Walking down Fifth Avenue just after dark last night, we could see the two commemorative 9/11 light shafts. They were at the foot of Manhattan, shining their seemingly endless high blue columns into the sky. The day itself – September 10 – had been weirdly reminiscent of September 11 in 2001. Absolutely beautiful weather, not …
A Little Inspiration Perhaps
As we struggle with what’s happening all around us, from time to time we need a little inspiration. I recommend listening to two choral pieces. Both are pretty remarkable and speak to us – it seems to me – in our current situation. In the first, the Met Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, …
The Met’s Porgy and Bess Revisited
In October, when I wrote about the Met’s new production of The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, I was pretty sure I would be writing about it again. There was more I wanted to say about this important New York event, and now that it is into its second set of performances this season, this seems …
Remembering Jessye Norman
It seems appropriate, at this special time of year, to remember Jessye Norman. The great opera singer died on September 30. The news – including many fine obituaries – has been almost overwhelming in conveying the admiration so many felt for this lady and her special talent. Yet some of us found ourselves delaying our …
Porgy and Bess – A Monumental New Look at an American Classic
When I mentioned to a friend that I was going to attend the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Porgy and Bess he seemed surprised. “Opera?” he asked. “I thought that was a Broadway musical.” Many people feel this way, in part because their experiences with Porgy and Bess have not come from hearing about the show as …