High spirits prevail aboard HMS Pinafore as Little Buttercup distributes sweets and tobacco to the crew. Common sailor Ralph Rackstraw's mind, however, is on Josephine. He is in love with her even though she is pf another class. The prospective couple have sumptuous voices. Soprano Kate Bass has a wide ranging lyricism, with a bright top and an intelligent reading of song and phrase. Daniel Greenwood, an enticing edge to his big tenor.

Five generations have farmed this vast land located two hours east of Lisbon, Portugal. Farming includes crops, forests and grapes. The estate is sprawling and impressive architecturally. Wine production with emerging technology has catapulted these reasonably priced wines into the world market.

In the center of a spacious plaza, a 9-foot modern day Military Working Dog Handler stands with larger-than-life bronze statues of four of the more common breeds of Military Working Dogs utilized by the United States Department of Defense since World War II: Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, and Belgian Malinois.

A decision on an appeal by Attorney General of Massachusetts, Maura Healey, to halt the sale of 40 key works of art at Sothebys on behalf of the Berkshire Museum will be decided by the end of January. Van Shields, now on medical leave as director of the museum, and board president, Elizabeth "Buzz" McGraw, announced their $60 million plans for a New Vision in July. What started as a local story has morphed into national and global coverage. The outcome of this unethical attempt at deaccessioning by a pariah museum may have a game changing impact on the mandate of all American museums' commitment to preserve and conserve collections for future generations.

The production of Cinderella by twelve-year-old Alma Deutscher is delightful. The overall ambiance starts with well delineated characters, portrayed by excellent singer/actors. In addition to the leads, comic highlights are offered by the frivolous stepsisters, the supercilious king, and the fopish minister, while magic is provided by the mysterious woman in the forest who will reappear in a different form.

Can anyone outdo Harry Houdini? "A Regular Little Houdini" suggests yes. A young boy's fascination with magic and then escaptistry helps him save his family's honor. This charming and moving one-man show touches in ways that escape artists usually don't through a spellbinding performance by Daniel Llewelyn-Williams.

Scorching School of Rock seems vital these days. An equity national touring production of the musical, based on the film, sizzles. Show will inspire you to "Stick it to the Man" (or Woman) yourself.

The Orchestra Now is still a new presence on the classical music scene in New York but it is, on the surface, a pretty good idea. Conceived by Bard College president Leon Botstein, T?N (as they style themselves) is the renamed, re-packaged, re-marketed top-level student orchestra of that august educational institution. On Thursday night, the Bard students visited Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall to play an ambitious program under the baton of JoAnn Falletta.

Ft. Lauderdale theater company presents an enthralling production of The Secret Garden through Dec. 31. Humanity shines through in a well-acted, designed production. Humor and pathos combine to create a memorable theatrical experience.

As the audience comes into the rotunda of the Guggenheim Museum, now filled with chairs, the overflow extends upwards around the spiral, leaning out and up to see the singers. We are confronted immediately by the tops of this particular Christmas tree formation, as a new kind of star is the central piece of the Art in China After 1989 exhibit. A dragon’s tail topped by a bicycle is Chen Zhen’s Precipitous Parturition.

Much excitement attends the opening of Farinelli and The King which has come across the pond to the Belasco Theater in New York. Mark Rylance, winner of multiple Tony and Academy Awards, leads the cast. Consummate counter tenor Iestyn Davies, whose mother derailed him from a pop music career, wows audiences who have never heard a voice of such beauty. In the end, music triumphs.

National Chorale mounted its 50th Messiah sing in at David Geffen Hall. The chorus of thousands, one of the largest in the world, was led by sixteen difference conductors representing such institutions as West Point, St. Patrick's Cathedral, colleges and even high schools. Each conductor introduced the chorus s/he led, many directing us to pay particular attention at the conclusion.

St. Thomas Church at 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City is known for its music. Its organ has recently been replaced, but was not called upon for a beautiful concert featuring Benjamin Britten’s Carols. Accompaniment was provided by a harp. Never has an instrument been displayed so fully in its glory as it was by Bridget Kibbey. The composer wrote for the harp and specifically noted that the interlude should not be played if a piano was used.

The 2017 version of Winter Shorts in South Florida features a diverse group of plays which is a hallmark of this season's line-up of shows.

As Mozart's most popular romantic comedy, Le Nozze di Figaro is more than just the story of a crazy household in Spain getting ready for two of its servants to get hitched. Based on what was (at the time) a controversial play by Pierre de Beaumarchais, Figaro is an opera that makes the listener confront ideas of social justice and shouts of the need for equality between different classes within the microcosm of Aguas Frescas, the Almaviva estate. Looking at the opera in this way, the Met's current revival of the company's 2014 production could not be better timed.

As one of the oldest and largest celebrations of its kind in the country, First Night Saratoga is the most affordable, accessible, safe and exciting way to spend New Year's Eve in New York's capital region. With over 170 different performances from 6pm to midnight, this event is great for everyone from kids to couples who want a fun night out on the town!

MASS MoCA heads into the winter/spring season with new works in the spotlight, on stage, and in the galleries. The season kicks off on January 20 with the museum’s annual Free Day, when MASS MoCA opens its galleries, free of charge, and activates its art with family-focused activities and performances throughout the day.

An intimate photo-series about Horseshoe Crabs, washed ashore, and a short essay in poetry form highlight our wold-wide situation, known as 'Climate Change,' and its consequences.

International companies will travel to Becket, Massachusetts, from Denmark, Israel, Belgium, Australia, France, Spain, and Scotland. Notably, representation from across the United States ranges from New York City, Minneapolis, and Houston to Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Chicago, among others.

Since Biblical times, wine has been produced in Israel. Originally for religious observances, but, now for consumers, who compose 85% of the market, with the United States, as the leading importer. Kosher wines are produced the same way as non-kosher wines. For that reason, consumers are looking at the wine for what it s, not because its Kosher. Six wines were sampled for this article.

Hancock Shaker Village, near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was decorated for the holidays during a late afternoon stroll with carolers, musicians and dressed-up staff from this timeless Shaker community. Drinks, Shaker Holiday carols and festive food was served as guests listened to Shaker stories and songs.

The tedious work of sampling six-hundred plus Portuguese wines for TAP airlines in-flight wine service was an involved project. There were ten wine tasters, seven from Portugal, two from Brazil, and myself from America . Wines were first sampled on the ground and then the top fifty were sampled in the air on a round trip flight from Lisbon to Prague.

An historical comic-drama about Tennessee Williams and William Inge receives admirable world premiere production in West Palm Beach. This engrossing memory play focuses on the little-known relationship between the two great playwrights. The play is a new work by Wall Street Journal Critic, Terry Teachout. His first play was Satchmo at the Waldorf which premiered at Shakespeare & Company in the Berkshires.

On Thursday night, Dr. Botstein directed his ASO forces in a long and compelling program titled The Triumph of Art at Alice Tully Hall. Its purpose: provide much needed exposure to composers whose careers largely took place on the shadow side of the Soviet empire. This concert featured two works by the Polish composer Grayna Bacewicz and important symphonies by Bohuslav Martin and Alfred Schnittke. All are worthy of inclusion by some future artistic director with ambition and taste.

American Composers Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall each year. Their December 8 concert at Zankel Hall was the first to honor the holder of the Debs Composer’s Chair this season, Philip Glass. Glass was over forty when he was able to give up his day job. He has created a world in which young composers can compose full time much earlier in their careers. We heard two of his protégés and the master himself in an intriguing and moving program.