THE HANGOVER REPORT – Composer Steve Reich celebrates his 90th birthday with a deluxe presentation of his iconic masterwork MUSIC FOR 18 MUSICIANS

This week, I had the great privilege of celebrating Steve Reich’s landmark 90th birthday by attending Park Avenue Armory’s special presentation of the influential minimalist composer’s shimmering masterwork Music for … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: A vocally splendid MACBETH opens The Met season, The BERLIN PHILHARMONIC lives up to its reputation at Carnegie Hall

This fall, two of the most anticipated happenings in the realm of classical music included the season-opening new production of Verdi’s Macbeth at The Metropolitan Opera, as well as the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – From SINATRA to SARDINES: Affectionately curated evenings reveling in the Great American Songbook

This fall, in between my attendance of intense and highly dramatic theatrical offerings, I’ve been able to cleanse my palette by sitting back and reveling in the riches of the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nightlife divas in full bloom: Falling for ORFEH at 54 Below and NICOLE HENRY at Birdland Jazz Club

This past week, I fell for a pair of nightlife divas in the full bloom of their womanhood. Here or my thoughts on Orfeh and Nicole Henry at, respectively, 54 … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Legendary downtown drag queens relive past glories, gloriously: TAYLOR MAC at the Delacorte, JOEY ARIAS at HERE

Over the past week or so, I had the great privilege of basking in the presence of a pair of legendary downtown drag queens, both of whom have returned to … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Hitting the ground running: Dudamel energetically leads the NY PHILHARMONIC in a busy first week of performances as music director

In his first week in the official capacity as the New York Philharmonic’s music director, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel generated considerable excitement as he energetically led the ensemble in a … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The expansiveness of downtown nightlife on full display at JOE’S PUB: Rizo, Larry Owens, and Justin Vivian Bond bring their A-game

This September, Joe’s Pub has been abuzz with the excitement of a nightlife scene kicking itself into full gear (culminating this weekend at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park with … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Fabulous nights at 54 Below: The legendary CHARLES BUSCH sings Johnny Mercer, the strapping CLAYBOURNE ELDER gets playfully candid

This past week, I had the great chance to catch a pair of worthwhile shows at 54 Below, that essential theater district supper club specifically catering to admirers of the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Broadway talents take on 80s rock and jazz: ANTHONY RAPP & ADAM PASCAL at 54 Below, DEZ DURON at Joe’s Pub

This past week, a couple of Broadway talents took to the cabaret stage to show off their prowess beyond the bounds of musical theater. These would be trailblazing Rent stars … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nightlife roundup: CYRILLE AIMÉE croons at Birdland, MEGHAN MURPHY delivers larger-than-life camp at 54 Below

In the past weeks, I’ve been able to take my feet off the pedal a little bit, which has afforded me the opportunity to lean back and enjoy a number … Continue Reading →