Michael Janairo

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Author: Michael Janairo

  • Boston Symphony Orchestra announces 2013 Tanglewood season

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    2013 Tanglewood Season

    By Joseph Dalton

    The Academy Award-winning film version of “West Side Story” will be screened with live orchestral accompaniment in The Shed at Tanglewood as part of the 2013 summer season, just announced by the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In an unusual feat of technology, the original vocal soundtrack — both singing and dialogue — will play as David Newman conducts.

    Other highlights of the season, which runs July 5 through September 1, are concert performances of two recent full-length operas, John Harbison’s “The Great Gatsby” and George Benjamin’s “Written on Skin.” Major concert works will include the Verdi Requiem, Mahler’s First, Third and Fourth symphonies and the third act of Wagner’s “Die Walkure.” Yo-Yo Ma’s best-selling recording “The Goat Rodeo Sessions” will be reprised with bassist Edgar Meyer and madolinist Chris Thile, who recently received a MacArthur “genius” award. Also, Mark Morris will stage a double bill of Purcell’ “Dido and Aeneas” and Britten’s “Curlew River” with members of his dance company and musicians of the Tanglewood Music Center.

    Because the BSO continues to perform without a music director after the departure of James Levine there will be a large roster of guest conductors. Among them, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos leads four concerts, while Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, and Christoph von Dohnányi will conduct two to three performances each. Returning soloists include violinist Joshua Bell, and pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Emanuel Ax, and Peter Serkin. Appearing in recital at Ozawa Hall will be baritone Bryn Terfel, and pianist Garrick Ohlsson, among others.

    Other annual events include a live broadcast of “A Prairie Home Companion” (June 29), Tanglewood On Parade (August 6), and John Williams conducting film night (August 24).

    A variety of discount ticket programs continue, including half price lawn seats for those under 17. In a new promotion, adults under age 40 can purchase tickets for just $20 to all BSO and Boston Pops concerts in The Shed. Tickets go on sale January 27 and are available by calling 888-266-1200 or by visiting http://www.tanglewood.org

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  • Review: 60 Minutes on New York City Ballet

    Meh.

    I often enjoy 60 Minutes for its hard-hitting and enlightening news segments, and I was especially looking forward this segment on New York City Ballet, which has had its summer home at Saratoga Performing Arts Center since it was founded, but will only be in residence for one week in 2013.

    Lesley Stahl provided a good overview of NYCB for a general audience, but the segment lacked specifics. Yes, the dancers are as fit as athletes. Yes, Balanchine is one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Yes, the audience for ballet is graying. Yes, NYCB has financial troubles, though we don’t get any financial details.

    What we learn is that ballet master Peter Martins — a former NYCB dancer under Balanchine who didn’t really like to perform — is trying to continue the legacy of Balanchine and to build new audiences by such critically panned shows such as Paul McCartney’s “Ocean Kingdom” and by highlighting the male dancers, such as Robert Fairchild.

    Though Stahl does ask the good, hard question of Martins about his reaction to the critically drubbing his choreography has gotten, especially with “Ocean Kingdom,” she let’s Martins get away with saying, basically, that the critics don’t know what they’re talking about and that he had sold-out houses for the McCartney-related shows. What the critically response means, though, is that once the thrill of having a Beatle do ballet fades away, City Ballet is left with a dance that may not last in its repertoire. In other words, that it doesn’t have a future.

    That’s something that the piece doesn’t delve into enough: the future. How successful has Martins been in highlighting male dancers? The piece doesn’t say, though perhaps the 60 Minutes segment’s few minutes spent with Fairchild could create some more excitement for NYCB.

  • Fiction writing group seeks new members

    A 20-year-old writing workshop based in Albany is currently seeking new, dependable members with a passion for writing and critiquing and an ability to commit to twice-monthly, 90-minute meetings on Wednesday nights.

    We’re an eclectic group of writers with day jobs, currently writing and reviewing novels, short stories and, occasionally, plays and screenplays. No poetry, please. We’re looking to expand our ranks with like-minded individuals who are as interested in talking about the written word as they are in putting it down on paper.

    If interested, please tell us a bit about yourself and send a sample of writing to alwechs@juno.com.

