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Arts Commentary: Remembering the Culture Wars of the ’90s

December 8, 2022
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Freedom of expression is a more precious commodity than taste. Conservative critics were very clear about their moral imperative; they confidently vilified artists and terrorized institutions. No one won the culture wars — we lost them.

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Classical Music Feature: “Best of 2022” — Unusual Operas Plus Some Songs, Choral, and Instrumental CDs

December 8, 2022
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Here’s my list of two dozen superlative operatic offerings of wildly differing kinds, plus some notable non-operatic offerings.

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Book Review: “Jimi” — Hendrix’s Life in a Beautifully Designed Art Book

December 8, 2022
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Jimi’s sister and a Newton-based Hendrix scholar dig into the archives and come up with a coffee table book that celebrates the rock icon.

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Classical Concert Review: Violinist Christian Tetzlaff — “Playing for Life and Death”

December 7, 2022
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Christian Tetzlaff’s recital was a breathtaking experience, full of dancelike grace, intelligence, and charm.

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Classical Concert Review: Pianist Martin Helmchen  — Balancing Bach with Subtlety and Flair

December 7, 2022
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In his Celebrity Series debut, pianist Martin Helmchen performed a mostly vivid and colorful evening of Bach.

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Short Fuse Podcast #58: Breath, Suspended

December 7, 2022
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In this episode of the podcast, Elizabeth Howard talks to poets Diane Alters and Edward Hirsch about the ways we think about grief, publicly and privately.

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Doc Talk: Two New Documentaries about Political Terror Hit Close to Home

December 7, 2022
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Two powerful films about fending off violent threats, xenophobic and fascist.

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Book Review: “Barred: Why the Innocent Can’t Get Out of Prison” — Blind Justice

December 6, 2022
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Daniel S. Medwed demonstrates just how astronomical the odds are against anyone who tries to question a guilty verdict, no matter how suspect the conviction.

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Classical Album Review: Rued Langgaard’s Symphony No. 1

December 6, 2022
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For balance and virtuosity, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra plays Rued Langgaard’s “Klippepastoraler” for all it’s worth. That just doesn’t end up being very much.

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Arts Commentary: Annie Ernaux, Abortion, and Me

December 6, 2022
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What is literature if it doesn’t kick you in the ass every now and then and get you to act? Maybe that’s what the Nobel committee thought when it awarded Annie Ernaux this year’s Literature Prize.

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