I’m not sure if the adage, “March goes in like a lion and goes out like a limb” is still true in our climate change era. But there are some powerhouse options for culture in this week’s Best Bets: March 3rd – March 9th.
Courtesy Met Opera)
FIDELIO – Metropolitan Opera – New York, NY – March 4th – March 15th Streaming Option Available
Beethoven’s opera gets a brief 5-performance run at the Met. What makes these few performances so compelling is the appearance of soprano Lise Davidsen singing the role of Leonore.
Usually that in and of itself would not make this a best bet. However, given that Davidsen is expecting twins, these will be her last performances for all of 2025.
Leonore will do whatever it takes to secure the release of her husband who is a political prison. David Butt Philip is her husband, Florestan. The production also features Magnus Dietrich, Ying Fang, Tomasz Konieczny, Stephen Milling and René Pape.
Susanna Mälkki conducts. This is the production by Jürgen Flimm which first appeared at the Met in 2000. The final performance on March 15th will be streamed around the world as part of Met Opera Live in HD.
For in person tickets and more information, please go HERE. For Live in HD information, please go HERE.
ARTEMIS – Village Vanguard – New York, NY – March 4th – March 9th
On the heels of Friday’s release of their terrific new album Arboresque, Artemis has their first-ever appearance at New York’s legendary Village Vanguard.
The ensemble features Nicole Glover on saxophone; Ingrid Jensen on trumpet; Allison Miller on drums; Renee Rosnes on piano and Noriko Ueda on bass.
A great band in a great venue. Who could ask for anything more?
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
DEEP BLUE SOUND – Clubbed Thumb in residence at The Public’s Shiva Theater – New York, NY -Opening Night March 6th – March 29th
This Abe Koogler play about a community in the Pacific Northwest coming together to figure out why a pod of local orcas have disappeared was first produced by 2023. The return is no doubt driven by the award-winning performance of Maryann Plunkett.
She was nominated for a Tony Award last year for her performance in The Notebook. She is a Tony Award winner for her performance in Me and My Girl. But I will always remember her as the first Dot/Marie I saw in Sunday in the Park with George on Broadway.
Also in the cast are Arnie Burton, Crystal Finn, Jan Leslie Harding, Mia Katigbak, Ryan King, Armando Riesco, Miriam Silverman and Carmen Zilles. Arin Arbus directs.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
RAVEL: DAPHNIS AND CHLOE – Chicago Symphony – Chicago, IL – March 6th – March 8th
A performance of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe is not, on its own, a reason to find a performance on my Best Bets. What makes this program so interesting is the World Premiere of Indigo Heaven by Christopher Theofanidis.
This CSO commission was specifically composed for clarinetist Stephen Williamson of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Theofanidis is a fascinating composer and were I in Chicago, I would be at one of these performances.
Gustavo Gimeno conducts. The balance of the program includes Ravel’s Rapsodie espagnole and Barber’s Second Essay.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
ALSOP CONDUCTS BRAHMS, MUHLY & THE FIREBIRD – New York Philharmonic – New York, NY – March 6th – March 8th
Marin Alsop leads the NY Phil in a program that sounds well-timed for its friends at the Metropolitan Opera across the plaza at Lincoln Center.
The concert opens with Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No. 3. Yes, it is named after the character in Fidelio. This overture is one of three the composer wrote for Fidelio but found them insufficient.
That is followed by the world premiere of a new violin concerto by Nico Muhly. Having recently seen the world premiere of his Concerto Grosso by the LA Phil, I’m very excited to hear his violin concerto. Renaud Capuçon is the soloist.
The concert finishes with Brahms’ Variations on a Theme by Haydn and the 1919 version of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite.
For tickets and more information, please go HERE.
That’s this week’s Best Bets: March 3rd – March 9th. Enjoy your week and go see a show!
Main Photo: Lise Davidsen in Fidelio (Photo by Karen Almond/Courtesy Met Opera)