VIEWPOINTS – Laurie Anderson’s upbeat LET X = X and Gregory Maqoma’s transcendent BROKEN CHORD kick off BAM’S Next Wave 2023 with a bang

This week, the 2023 version of the Brooklyn Academy of Music‘s Next Wave Festival kicked off with a bang with a pair of memorable offerings (see below for my further … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – More than two decades onwards, Heggie and McNally’s DEAD MAN WALKING arrives at the Met in a new, clear-eyed staging

This week, I was also able to catch up with the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Dead Man Walking, American composer Jake Heggie and the late playwright Terrence McNally’s opera adaptation … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In her exceptional NY PHILHARMONIC debut, conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla firmly leads a program comprised of Schumann, Sibelius, and Šerkšnytė

This past week at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla made an exceptional debut conducting the New York Philharmonic. Before stepping onto the podium to commence … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The unpinnable and fascinating Arca holds court as only she can in MUTANT;DESTRUDO at the Park Avenue Armory

Last night, I found myself at the Park Avenue Armory to take in Arca perform her latest work Mutant;Destrudo. Commissioned by the Park Avenue Armory, the piece straddles both pop … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In his intimate, storytelling driven new show, Tony-winner NORBERT LEO BUTZ gets into his feelings

This past Monday, Norbert Leo Butz unveiled his latest cabaret act at 54 Below. Entitled Norbert Leo Butz Sings Torch Songs for a Pandemic, the show finds the two time Tony-winner … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jonas Kaufmann gives a haunted performance in DOPPELGANGER, Claus Guth’s immersive staging of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang”

This weekend at the massive drill hall at the Park Avenue Armory, I was able to attend the opening night performance of Doppelganger, Claus Guth’s staged presentation of Schubert’s “Schwanengesang”, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Joyce opens its season with the curious dance theater piece HEART OF BRICK, a sensitive if undercooked look at Black Queer love

This past weekend saw the opening of The Joyce Theater’s 2023/2024 season with Heart of Brick. Using singer/songwriter serpentwithfeet’s latest album as the springboard for this curious dance theater concoction … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Fall season teasers at Lincoln Center: Extraordinary soprano LISE DAVIDSEN at the Met and the NY PHILHARMONIC accompanies “West Side Story”

This past week, two of Lincoln Center’s major music constituents – the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic (City Ballet’s season commences next week) – teased audiences of what’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Cabaret Roundup: JOSIE DE GUZMAN makes a welcome return to the New York stage and SETH SIKES thrillingly channels Barbra Streisand

This past weekend, I had the chance to take in a pair of cabaret performances. Here are my thoughts on these nightlife outings, both of which were vibrantly performed and … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Cabaret Roundup: BEN CRAWFORD sings his face off at 54 Below; SUSIE MOSHER and JOHN BOSWELL unleash “Cashino” at Birdland

During these quieter days of late August, I found myself indulging in New York’s vibrant cabaret scene. Here are my thoughts on a couple of these recent nightlife outings. BEN … Continue Reading →