Music
The overall thesis of this short book/long essay is that both Charles Dickens and Prince embody a certain kind of rare genius combined with a freakishly inexhaustible work ethic.
James McMurtry’s Facebook page describes him as “Steadily Shedding Fans Since 1989.”
Aside from English pronunciation issues, the singers put over this remarkably polished and attractive opera by one of England’s great seventeenth-century composers with great panache, matching the superb instrumentalists.
“We take the audience on a journey that’s not part of a traditional approach to opera.”
Even more impressive than the sheer amount of raw knowledge Bill Janovitz puts on display is the way he expertly elaborates on Leon Russell’s familiar resume highlights to create a full, three-dimensional portrait of a very complicated artist (and person).
The 11-piece group frontloaded its 90-minute set for immediate impact, answering the biggest challenge — replacing the vocal charisma of David Byrne — with a communal approach.
Don’t let the redundancy of much of this album’s repertoire dissuade you. On all the vital metrics, Liebestod delivers
Projects such as Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium extricate the resilient voice of the people from the cacophony of current ideological intervention.
Missy Mazzoli’s scoring is generally airy and virtuosic, yet Dark with Excessive Bright doesn’t seem to add up to more than the sum of its parts.
Elvis Costello loves to visit various regions of the past but wouldn’t dare move to any of them permanently.
Arts Commentary: In Memoriam, Michael Tilson Thomas (1944-2026)