From Pushkin to Poulenc, the classic arts scene in New York is never quiet. Here is just a sampling of some of the classic arts events happening this week.
American Ballet Theatre kicks off their summer season at the Metropolitan Opera House with Onegin, running June 18-22. The ballet by John Cranko is based on Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin, about a young country girl named Tatiana who becomes smitten with her sister’s fiance’s friend Eugene Onegin. This story is most often seen on the Met stage in the form of Tchaikovsky’s opera of the same name. The ballet uses music by Tchaikovsky as well, arranged by Kurt-Heinz Stolze, but avoids using music from the opera. ABT’s production features scenic and costume design by Tony winner Santo Loquasto.
On Site Opera begins its summer Opera in the Garden series June 19 with a Juneteenth Celebration. Curated by baritone Kenneth Overton, the concert features a selection of arias and art songs showcasing Black composers and librettists, including Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, and Langston Hughes. In addition to Overton, featured performers include soprano Kimberli Render, mezzo-soprano Krysty Swann, and tenor Chauncey Packer.
The Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series kicks off June 18 at Central Park’s SummerStage. Soprano Leah Hawkins, tenor Mario Chang, and bass-baritone Michael Sumuel will perform with Met assistant conductor Dimitri Dover at the podium. These artists will give a second concert June 20 at Brooklyn Bridge Park.
The Orchestra of St. Luke’s 2024 Bach Festival continues June 18 at Carnegie Hall with violinist Augustin Hadelich performing two reconstructed concertos, based on harpsichord concertos in D minor and F minor which have been speculated to have been originally written for violin, although there is not scholarly agreement on this point. Even so, whether original or not, Augustin Hadelich will be performing them on the violin along with the orchestra, conducted by Bernard Labadie.
Queer the Ballet presents Dream of a Common Language June 21-23. The new evening-length ballet is inspired by the 1978 poetry collection of the same name by poet and activist Adrienne Rich. The ballet includes choreography by Adriana Pierce, Minnie Lane, Rosie Elliott, and Lenai Alexis Wilkerson, and is directed by Pierce.
The Chelsea Music Festival’s 15th season begins June 21 with “Connecting the Dots,” a program featuring works by composers from Poulenc and Clara Schumann to John Williams and Augusta Read Thomas. Conductor Ken-David Masur will lead an ensemble of festival artists, who will be joined by Aizuri Quartet and WyndSync. The Chelsea Music Festival continues through June 29.
YY Dance Company will present the world premiere of Somewhere June 20 at NY Live Arts. Somewhere is the second of a trilogy which began with Nowhere which premiered at Chelsea Factory last year. Somewhere is choreographed by Yue Yin to music by Michel Banabila.
Twyla Tharp’s How Long Blues, continues performances at Little Island through June 23. Tony winner Michael Cerveris stars in the world premiere, which features original music and arrangements by T Bone Burnett and David Mansfield, scenic and costume design by Santo Loquasto, lighting design by Justin Townsend, and sound design by Scott Lehrer.
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