I’ve been out of the country for a couple of weeks – more to come on that soon – but getting back into the swing of things this weekend with a bevy of events here in NYC.
Saturday, November 14
Silkroad Ensemble 25th anniversary concert at Carnegie Hall: Tonight, Yo-Yo Ma reunites with the globetrotting ensemble he founded 25 years ago with music from across their vast repertoire, including works by pipa player Wu Man, cellist Karen Ouzounian, and tabla player Sandeep Das, alongside traditional music arranged by current artistic director – and fulltime Ireland resident – Rhiannon Giddens. Sold out, but check with the box office for cancellations.
Lincoln in the Bardo final performance at the Met Opera: Also happening tonight is the final performance of Missy Mazzoli’s Lincoln in the Bardo, which from all accounts has been a smash hit. Unfortunately, I never got to see it in the house, but tonight’s final performance – which is also sold out – is being livestreamed for free on the Met’s YouTube channel starting at 8pm, and will be available for viewing until November 18. “This is unknown territory,” Met General Manager Peter Gelb told the NY Times. “We haven’t done something quite as populist, in terms of free programming to a mass audience, since the pandemic. I don’t know how many people will watch it.”
Sunday, November 15
NY Philharmonic performs Tosca in concert at Carnegie Hall On the heels of their triumphant tour of European concert halls, the Phil returns to their original home with their new Music and Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel for the first in what will be a series of concert operas at Carnegie Hall. For this weekend two performances of Puccini’s Tosca, Dudamel – who was briefly music director of the Opera National de Paris – has assembled an all-star cast including soprano Marina Rabeka (Tosca), tenor Jonas Kaufman (Cavaradossi), and bass Ludovic Tézier (Scarpia). For New Yorkers, this is your last chance to see the Phil with Dudamel until next March. Limited tickets still available at the box office or online.