My top pick this weekend is Boston Lyric Opera’s new film, directed by James Darrah, of The Fall of the House of Usher. This is a mixed-media film set to the Philip Glass/Arthur Yorinks opera. By the way, you’ll see Darrah’s name several times in these listings.

We have jazz, dance, classical music, new classical music, family-friendly theatre, very mature subject matter and some show tunes.

So let’s get to it. Here are the Best Bets: January 29th – January 31st:

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Hélène Grimaud with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra – Debuts January 29th – 3:00 PM EST/12:00 PM PST – Available through May 31st

Pianist Hélène Grimaud joins conductor Nicholas McGegan and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466. The concert also includes a performance of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550.

Grimaud released her album The Messenger last year which features her performing this concerto with Camerata Salzburg. As she’s one of our finest pianists performing and recording today, this is a concert certain to please all fans of Mozart and classical piano.

The cost to stream this concert is $10, but does allow for streaming through May 31, 2021.

TOP PICK: OPERA: The Fall of the House of Usher – Boston Lyric Opera – Debuts January 29th

When I recently spoke with director/designer James Darrah he made it clear how he wanted to bring new ideas to opera and classical music. This film he directed of Philip Glass’ The Fall of the House of Usher is definitely an example of him doing just that.

Darrah combines hand-drawn animation, stop-motion film, and archival footage to tell this Edgar Allan Poe story.

Collaborating with Glass, as his librettist, was Arthur Yorinks.

This 93-minute film opens with the line, “Not what you expected?” If a traditional performance film is what you expected, perhaps this isn’t for you. Screenwriter Raúl Santos sets a young immigrant girl detained at the United States border within the opera. There is also a warning at the start of the film that certain images and scenes might be too intense for younger viewers.

The Fall of the House of Usher features Chelsea Basler, Jorgeandrés Camargo, Christon Carney, Jesse Darden, Daniel Belcher with David Angus conducting the score.

The design team includes Production Designer Yuki Izumihara; Director of Photography Pablo Santiago; Costume and Doll Designer Camille Assaf; Art Director/Lead Designer Yee Eun Nam; Lead Animator Will Kim; Associate Animator Jian Lee and Lead Illustrator Rodrigo Muñoz.

The rental cost to stream the film is $10 and allows for streaming for a period of seven days. I had a chance to see The Fall of the House of Usher and can tell you it is well worth the money. And for those who don’t think they like opera, give this a chance. This film with surprise you. That’s why it is our Top Pick this week.

MUSICALS: RW Quarantunes – Center Theatre Group – January 29th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST

You never know who will show up in this celebration of Broadway. Father and daughter Richard and Demi Weitz have been doing Zoom parties for their celebrity friends (he’s a partner at WME). Amongst those who have participated in previous RWQuarantunes have been Boy George, Josh Groban, Nathan Lane, John Legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Randy Newman, Bernadette Peters, Rod Stewart and Rufus Wainwright.

Whoever the guests are for this Center Theatre Group Fundraiser, they are going to be performing songs from The Book of Mormon, Jersey Boys, Les Misérables, Phantom of the Opera and more. Given CTG’s history and reputation, I’d expect some pretty high-caliber participants.

There is no charge to view the show, but you must register for it. As this is a fundraiser, donations are strongly encouraged.

PLAY: The James Baldwin Project – Broadway on Demand – Now – January 31st

Hub Theatre Group from Lubbock, Texas created a project celebrating writer James Baldwin called The James Baldwin Project. Their show, The Dream Unrealized, part of that project, is streaming through the end of this weekend as part of Broadway on Demand’s Martin Luther King, Jr. programming.

This film features actors Alex Hairston (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Tayler Harris, Jenny Laroche and Judine Somerville (Hairspray) reciting Baldwin’s words and adding their own stories to them. This combination yields a powerful message about how little change there has been since Baldwin was alive.

There is a $5 fee to stream The James Baldwin Project.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT: Grimmz Fairy Tales – Broadway on Demand – Now – March 30th

Hip-hop meets Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel and Cinderella is this show from the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. Creators Ron Lee McGill and Rahsheem Shabazz take on the persona of Jay and Will Grimmz in this family-friendly 71-minute show currently available through Broadway on Demand.

