Category: AJBlogs

San Diego is not only the eighth largest U.S. city by population, but also among the fastest-growing. And it has a lot to offer in art — and if the current exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art is any indication, it has great ambitions, too. – Judith H. Dobrzynski

During her years in Seattle, trumpeter Samantha Boshnack has become intrigued not only with volcanoes but with the overall seismic behavior that continues to be a major and often disruptive aspect of life on Earth. Seismic Belt combines her musical and scientific interests in a powerful work of chamber music. – Doug Ramsey

Bernstein’s December 1989 concert performances and recording were his answer to the surprisingly numerous Candide-ologists trying to figure out why a show with such sparkling music had never been a commercial success. And they were so eventful, they only just barely happened — as I saw up close. – David Patrick Stearns

David Lang’s music is too pleasurable to be called experimental – it’s the message, not the music, that may make some listeners uncomfortable. – David Patrick Stearns

Some props haul their own metaphors on stage with them. – David Jays

The first two new productions in Garsington Opera’s 30th anniversary season both feature wild parties with lots of on-stage dancing. – Paul Levy

Twyla Tharp revivals bring to mind how we understood her 40 years ago. – Deborah Jowitt

The dazzling, dense, glorious career of the New Orleans musician. – Howard Mandel

Notwithstanding Dede Wilsey’s megadonor status and her 21-year tenure in the board’s top spot, her future value to FAMSF could be compromised by an eyebrow-raising opinion piece published Tuesday by the San Francisco Examiner — “Questions Emerge about Legitimacy of Museum Leadership”. – Lee Rosenbaum

The New York City subway is not, on any given day, the place to hear the music you need. It’s public in the extreme — in one of the world’s most public cities. And yet that’s where music ambushed me, a few months ago … – David Patrick Stearns