THE HANGOVER REPORT – Soprano Lise Davidsen and conductor Susanna Mälkki gorgeously lead Bethoven’s FIDELIO

Certainly one of the highlights of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2024/2025 season thus far is the current revival of Beethoven’s Fidelio (for the record, my other highlights of the Met season … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Dead behind the eyes: Assessing Anne Imhof’s massive, immersive, and multidisciplinary DOOM: HOUSE OF HOPE

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to take in Anne Imhof’s highly anticipated Doom: House of Hope at the Park Avenue Armory. To be sure, Imhof’s latest project — … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Outrageous international cabaret star MEOW MEOW does a whole lot more than just purr at Joe’s Pub

Last week, international cabaret star Meow Meow took up residency at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater, where she did a whole lot more than just purr. The European chanteuse … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Playing with drama and discipline, the Pappano-led LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA triumphantly returns to Carnegie Hall

After a hiatus of two decades, the great London Symphony Orchestra makes a highly anticipated return to Carnegie Hall this week for two performances only. As led by newly-appointed music … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jake Heggie‘s distilled operatic adaptation of MOBY-DICK powerfully launches the Met’s spring season

Last night marked the opening of the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Moby-Dick — Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s powerful adaptation of Herman Melville’s iconic literary work — launching the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Led by Muti, the revered VIENNA PHILHARMONIC returns to Carnegie Hall with its annual weekend of concerts

This past weekend, the highly revered Vienna Philharmonic returned to New York for its annual set of performances at Carnegie Hall, this time around conducted by the great maestro Riccardo … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – City Ballet stars making their mark: TILER PECK nightcaps with Hilary Hahn and MIRA NADON debuts in “Swan Lake”

Two of New York City Ballet’s brightest stars — star principal Tiler Peck and arguably the company’s current “it” girl Mira Nadon — made indelible impressions in their recent appearances … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Thrilling vocals course through LINDA EDER’s pop, jazz, and Broadway-infused set at 54 Below

Last night, I had the great privilege of attending Linda Eder’s popular cabaret show at 54 Below, her go-to venue to play when touring New York. For those unfamiliar with … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Opera as downtown theater: Heartbeat Opera’s intimately scaled SALOME is an in-your-face thriller

This past holiday weekend, I also had the opportunity to catch the final performance of Heartbeat Opera’s compact version of Salome. Based on Oscar Wilde’s 1891 play of the same … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Divas of distinction: JOAQUINA KALUKANGO, MELISSA ERRICO, and KLEA BLACKHURST strut their stuff in song

This holiday weekend at various venues across the city, I had the opportunity to catch some wonderful nightclub acts from a trio of truly distinctive divas. Collectively, they proved that … Continue Reading →