki and Marin Alsop conduct PETRUSHKA and THE RITE OF SPRING, respectively

This past Friday, I had the pleasure of attending a wonderfully coincidental double-header, in which two renowned female conductors took on a pair of iconic Stravinsky scores that were commissioned … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Only in New York: Blockbuster evenings with the unstoppable MARILYN MAYE at Carnegie Hall and the glorious 25th anniversary concert of RAGTIME

Over the past few days, I was treated to a pair of blockbuster evenings, during which I caught the truly marvelous Marilyn Maye in her Carnegie Hall debut, as well … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David McVicar’s conservative staging of Bellini’s NORMA returns to the Met with a merely adequate cast

This past week, I made it back to the Metropolitan Opera to catch the revival of David McVicar’s 2017 staging of Bellini’s Norma. The primary reason to catch the production … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The great Donna McKechnie charts her career via Sondheim in TAKE ME TO THE WORLD at 54 Below

Last night at 54 Below, I had the great privilege of catching the great Donna McKechnie’s latest cabaret act. Entitled Take Me to the World — The Songs of Stephen … Continue Reading →