Gounod was no mere purveyor of gentle sentiments. This 1881 opera, superbly performed, shows plenty of drama and grit.
Music Commentary: The Black Crowes — Redux?
When have the Robinsons ever done what was expected on them? And when have they ever really cared?
Concert Review: Puddles Pity Party — It’s His Party, and He Will Cry If He Wants To
An exhilarating and entertaining evening with Puddles, a most personable and unique clown.
Concert Review: “The Last Waltz 40 Tour” — The Best Approximation Possible
To hear a 13-piece ensemble of this caliber, doing justice to these great songs, was simply hard to beat.
Theater Review: The Sci-Fi of “X” — Revelation Through Disintegration
Part cautionary tale about the fate of the earth, part homage to Samuel Beckett, part theatrical metaphor for dementia, X is a harrowing exploration of the human psyche.
Theater Review: “Come From Away” — A Heartening Tale of Human Connection
Come From Away is more than just a rousing and heart-warming 100 minutes of theatrical entertainment. It’s a poignant reminder, and celebration, of what we’re all capable of as people.
Music Preview: “Roy Orbison & Buddy Holly: The Rock ’n’ Roll Dream Tour” — Virtual Presence
Believe it or not, Buddy Holly is on tour with another deceased rock ’n’ roll pioneer — Roy Orbison.
Concert Review: Blue Note Records Celebrates its 80th at Shalin Liu — Almost Something for Everyone, and That’s Cool
All three groups in this Blue Note anniversary concert were distinctly different. One was shaded with a hip hop influence, one proffered organ trio jazz-funk and one, all female, had singing as its focal point.
Opera Review: A Decolonized “Magic Flute” by the Isango Ensemble
What if you took canonical Western works and reimagined them from an African perspective?
Book Review: “Vernon Subutex 1” — Rock and Roll, Drugs, and Sex Among the Over-The-Hill Gang
Virginie Despentes novel reads like Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia mashed with Don Quixote and set in contemporary Paris.