McGill, in an interview last year with the The Charlotte Post, said of the songs they created for Grimmz Fairy Tales, “We want to make this for everyone, not just for kids, but something that everybody—the family—can collectively come together and enjoy this.”

Streaming the show costs $23.54 and allows for 72 hours of viewing.

OPERA: Umberto Giordano’s Andrea Chénier – Royal Opera House – Now – February 6th

Conducted by Antonio Pappano; starring Jonas Kaufmann, Eva-Maria Westbroek, Željko Lučić and Denyce Graves. This David McVicar production is from the 2014-2015 season.

Giordano’s opera had its world premiere in Milan in 1896. It features a libretto by Luigi Illica and is inspired by the life of the poet André Chénier who was executed during the French Revolution.

A love triangle is ultimately at the center of this opera. Chénier says one too many things in the presence of Maddalena, Countess di Coigny’s daughter, about the imbalance between the French government and the poverty that has trapped so many of his countrymen. This is just prior to the French Revolution.

Half a decade later, Carlo Gérard, who was a footman to the now executed King Louis XVI and was influenced by Chénier’s talk, is now a leading political figure. The poet, however, is not in their good graces. This interrupts his plans to meet a young woman with whom he has been corresponding. That turns out to be Maddalena. Though she and Chénier are in love, Gérard also has his eyes on her. Politics and passion collide leading to the poet’s execution.

Tim Ashley, in his review for The Guardian, raved about Kaufmann. “Kaufmann is performing the title role for the first time, and it’s hard to imagine him bettered. His striking looks make him very much the Romantic and romanticised outsider of Giordano’s vision. His voice, with its dark, liquid tone, soars through the music with refined ease and intensity: all those grand declarations of passion, whether political or erotic, hit home with terrific immediacy. His acting is superb, too…”

Tickets to stream the opera are £3 or approximately $4.15 (at press time)

JAZZ: Gonzalo Rubalcaba & Pedrito Martinez – SFJAZZ – January 29th – 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST

If you like your jazz on the Cuban side, you won’t want to miss seeing pianist/composer Gonzalo Rubalcaba and conguero Pedrito Martinez in this SFJAZZ concert from 2017.

This concert, part of the weekly Fridays at Five series, will definitely not leave you sitting still. This is a great way to start the weekend.

You’ll need either a monthly membership ($5) or an annual membership ($60) to view this concert. But given how much great music you’ll get for your investment, it’s well worth the money.

OPERA: Lumee’s Dream – LA Opera – January 29th – February 11th

p r i s m, the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera by composer Ellen Reid and librettist Roxie Perkins, is the inspiration for this new film by the opera’s direct James Darrah. (He’s obviously been busy.) Here he takes a small moment from the opera and turns it into a long-form sensory experience.

There is no charge to watch Lumee’s Dream. You will need to register at LA Opera.

While you’re there, you can still catch Darrah’s film of p r i s m. That’s also free and will remain available through February 8th.

BALLET: La Fille mal gardée – The Royal Ballet – January 29th – February 27th

A love story between Lise and a young farmer, Colas, is the centerpiece of this ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton. This ballet had its world premiere in 1960.

The translation of the title is The Wayward Daughter. Clearly her parents aren’t too keen on her taste in men. Or in this case, her widowed mother.

Ashton based this work on a 1789 ballet by Jean Dauberval. The music was adapted by John Lanchberry from an 1828 score by Ferdinand Hérold.

This production is from 2015 with Barry Wordsworth conducting members of the Royal Opera Orchestra. Natalia Osipova dances the role of Lise. Steven McRae dances the role of Colas. The role of Lise’s mother is danced by Philip Mosley.

Tickets to stream the opera are £3 or approximately $4.15 (at press time)

NEW CLASSICAL MUSIC: Mother of Bravery – Close Quarters #7 – Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra – January 29th – Debuts at 9:30 PM EST/6:30 PM PST

Composer Derrick Spiva Jr. is both the curator of this edition of LACO’s Close Quarters episode and also the composer of both works being given their world premiere performances.

Mother of Bravery was commissioned by LACO. The other work is Mind the Rhythm (For Amplified Violin and Electronics). Each work is 10-11 minutes.

As with other Close Quarters films, this will not be a traditional performance video. James Darrah (I told you he was busy) is the director/designer of the accompanying film.

