Review: The Philadelphia Orchestra Delivers a Monumental Mahler 3 at CarnegieOctober 25, 2024The Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 3 aCarnegie Hall on October 15th was an unforgettable evening of rich musical storytelling. Under the dynamic direction of Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, the orchestra captured the emotional breadth and technical demands of this vast work. The night showcased both the grandeur and intimacy of Mahler’s vision, with some moments achieving sublime transcendence.
Previews: HANG ON at Antrim Playhouse.September 12, 2024Tappan, NY. After years of anticipation, the Antrim Playhouse is set to reopen tomorrow night in a brand-new location in Sparkill, NY. The grand opening marks a major milestone in the storied history of the theater, which has been a beloved cultural fixture in Rockland County for over 85 years.
Interview: Anthony Roth Costanzo of THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at Little IslandAugust 28, 2024Anthony Roth Costanzo is the first opera singer in a generation to make consistent headlines - not just for his marvelous singing! ARC was recently named General Manager and Artistic Director of Opera Philadelphia -- where only yesterday his new 'Pay what you can,' ticket program broke all boxoffice records! The effort is designed to attract a generation of new operagoers.
Review: LEONA MITCHELL RETURNS TO NEW YORK at Theater Of St. JeanMay 31, 2024When a legendary diva, one of the great voices of the 20th century, announces her return to the New York stage after an absence of two decades, fans are generally overjoyed – at first – then curious – then trepidatious – finally, hopeful that the return will be a success.
Review: SIMON RATTLE AND THE BRSO AT CARNEGIE HALL at Carnegie HallMay 15, 2024Simon Rattle is possibly the most interesting conductor before the public today. And one thing audiences can count on is that no two performances he conducts will ever be identical. There is no question that he brings forth fire and magical playing. There is no question he bring forth colors that you never heard in a piece before. But sometimes, one wonders if its all simply design just to sound different, not necessarily better than the rest.
Review: THE CENCI FAMILY at The TankMay 20, 2024What did our critic think: This is cutting edge theater of the highest order. Dangerous and daring, it’s more than simply Avant Guard, it is timeless and contemporary at the same time – the kind of theater that makes you sit up on the edge of your seat and pay attention.
Previews: LA SUSPENDIDA - A JAZZ METAL OPERA at NubluMarch 11, 2024Will Berger is a renaissance man on a mission. When he's not lecturing on classical music and opera, or writing the commentaries for the Metropolitan Opera Radio on Sirius, or co-hosting the live Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts, or producing (and writing) the broadcasts' Met Opera Quiz, or writing books (Wagner Without Fear (1998), Verdi With a Vengeance (2000), Puccini Without Excuses (2005), all published by Random House) he's writing the libretto for a new Jazz Metal Opera!
Interview: Robert And Cristina Farruggia of BEYOND BEAUTIFUL (THE HEDY LAMAR MUSICAL) at Green Room 42November 7, 2023The most beautiful woman in the world. Inventor of the basis for the technological revolution. An Austrian Jew and wife of an abusive Nazi arms dealer. Hollywood’s original bombshell. Hedy Kiesler was so much more than the image of “Hedy Lamarr” the world thrust onto her. Sibling playwrights Robert Farruggia and Cristina Farruggia’s new musical, Beyond Beautiful: The Hedy Lamarr Musical explores the woman behind the beautiful face and how her brilliant mind helped change the modern world. The musical will be presented in concert at The Green Room 42 on Sunday, November 19th at 1pm.
Review: LET THERE BE LOVE at Penguin RepOctober 9, 2023What did our critic think of LET THERE BE LOVE at Penguin Rep? Quite often dramas concerning race, immigration, family squabbles (and other issues that we can’t reveal here without spoiling) tend to be in-your-face, preachy and heavy-handed. “Let There Be Love” is a play about all of the former, with none of the latter. It is charming, moving, hilariously funny and full of tremendous heart.