Suddenly, it feels like there’s lots of things to see and hear in NYC this week. Here’s some of the things I’m looking at:
Innocence at the Met Opera: (April 6-29) Kaija Saariaho’s final opera is widely regarded one of the finest – if most harrowing – operas of the past decade. Starring the always-adventurous mezzo Joyce DiDonato, the real ear-opener is the Finnish folk/pop singer Vilma Jää, whose nakedly primal voice pierces through the ensemble like nothing I’ve ever heard onstage at the Met.
Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall (April 9-10) There’s been a lot of drama surrounding BSO’s recent dismissal of Andris Nelsons, but I expect the music will take a front seat at these two concerts, which includes excerpts from John Adams’ Nixon in China (with Thomas Hampson and Renée Fleming) and Grieg’s Piano Concerto with Lang Lang. Nelsons conducts both programs; we’ll see if he and the BSO musicians bring their red carnations with them.
Golda Schultz and Yarn/Wire with the NY Philharmonic (April 8-10) An almost all-American program this week at the Phil, highlighted by the world premiere of George Lewis’ “…ohne festen Wohnsitz” (… without a fixed residence) featuring veteran piano/percussion ensemble Yarn/Wire. South African soprano Golda Schultz sings Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and Stravinsky’s No Word from Tom, from The Rake’s Progress.
Vicky Chow and Mivos Quartet perform Morton Feldman at Roulette (April 8) The Bang on a Can pianist joins the veteran new music quartet for a performance of Morty’s spacious Piano and String Quartet. (Livestream tonight at 8pm.)
Natalia Lafourcade at BAM (April 10-11) The Mexican singer/composer arrives at BAM this weekend for a two-night stand at the Howard Gilman Opera House, performing a stripped-down solo show, a stark contrast from her recent appearances with the LA Phil.
Glen Hansard with Margaret Glaspy The Irish troubadour – most famous for his starring role in Once – is in town this week to play a pair of shows at City Winery (tonight) and Bowery Ballroom (tomorrow, 4/9). I’ve seen Hansard a handful of times over the years, and he brings the full force of his music every time.