Spiva is a fascinating composer and this series has proven essential. I wouldn’t miss this (and you don’t have to watch it just at the premiere time – it will remain available.) There’s no charge to watch the film.

OPERA: La Traviata – San Francisco Opera – January 30th – January 31st

Conducted by Nicola Luisotti; starring Nicole Cabell and Stephen Costello. This John Copley production is from the 2013-2014 season.

Alexandre Dumas fils (the son of the author of The Three Musketeers) wrote the play, La Dame aux camélias on which Verdi’s opera is based. Francesco Maria Piave wrote the libretto for La Traviata which had its world premiere in Venice in 1853.

In the opera, Violetta, who is in declining health, throws an opulent party. At this party she is introduced to Alfredo by her lover, Baron Douphol. When signs of failing health get noticed by Alfredo, he encourages her to give up her lavish lifestyle. He also admits his great love for Violetta. A love triangle is now in play. From there the opera tells the story of a woman who sacrifices everything to live life on the edge.

DANCE: Search(light) – Kinesis Project dance theatre – January 30th – 7:00 PM EST/4:00 PM PST and 8:30 PM EST/5:30 PM PST

Two sets of dancers will be performing this work…twice. One set will be at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York and the other set will be at the Kay White Hall at Vashon Center for the Arts on Vashon Island, Washington. This will be a pair of live performances with the dancers being accompanied by music by Sandbox Percussion and violinist Kristin Lee.

Kinesis Project’s main focus has been on site-specific productions. Search(light), utilizing two different sites, was inspired by Melissa Riker’s experience watching fisherman in Seattle. Riker is the artistic director of Kinesis Project dance theatre.

The New York cast includes Claudia-Lynn Rightmire, Therese Ronco, Jeimin Yang, Sumaya Mulla-Carrillo, and Nicole Truzzi. The Seattle cast includes Lorraine Lau, Kimberly Holloway, Hendri Walujo, Robert Moore, Margaret Behm, Madeline Morser. 

Rather than responding through a website, interested viewers should e-mail: Kinesis_RSVP@icloud.com.

The event is free, but donations are encouraged with a suggested donation of $15.

CLASSICAL MUSIC: Holocaust Remembrance – New West Symphony – January 31st – 6:00 PM EST/3:00 PM PST

This concert, part of a worldwide series of events for Holocaust Remembrance Week honoring the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust, features music that will be very familiar and some selections less so.

Michael Christie leads the Jerusalem String Quartet and pianist Daniel Vnukowski as guest artists.

New West Symphony members violinist/Concertmaster Alyssa Park; violist Phillip Triggs and clarinetist Joshua Ranz also perform.

The program features John Williams’ Theme from Schindler’s List; Mendelssohn’s Song Without Words, Op. 67, No. 2; Brahms’ String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. 67; Schulhoff’s Five pieces for String Quartet; Kovács’ Sholem-alekhim, rov Feldman!; Szpilman’s Mazurka; Weinberg’s Sonata No. 1 fur Viola Solo, Adagio; Ryterband’s Suite Polonaise – Oberek and concludes with Williams’ Remembrance from Schindler’s List.

Tickets to stream the concert are $25.

PLAY: Hi, Are You Single? – Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in association with IAMA Theatre Company – January 31st – February 28th

Even with technology making everything seemingly readily available, finding someone to hook up with isn’t always as easy as you might think. Consider having an above-average sex drive, being gay and having cerebral palsy. That just increased the degree of difficultly exponentially.

Ryan J. Haddad stars in this one-man show that he also wrote. It allows him to explore the challenges faced not just in getting laid, but in perhaps finding the right person with whom to fall in love. This isn’t a work of fiction, it is an autobiographical show.

As you might imagine, I wouldn’t recommend this as family fare. This is adult material. But it should be enlightening, entertaining and perhaps uplifting.

Tickets are $15 to stream the show, but only if purchased by January 31st prior to the first show at 9:01 PM PST. After that tickets will be $20. Tickets will allow for 48 hours of streaming the show.

That concludes the official list of Best Bets: January 29th – January 31st. But, I do have a few reminders:

In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl on PBS has two episodes on Friday, January 29th: Jazz at the Hollywood Bowl and Musicals and the Movies. Check your local listings for exact start times.

