Agrippina (1709), an enormous hit at the Met this past season, proves, by turns, gripping, sardonic, and exquisite.
Film Review: “Cuties” — Girls Just Wanna Have Smartphones
The real problem is the obsessive engagement with social media platforms that encourages attention-seeking behavior, and rewards it.
Jazz Remembrance: Ira Sullivan
In no way was the recognition that Ira Sullivan received commensurate with his skill.
Folk Album Review: Tyler Childers’ “Long Violent History” – An Appalachian Murder Ballad for Breonna Taylor
The Kentuckian’s message is one of both heritage and empathy — and the necessity of both.
Film Review: “I Carry You With Me” at NYFF — An Immigrant’s Epic Story of Sacrifice and Love
The delicious cheekiness of the film is to present a story about two gay immigrants as a swooning romantic epic spanning years.
Jazz Remembrance: The Lasting, Complex Legacy of John Coltrane
Of all the musicians who were harbingers of change, none has had the long-term influence on young musicians that John Coltrane has had.
Jazz Album Review: “Artemis” — Inter-generational Jazz That Expands the Tradition
This is state-of-the art modern jazz, alternately hard swinging, contemplative, commercial, and abstract.
Opera Album Review: A Version of One of Rossini’s Finest — Recorded on CD for the First Time
Rossini’s Zelmira is a powerhouse opera that features two coloratura tenors and equally demanding roles for soprano and mezzo.
Television Review: “Pen15” — Season Two Amps up the Angst of Adolescence
Considering how dark 2020 is, it is a good time for a lighthearted remembrance of things past, before the pandemic.
Jazz Album Review: Christian McBride’s “For Jimmy, Wes and Oliver” — A Mighty Cheery Big Band
Inspired by their leader, bassist Christian McBride, the musicians in this big band always sound like they are having the times of their lives.