  • Good things to do in the week ahead

    Comedy

    He lost to a dog act on “America’s Got Talent,” but comic Tom Cotter got plenty of exposure from his stint on the nationally televised talent show. Cotter, who was a finalist on last season’s “AGT,” didn’t waste any time basking in his success. He’s back on the road playing comedy clubs and a few colleges over the next few weeks, including a stop in the Capital Region. Cotter, who has appeared on Comedy Central, “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and CBS’ “The Late, Late Show,” won the Boston Comedy Festival’s grand prize and was voted Best Stand-Up at the Las Vegas Comedy Festival. He’ll do two shows when he plays Albany’s Comedy Works this week. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday. $30-$54.95. The Comedy Works Comedy Club, 500 Northern Boulevard, Albany. 275-6897; http://www.thecomedyworks.com

    Just call it comedy for the ladies. It’s “Pumps and Punchlines,” a touring comedy show featuring four women comics cracking wise about guys, gossip, family, friends, fashion, and of course, sex. The funny females are Christina Pazsizky (Tru TV’s “World’s Dumbest,”  “Chelsea Lately”), Jill-Michele (“Mad TV,” Comedy Central, TBS), Mary Lynn Rajskub (“How To Be A Gentleman”), Arden Myrin (“Mad TV,” “Chelsea Lately,” “RuPaul’s Drag Race”) and Marina Franklin (“The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Comedy Central). 8 p.m. Saturday. $20-$35. Proctors, 432 State St., Schenectady. 346-6204; http://www.proctors.org

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  • 60 Minutes preview: New York City Ballet

    60 Minutes goes behind the curtain to show how Ballet Master in Chief Peter Martins works hard to build a new future for the New York City Ballet on the legacy of its founder, George Balanchine. Lesley Stahl reports on Sunday, Nov. 25 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT.

  • Photos: Art at Albany International Airport

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    Thanksgiving is one of the busiest times of the year at the Albany International Airport. As you travel through, don’t forget to take a look at some of the artwork on the walls as part of the Albany International Airport’s Art & Culture Program. In addition to a dedicated gallery space on the third floor, art works by artists from throughout the region on display throughout the building. These photos show a few of them.

  • NYTimes art critic Holland Cotter to speak at Saint Rose

    Holland Cotter (Photo_New York Times)
    Holland Cotter, Pulitzer Prize-winning co-chief art critic for The New York Times, will offer his take on Western art in the 21st century in a lecture at The College of Saint Rose.

    Cotter, who is The New York Times’ co-chief art critic and a senior writer, has been a staff art critic at the paper since 1998. He received the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2009.

    The free event will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, in the Saint Joseph Hall Auditorium, 985 Madison Ave., Albany.

  • Josh Ritter, Greg Brown to return to The Egg

    Josh Ritter

    The Egg has announced 3 new concerts: Solas and The Duhks on Jan. 12, Greg Brown on Feb. 2 and Josh Ritter on Feb. 13.

    Tickets are currently available to members of The Egg and go on sale to the public on November 28. New memberships are currently being accepted for those wishing to take advantage of the pre-sale. For more information, call The Egg Box Office – 518-473-1845.

    More details from The Egg follow:
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  • Preview survey: some findings

    A few weeks ago, we asked for your input about Preview on an online survey. The aim of the survey was to find out how readers like you use Preview. Of course, this survey was from a self-selecting group, so it is in no way scientific, but it does offer some understanding of what a sampling of readers value in this part of the Times Union.

    Here are some of the results:

    • More than 75 percent of readers say they use Preview throughout the week or longer, which suggests that many people find the information of enough value to have the publication stay around the house.
    • Nearly 89 percent of readers turn to movie-related coverage every week or almost every week, making it the most read subject.
    • Nearly 88 percent of readers turn to the Coming Attractions section every week or almost every week.
    • More than 82 percent of readers turn to the Calendar every week or almost every week,
    • Music, theater and exhibits/museums followed, with 69 percent of readers turning to them every week or almost every week.
    • On the other end of the spectrum, however, nearly 77 percent of readers say they rarely or never read any content having to do with classical music or dance.

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