THE HANGOVER REPORT – Slightly dwarved at the Armory, the freewheeling stage adaptation of THE FAGGOTS AND THEIR FRIENDS casts its sensuous spell

The Park Avenue Armory’s massive drill hall is a space that begs to be utilized to its extravagant physical potential. With such an expanse, the possibilities are almost limitless — … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Sometimes less is more: Semi-staged presentations of Jeanine Tesori’s BLUE and Marvin Hamlisch’s SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS hit the mark

In recent weeks, I attended semi-staged presentations of Jeanine Tesori’s 2019 opera Blue and Marvin Hamlisch’s underrated 2002 musical adaptation of Sweet Smell of Success. With the focus squarely on … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Music-making at Lincoln Center: Dalia Stasevska leads the NY PHIL in a Ukraine-focused program, The Met brings back Strauss’s ARABELLA

Over the past few days, Lincoln Center was a nexus for some ravishing music-making, courtesy of the New York Philharmonic and the mighty Metropolitan Opera. As per usual, read on … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Sans stars, The Met’s illuminating new staging of LA SONNAMBULA still mines the riches of Bellini’s score

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to catch up with the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Bellini’s La Sonnambula. Marketed as a vehicle for two of today’s most exciting … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Multidisciplinary masterworks in Brooklyn: William Kentridge’s SIBYL and nora chipaumire‘s DAMBUDZO

This past week in Brooklyn, I had the great opportunity to catch a pair of multidisciplinary masterworks, courtesy of two boundary pushing performing arts festivals — one brand new, the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met commences its season with a fluent adaptation of THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF KAVALIER & CLAY

Earlier this month, The Metropolitan Opera kicked off its 2025/2026 season with an operatic adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – In the uncompromising pursuit of authenticity: Eisa Davis’ THE ESSENTIALISN’T and Robert Ashely’s CELESTIAL EXCURSIONS

This past weekend, I was able to sink my teeth into a pair of experimental music theater pieces in pursuit to authentically articulate nuanced aspects of the human experience. As … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Bel canto summer: Teatro Nuovo mounts a charming LA SONNAMBULA and THE VERSAILLES ROYAL OPERA ORCHESTRA debuts

This summer, bel canto seems to be the genre of choice for classical music ensembles, particularly as exemplified by Teatro Nuovo’s 2025 season and the New York premiere performances of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A vibrant slate of offerings enliven the New York performing arts scene during these steamy dog days of summer

Who says that cultural activity dissipates in New York during the dog days of summer? To counteract this myth, I’ve come armed with a slate of happenings — most of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In THE COMET/POPPEA, operatic worlds collide in logistically impressive if dramatically bemusing fashion

There was much anticipation surrounding the New York premiere of The Comet/Poppea, essentially a mash-up of two operas — Monteverdi’s 1643 Baroque masterpiece L’Incoronazione di Poppea and George Lewis’s 2024 … Continue Reading →