Front Page
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Southern France
Along the Foothills of the Pyrenees
By: - Jan 02nd, 2018The walled city of Carcassonne, the heritage site Albi with its Toulouse-Lautrec Museum, the Basque cities of Auch and Bayonne, and the Atlantic coastal cities of Biarritz and Saint-Jean-de-Luz are treasures that make this region of France unique for the visitor.
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Metropolitan Opera's New Tosca
Sir David McVicar Gives us Rome
By: - Jan 01st, 2018A lot has been written about the problems with this Tosca. It underwent casting changes in all three principal roles, with Sonya Yoncheva, Vittorio Grigolo and Željko Lucic replacing (respectfully) Kristine Opalais, Jonas Kaufmann and Sir Bryn Terfel. The conductor was also replaced twice: Andris Nelsons pulled out when his wife (Ms. Opalais) did and currently disgraced music director emeritus James Levine was removed in November. In the pit for opening night: the stylish French conductor Emmanuel Villaume, a lucky and late replacement for this all-important show.
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Flashdance The Musical Near Ft. Lauderdale
Adaptation of Popular Film
By: - Dec 31st, 2017A regional production of Flashdance: The Musical achieves mixed results. The lead performer shines in Broward Stage Door Theatre's mounting of the production. Showstoppers "She's a Maniac" and "What a Feeling" make the show worthwhile seeing
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A Study in Contrast Two Museums in Lisbon
National Tile Museum and MAAT Bookend Art and Culture
By: - Dec 30th, 2017These institutions visually and physically reflected Portuguese art and culture, one embracing the nooks and crannies of history while the other exhibited a vibrant openness to contemporary urbanity.
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Pinafore with New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Enduring Humor and Truths
By: - Dec 29th, 2017High 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.
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Quinta da Alorna-Wines from Tejo
Founded in 1723
By: - Dec 29th, 2017Five 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.
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Military Working Dog Teams National Monument
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
By: - Dec 29th, 2017In 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.
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Berkshire Museum Top Arts Story of 2017
Coverage Morphed from Local to National News
By: - Dec 26th, 2017A 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.
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Cinderella by Alma Deutscher
An Opera by a Prodigy
By: - Dec 25th, 2017The 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.
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Houdini Comes to Wales
59E59 Theaters Unlock Him Through Daniel Llewelyn-Williams
By: - Dec 20th, 2017Can 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.
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School of Rock's National Tour
Broadway Musical in Florida
By: - Dec 20th, 2017Scorching 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.
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Orchestra Now at Alice Tully Hall
In Search of Space
By: - Dec 19th, 2017The 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.
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The Secret Garden in South Florida
Ft. Lauderdale's Slow Burn Theatre Company
By: - Dec 19th, 2017Ft. 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.
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Celebration at the Guggenheim Museum
Music From All Ages Conducted by George Steel
By: - Dec 18th, 2017As 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.
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Mark Rylance in Farinelli and the King
London Production Opens on Broadway
By: - Dec 17th, 2017Much 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.
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National Chorale Hosts 50th Messiah Sing
16 Prominent Conductors Participate
By: - Dec 17th, 2017National 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.
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Britten's Carols at St. Thomas Church
Bridget Kibbey on a Celestial Harp
By: - Dec 16th, 2017St. 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.
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Winter Shorts in Miami
Seasonal Series of Short Plays
By: - Dec 16th, 2017The 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.
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Marriage of Figaro at the Metropolltan Opera
The Help Strikes Back
By: - Dec 16th, 2017As 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.
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First Night Saratoga 2018
Light Up the Night
By: - Dec 14th, 2017As 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!
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MASS MoCA Update
Winter/ Spring Programming
By: - Dec 14th, 2017MASS 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.
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Horseshoe Crabs
Dying Living Fossils
By: - Dec 13th, 2017An 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.
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Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2018
Conflating Old and New in Becket
By: - Dec 13th, 2017International 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.
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Pay Attention To Israeli Wines
Quality, Not Quantity Is The Focus
By: - Dec 12th, 2017Since 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.
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Candlelit Hancock Shaker Village
A Holiday Celebration With The Shakers
By: - Dec 12th, 2017Hancock 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.
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