Steve at the Tonys

Steve Cohen

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since February 2, 2006

Steve Cohen is a writer and broadcaster who thinks of himself as a cultural historian rather than being labeled "critic." Broadway librettist and director Richard Maltby Jr suggested that he should just identify himself as “a music and theater lover with a big mouth.” Steve also produced and narrated histories of the Philadelphia Orchestra and other musical organizations for public radio.

Steve Cohen is a writer and broadcaster who thinks of himself as a cultural historian rather than being labeled "critic." Broadway librettist and director Richard Maltby Jr suggested that he should just identify himself as “a music and theater lover with a big mouth.” Steve also produced and narrated histories of the Philadelphia Orchestra and other musical organizations for public radio and won the Armstrong Award for excellence in FM broadcasting.

By this Author

628 results
Page 1
Another evening's Pamina (Karen Barraza) and Papageno (Christopher Kenney). (Photo courtesy of AVA.)

Academy of Vocal Arts presents Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'

This 'Flute' flouts convention
An unusual staging of 'The Magic Flute' gives a fresh perspective to Mozart’s familiar fairy tale. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Lindsay Ohse's Semiramide in happier times. (Photo by Moonloop Photography)

OperaDelaware presents Gioachino Rossini's 'Semiramide'

A family affair
Making Assyria great again? A rarely performed but exciting Rossini opera visits a power struggle from biblical times, filled with incest and murder. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
View overlooking PMA's planned Forum. (Architectural rendering by Gehry Partners, courtesy of Philadelphia Museum of Art)

Frank Gehry's Philadelphia Museum of Art master plan

Letting in the light
Frank Gehry’s redesign at the Philadelphia Museum of Art goes far beyond what was envisioned when he was hired. After an official groundbreaking ceremony, Gehry discussed the details. Steve Cohen considers.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read
Gustave Doré's 1862 woodcut 'Barbe Bleu,' or 'Bluebeard.' (Image via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Philadelphia Orchestra presents 'Bluebeard's Castle' and 'Swan Lake'

Operatic thrills
Yannick Nezet-Seguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra perform Béla Bartók’s exotic 'Bluebeard’s Castle' with Metropolitan Opera stars. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
The cast of 'Doctor Atomic' wrestles with its conscience. (Photo by Karli Cadel)

Curtis Institute presents John Adams and Peter Sellars's 'Doctor Atomic'

Having a blast
The Curtis Institute's radical restaging of the John Adams/Peter Sellars opera 'Doctor Atomic' makes a powerful impact. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read
Edgardo (Mackenzie Gotcher) and Lucia (Meryl Dominguez) get their groove on. (Photo by Paul Sirochman)

Academy of Vocal Arts presents 'Lucia di Lammermoor'

Dark production, new perspective
Academy of Vocal Arts stages a surprising reinterpretation of 'Lucia di Lammermoor.' Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Brett Day Windham, 'Rosary,' 2008-2013, mixed media. (Photo courtesy of Brett Day Windham)

Barnes Foundation's Person of the Crowd: The Contemporary Art of Flânerie

Walk it out
Person of the Crowd, the latest installation at the Barnes Foundation, is a far cry from what the museum's founder considered to be art. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Stephanie Blythe in the "trousers role" of Tancredi. (Photo by Kelly & Massa Photography)

Opera Philadelphia presents Gioachino Rossini’s 'Tancredi'

No more happy ending
A rare Rossini opera is revived as a vehicle for star mezzo Stephanie Blythe. It turns out to have many more merits. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Rodin's 'Damned Women' don't seem to mind. (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, bequest of Jules E. Mastbaum, 1929)

The Rodin Museum presents a new installation of 'The Kiss'

Feels like the first time
Auguste Rodin's 'The Kiss' is presented in a whole new way with an installation that pairs the sculpture with others from the Rodin Museum's collection. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Sisters Nadia (left) and Lili Boulanger in 1913. (Photo via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Week two of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Paris Festival (second review)

Ladies first
Week two of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Paris Festival brought a pleasant surprise at the top of the bill. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
The Paris Festival is missing a certain je ne sais quois. (Photo via Creative Commons/Flickr)

Week One of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Paris Festival

Ou sont les Parisiens?
Week one of the Philadelphia Orchestra's Paris Festival brought composers from far beyond the city's limits. Was it too far-flung? Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Jenna Kuerzi and Andrew Clotworthy nosing around. (Photo by Dave Sarrafian)

EgoPo Classic Theater presents 'The Nose'

An in-your-face Gogol adaptation
An attack on Russian governmental bureaucracy is the disguised EgoPo Classic Theater's surreal new adaptation of Gogol’s 'The Nose.' Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
AVA second-year soprano JoAna Rusche as Tamara. (Photo by Dan Valentino)

Academy of Vocal Arts presents Anton Rubinstein's 'The Demon'

Devilishly good
'The Demon,' an extremely rare Russian opera, is presented in an authentic style by a well-trained ensemble at the Academy of Vocal Arts. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
Art Garfunkel at the Paley Media Center in 2013. (Photo via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

Art Garfunkel in concert at the Keswick Theatre

Troubled water, bridge out
Art Garfunkel used to sing, “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?” This month, his Keswick Theatre audience asked a similar question. Steve Cohen reviews.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read
The big, beautiful Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ. (Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Orchestra)

The Philadelphia Orchestra with organist Paul Jacobs (first review)

Some set of pipes!
A rousing concert celebrating the history of organs with the Philadelphia Orchestra reminded Steve Cohen of the biggest disaster in the orchestra’s history.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 3 minute read