A K H N A T E N

This new "must-see" opera at the Metropolitan Opera House is written by the brilliant

composer and great music master,  PHILLIP GLASS, and conducted by Karen Kamensek.

The role of Akhnaten is sung by Anthony  Roth  Costanzo  who  takes us back

to Egypt in 1300 BC  and changes religion from 72 gods to one God, Aten, the Sun God, and builds an entire new city -Armana.

The opening score  starts with low key notes, in a repetitive quiet, hypnotic  and meditative sound

as though we were chanting OMs while mummification was going on. We can feel the deep throat

sadness during this funeral process .  We experience the lamentation by the huge chorus..and dark candlelight quality.The music is exuberant in the coronation ceremonies of the King  his son, King Tut, played by the 12-year old Oscar Rempe-Hiam, poetic in the love duet of the King and Nefertiti, and explosive in the destruction of the regime and city, by the temple priests who wish to regain their power and kill the King., 

The exquisite golden robes match the gigantic golden sun

Mr. Glass incorporates Egyptian, Akkadian, Hebrew languages. 

The unusual staging for this work  which includes nudity and jugglers is created by Phelim McDermott.

Mr. Glass has composed 28 operas, 12 symphonies, piano conceti, film scores.  He has collaborated with DAVID BOWIE,  PAUL SIMON, TWYLA THARP, MARTIN SCORSESE

THE BEST IN NEW YORK

QUEEN, FREDDIE MERCURY TRIBUTE
starring  BRIAN MAY and ADAM LAMBERT 

The sold-out show at MSG was a masterpiece of performance art.  Brian May
and his guitar was accompanied by Adam Lambert  singing the most brilliant
songs  of Freddie and then to top that two holographic videos of Freddie appeared, leading the audience with DaOh..  They are the "champions" all together on stage.  Freddie's brilliant lyrics of Bohemian Rhapsody  thrilled the audience with"Scaramouch" and :"Gallileo".

MEDICAL  MUSICIAN  INITIATIVE

With Freddie's inspiration Andrew Schulman played "Bohemian Rhapsody"   on guitar,using  every conceivable combination of  notes in major and minor bringing out the brilliance of Freddie's writing. coupeling him with Franz Schubert.  . His  concert for  MEDICAL  MUSICIAN INITIATIVE at Carnegie Hall  started with J.S. Bach, a tune that brought him back to life when he was in a coma ,On his recovery he worked with Dr. Marvin McMillen.  Now,  his group goes into intensive care units to play music for ill patients  Andrew's expertise combined classical and modern composers He juxtaposed Bach and George Harrison, Scarlatii Heitor Villa-Lobos, with Scott Joplin,George Gershwin and the Beatles.  Andrew  is the author of "Waking The Spirit: A Musician's Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul"...info@medicalmusicianinitiative.org

HERCULES
The Public Theater
at the Delacorte; Theater:
Oskar Eustis-Artistic Director: Music Alan Menken; lyrics - David Zippel
Hundreds took the stage for this magnificent performance in the park The costumes were
shimmering, the songs uplifting this Greek Myth of man and god, hero with two fathers,
earthly, and of Zeus. struggling with his divided nature.Based on the Disney film.

THANK YOU PLANET EARTH
for your series and expose on  MERMAIDS ,and the journey of 60 million years,  with unbelievable documentation and visual  shots of both photography and underwater video camera  of this extraordinary species within our waters.
Also coupled with the extraordinary sound recordings of their voices in dialogue with
dolphins.  Travelling with whale pods and beached with them due to destructive  navy sonars,
,one was found live on the beach  and quickly hidden away, after a cell-phone photo gave proof of its existence and hidden testimony of the worker who took the body and tried to keep it alive.  .
Dr. Clarksons research is superior on  the partial corpse found near Australia as is the reconstruction of the skull by his colleague - all of which was confiscated by government officials. And dont
forget BT Barnum who circulated fliers of this creature, before the great fire burnt his museum.
. Is it any wonder that Israel is offering  ONE MILLION DOLLARS  to anyone who can take a photo  of this extraordinary marine life.

They have been with us for centuries, in cave painting, and  described by all civilizations around the world , written about by major navigators, including Christopher Columbus   Is it truly any wonder
at all  that the  OSCAR WINNING   film of 2018 was  THE SHAPE OF WATER, a love story
about a autistic cleaning lady and a MERMAN,  a fish/man that had been captured, and rescued by her, directed by Guillermo del Toro..Really, have you ever heard of such a thing?????? I have.!!!

