"Right to Spring' by Ballet X

Matthew Neenan has filled his high-energy Right to Spring with bold movements that require both classical precision and a rigorous athleticism. It’s a work capable of bridging modern dance and classical ballet.

Right to Spring. Choreography by Matthew Neenan; music by Matthew Pierce. Ballet X production through March 30, 2008 at Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St. (at Spruce). (215) 546-8824 or www.balletx.org.

Jim Rutter

Mar 29, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

"Jasper Johns: Gray" at the Met in N.Y.

In “Jasper Johns: Gray,” the Metropolitan Museum of Art has mounted a retrospective of perhaps the most signal American artist of the past half century, viewed through the prism of the single color that most aptly defines him. This intelligent show of a most elusively intelligent mind points up both the undoubted strengths and ultimate limitations of Johns’s riddling art.

“Jasper Johns: Gray.” Through May 4, 2008 at Metropolitan Museu

Robert Zaller

Mar 29, 2008 · Articles · 6 minute read

Vox Ama Deus Mass in B Minor

Should a conductor interrupt a secular performance of a religious work with a statement that clearly reflects his own religious views? How do we define the limits of appropriate behavior in a multi-religious society?

Vox Ama Deus: Bach Mass in B Minor. Bonnie Hoke, soprano; Jody Kidwell, alto; Timothy Bentch, tenor; Ed Bara, bass. Valentin Radu, conductor. March 21, 2008 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. (610) 688-2800 or

Tom Purdom

Mar 25, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Angela Meade's Met debut

It is 18 minutes after eight on Friday, March 21, and an audience of 3,500 sits in the Met awaiting one of the most difficult of all soprano arias. About to sing it is Angela Meade, a substitute artist making her Met debut with one day’s notice.

Ernani. Opera by Giuseppe Verdi. Roberto Abbado, conuctor. March 21, 26, 29 at Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York. (212) 362-6000 or www.metoperafamily.o

Steve Cohen

Mar 25, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

"Merchant of Venice' at Temple

While the current production at Temple’s Tomlinson Theater is unexceptional, all the ingredients are still there: the tension of the pound-of-flesh drama, the glorious poetry, the story of the three caskets. And the anti-Semitism.

The Merchant of Venice. By William Shakespeare; directed by Dan Kern. Temple Theaters production through March 29, 2008 at Tomlinson Theater, 1301 W. Norris St. (215) 204-8414 or

Rathe Miller

Mar 25, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Petukhov's "Carmen' ballet

Bizet’s Carmen as a modern Russian folk ballet, told from Don José’s perspective to a techno-music score? Yes, I too was skeptical. But Yuri Petukhov’s psychologically complex choreography and alterations to the text rendered the inner story of José’s deadly infatuation into something far more dark and haunting.

Carmen. Ballet choreographed by Yuri Petukhov; music from Bizet’s opera re-orchestrated by Igor Ponomazen

Jim Rutter

Mar 23, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

AVA's "Kát'a Kabanová'

The AVA’s production of Leos Janacek’s Kát'a Kabanová was a significant achievement, especially when you consider the obstacles.

Kát'a Kabanová. Opera by Leos Janacek; directed by Blanka Zizka. Academy of Vocal Arts
 production Feb. 22-March 1, 2008 at Helen Corning Warden Theater, 1920 Spruce St. (215) 735-1685 or www.avaopera.com.

Steve Cohen

Mar 17, 2008 · Articles · 3 minute read

Fumo and the Barnes move

The departing power broker Vincent Fumo claimed to have delivered $8 billion in funding to Philadelphia in 30 years as a state senator. But his biggest allocation of all is one he refuses to take credit for— a secret fund to facilitate the move of the Barnes Foundation to Philadelphia.

Robert Zaller

Mar 15, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read

Curtis Opera's 'Ainadamar'

Homage to Garcia Lorca

Ainadamar, "the fountain of tears," is a beautiful piece of music. But you must come equipped with some prior knowledge of the life and times of the poet Federico Garcia Lorca and the Spanish Civil War.

Ainadamar. Opera by Osvaldo Golijov; libretto by David Henry Hwang; directed by Chas Rader-Shieber; Corrado Rovaris, conductor. Curtis Opera Theatre production March 14-16, 2008 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center. (215) 893-1999 or

Steve Cohen

Mar 15, 2008 · Articles · 4 minute read

Rhorer conducts Chamber Orchestra

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia introduces another winner from the Solzhenitsyn Generation: the 35-year-old French conductor Jeremie Rhorer.

Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia: Rameau, Suite from Hippolyte et Aricie; Boieldieu, Harp Concerto in C Major; Debussy, Danses sacrées et profane (Elizabeth Hainen, harp); Rameau, Suite from Les Indes galantes. Jeremie Rhorer, conductor. March 9, 2008 at Perelman Theater, Kimmel C

Tom Purdom

Mar 15, 2008 · Articles · 5 minute read