Most of my theater-obsessed friends here in New York are pretty depressed by the state of this season's crop of musicals. And it is easy to see why, based solely on the two shows I saw Wednesday. At the matinee, I saw a superlative production of Porgy and Bess, one of the great "they-don't-write-em-like they-used-to" pieces of musical theater, hailing from 1935. And … [Read more...]
At Tanglewood, a sublime ‘Orlando’
LENOX, Mass. -- Conductor Nicholas McGegan brought San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra to Tanglewood about two weeks ago to perform Handel’s rarely given opera Orlando in Ozawa Hall. Home of the Boston Symphony in the summer, Tanglewood is where James Levine, as music director, dazzled opera lovers in last year’s mounting of Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos. Alas, he left … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: Oct. 1-3
Film: I am no fan of vampire movies, particularly the Twilight series, with its two-dimensional, catatonic acting. But two years ago, a subdued, suspenseful Swedish film, Let the Right One In, put a new twist on the undead genre with its tale of a 12-year-old boy who is befriended by a seemingly young vampire who moves into his neighborhood. Now comes Matt Reeves’ (Cloverfield) … [Read more...]
Cleveland Orchestra talks stall on eve of Miami stay; Palm Beach Opera goes to iPhone
Cleveland Orchestra could strike as early as Jan. 18 Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new developments. The Cleveland Orchestra, which is less than three weeks away from its Miami residency, could go on strike as early as Jan. 18, union officials said late Wednesday, according to the orchestra. That would be four days before the start of its … [Read more...]