THE EYES HAVE IT!
A toast to artist LEAH LANE for her fun show at ChaShaMa Window Gallery, space for artists at 266 W.37 st. She carries on the dramatic tradition of her Tony - award winning parents, Broadway producers STEWART LANE and BONNIE COMLEY..
 Although  the pop art show is called "I'm Just Tired", the subtitle is ...you don't have to face the depression monster alone." Depression can affect work, family and social life and can last up to two weeks. This installation, in conjunction with National Mental Health Month  is an anthropomorphic stylization  of the monster within, with the message that it exists and can be overcome..  The environment when you walk in the space is shocking pink fluffy wall covering with a huge pop eye,  with pink balloons on the floor - a happy scenario. However, the underlying message is about depression, and the signs  to watch-feeling sad,feeling bad, fatigue,, can't concentrate,  tired, aches, suicide thoughts,    The number to call for help. is 1-800-543-3638, or call 311 and ask for LifeNet.
ChaShaMa helps artists with low cost space and venues to show their work. www.chashama.org.
And if you are feeling blue, just step into Leah's world, the wonderland she  has created and you will laugh and be happy for sure.

BONNIE COMLEY & LEAH LANE

                                          STEWART, FRANKLIN, LENNY, LEAH LANE

                                                       DEMETRIA & ERIC
                                                  (all photos by Annie Watts PR agency)

with DAVID AMRAM

Musical genius DAVID AMRAM played at "Cornelia in Exile"/Commons in Brooklyn, organized by Robin Hirsch. His band included  his son, Adam. The famous musician and composer gave a wonderful concert at the piano using many different instruments including a double piccolo, a French horn, a Chinese flute and hand drum. He reminisced from the 1950's on  playing tunes once played with JACK KEROUAC, THELONIUS MONK, and WOODIE GUTHRIE, but, it  was his "SCAT" poetry that wooed the audience clapping in time to the music. Maestro Amram also composed Hollywood film scores including "Splendor in the Grass" with NATALIE WOOD,

and is a master of both jazz and classical music and has conducted  many orchestras.He expanded his performance and invited 2 poets to join him on stage with their poems. Run to see him wherever you can, he is the BEST! and not to be missed.

At the famous and beautiful RUSSIAN TEA ROOM, Louis Katsos,EMBA founder  presented  a panel  of real estate executives discussing the biggest question in New York--the AMAZON
deal and why JEFF BEZOS left Long Island City. .  Eric Benaim, CEO /President/Founder of Modern Spaces suggested Amazon would have stayed if MAYOR BLOOMBERG (a seasoned businessman) had done the deal.  AMAZON, AMAZON please come back!!!

St. Pauls chapel, famous because GEORGE WASHINGTON  prayed there and ALEXANDER HAMILTON who is buried there, presented ARTEMISIA, an opera based on the life of 17 century  painter ARTEMISIA GENTILESCHI. It is part of a series at the church, composed by Laura Schwendinger,  libretto by Ginger Strand ,  conducted by Lidiya Yankovskaya, , Music Director of Chicago Opera Theater. Congratulations to all to portray this ONLY woman artist of Italy, filled with rape, torture,blood,, an  eye operation struggle  and success..

Feb 24 is the last day for JEWELRY show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Check out the
Crown of the Andes, laden with gold and emeralds, the moonstones of Queen Charlotte's necklace
the ALEXANDER CALDERS necklace. Start at the feet, then waist , then neck ears, nose, and head, work your way up the body and see worldwide gems, diamonds, pearls, and lots of gold from  - Indonesia, India, Japan, Africa, Don't miss the CARL LANGERFELD  (of Channel)  dress with jewels.    Check out the book too with photos of PRINCESS DIANA, and QUEEN ELIZABETH  .ITS A JEWEL OF A SHOW!!!

Run to see Academy Award Nominee BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY starring Academy Award Nominee
RAMI MALEK who plays FREDDY MERCURY of the band QUEEN.  This actor had to take piano lessons, movement lessons,dancing lessons,  singing lessons and dialect lessons to become Freddy, and he does. Then go to YOUTUBE.COM where you can actually see the two of them side by side.  Rami inhabits Freddy, teeth and all.  This movie made me cry.  A brilliant performance for a brilliant entertainer. 
Go to LIVE AID 1985, and you will see Freddy steal the show from all the other major singers.
Freddy's best song is "Bohemian Rhapsody" - so brilliant.  Lyrics beyond the beyond. Part opera,it was sung recently by a choir from Atlanta, in a song competition
Bismillah,((in God's name )Scaramouch and Beelzebub meet Galileo, who by the way invented
a telescope and founded  the planet Mercury. Ironic, isn't it.

Born Farokh Bulsara,, an immigrant to India and London,  and raised in the Zoroastian religion, Freddy generates its philosophy of celebration.
Rami Malek wants to introduce  the millenials and the new generation  to the greatness
of this shy, generous  man and magnificent, transcendental entertainer who died age 46  from Aids in l991