THE HANGOVER REPORT – A pulse beats through Nézet-Séguin’s reading of Mahler’s Third via THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

Last night at Carnegie Hall, the great Philadelphia Orchestra performed Gustav Mahler’s expansive Third Symphony, one of the undisputed titanic works in the orchestral canon (in fact, the symphony is … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Processing life through song: Todd Almond’s I’M ALMOST THERE and Gabriel Kahane’s MAGNIFICENT BIRD / BOOK OF TRAVELERS

This fall, a pair of sensitive singer-songwriters — Todd Almond and Gabriel Kahane — have taken to the Off-Broadway stage, each armed with their own beguiling song cycle(s). Read on … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Performance as literal acts of survival: Molissa Fenley’s STATE OF DARKNESS and Miet Warlop’s ONE SONG

Over the past week or so, I came across a pair of performances that were literal acts of survival, both requiring Olympic-level endurance to simply get through them. As per … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: Assessing the anticipated premieres of Jeanine Tesori’s GROUNDED and Meredith Monk’s INDRA’S NET

This week, I had the chance to catch up with a pair of major premieres from two highly established and much loved female composers — Jeanine Tesori and Meredith Monk. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Musical theater lyricist and book writer BILL RUSSELL walks down memory lane with some of his favorite divas

Last night at Birdland Jazz Club, I had the great privilege of attending a delightful one-night-only show hosted by Bill Russell — the thoughtful musical theater lyricist and book writer … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nurturing artists past, present, and future: Reflecting upon the enduring legacy and ongoing impact of HERE

Over the course of the past week or so, I attended a number of performances that had me reflecting upon the enduring legacy and ongoing artistic impact of HERE, that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Michael Tilson Thomas leads the NY PHILHARMONIC in a pronounced, nuanced rendition of Mahler’s mighty Fifth

This week, the New York Philharmonic launched headlong into its New York fall season at David Geffen Hall with a sturdy, terrifically contrasting program comprised of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Star countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo singlehandedly takes on THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

This past weekend at “The Amph” venue on Little Island, I had the opportunity to catch the delightfully scrappy new production of The Marriage of Figaro starring countertenor Anthony Roth … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The great CATHERINE RUSSELL returns to Birdland Jazz Club, regally holding court

Last week, Birdland Jazz Club welcomed back the great Catherine Russell for a weeklong residency. Anyone who has seen this artist knows that she’s the real deal — a vocalist … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Profoundly visceral presentations of dance and music: Sharon Eyal’s R.O.S.E. and Caroline Shaw’s PARTITA FOR 8 VOICES

This week, I encountered a pair of uniquely immersive presentations that made live dance and music performances come alive in the most visceral of ways. Read on for my thoughts … Continue Reading →