If you live in the Los Angeles area, the 20th annual Dance Camera West festival is taking place in Santa Monica. You can get the details in our preview here.

Metropolitan Opera closes out their Antiheroes Week with performances of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer on Friday; Verdi’s Rigoletto on Saturday and Verdi’s Macbeth on Sunday.

This concludes my Best Bets: January 29th – January 31st. That’s a busy and exciting way to close out the first month of 2021. Enjoy your weekend.

Main Photo: An image from The Fall of the House of Usher (Courtesy Boston Lyric Opera)

The post Best Bets: January 29th – January 31st appeared first on Cultural Attaché.

Most of the events listed are free. When they are not, they are noted. Links to each event can be found in the individual names of the events.

Creole Giselle – Dance Theatre of Harlem – Now – June 19th

The classic ballet Giselle was reconceived by Arthur Mitchell in the early 1980s. In 1984, Dance Theatre of Harlem premiered Creole Giselle at the London Coliseum in England.

The original Giselle choreography was by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The production was staged by Frederic Franklin.

Creole Giselle garnered rave reviews in both London and New York. For some background on the creation of this work, I suggest reading this 1984 column from Burton Taylor writing for the New York Times.

Dance Theatre of Harlem is making the full ballet available for free viewing through June 19th. The film they are showing of Creole Giselle aired on television in Denmark in 1987.

Hamlet – Stratford Festival – Now – June 25th

Stratford Festival’s ongoing series of Shakespeare’s plays continues with this 2015 production of Hamlet.

Jonathan Goad stars as “Hamlet” with Seana McKenna as “”Gertrude; Geraint Wyn Davies as “Claudius/The Ghost”; Tim Campbell as “Horatio”; Adrienne Gould as “Ophelia;” Tom Rooney as “Polonius;” and Mike Shara as “Laertes.” The production is directed by Stratford Festival Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino.

Stratford’s streaming productions of Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens and Love’s Labour’s Lost are also still available this weekend.

The Madness of King George – National Theatre Live – Now – June 18th

Many of us first became aware of this Alan Bennett play by seeing the 1994 Nicholas Hytner film starring Nigel Hawthorne and Helen Mirren.

This 2018 Nottingham Playhouse production stars Mark Gatiss as King George and Debra Gillett as Queen Charlotte. It was directed by Adam Penford.

Bennett’s play depicts a king whose relationship with what is real seems to change on a dime. He’s both a very powerful man and a wildly erratic leader whose delusions call into question his ability to lead. This prompts others to do whatever they can to undermine the King and take control of the Crown.

This production sold out and earned rave reviews. Bennett wrote staggeringly complicated roles for the two leads. It should be pure theater joy watching Gatiss and Gillett in this production.

Michael Tilson Thomas and Yuja Wang at Carnegie Hall – MediciTv – June 12th – June 14th

The collaboration between Carnegie Hall and Medici.Tv continues this weekend with a concert from May of 2019. Michael Tilson Thomas leads the New World Symphony and America’s Orchestral Academy. They are joined by pianist Yuja Wang.

The program features Julia Wolfe’s Fountain of Youth (in its New York premiere); Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 5 and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. The encores find the conductor taking to the piano for a solo performance of his composition You Come Here Often? The concert concludes with Wagner’s Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin.

There is no charge to watch this program.

Björk Ballet – San Francisco Ballet – June 12th – June 19th

San Francisco Ballet’s Unbound Festival in 2019 featured this ballet by Arthur Pita centered on the songs by best-selling singer/songwriter Björk.

Pita used a wide range of her music: from her first album in 1993, Debut, through 2017’s Utopia.

A playlist on SF Ballet’s website for Björk Ballet indicates that the songs used are “Overture” from Selmasongs; “All Is Full of Love” and “Bachelorette – Family Tree Version” from Homogenic; “Vokuro” from Medulla; “Frosti” from Vespertine; “The Gate” from Utopia; “Hyperballad” from Post and “The Anchor Song” from Debut.

Pita says that the duality he finds in Björk as an artist inspired the story he created for this ballet. “She’s this very playful, naughty fairy, dancing nymph, otherworldly creature, full of light and love. And then you’ve got this very deep, mournful, sorrowful, almost tragedy in some of her songs. So it’s like the theater masks.” 

La Fille mal gardée – Royal Ballet – June 12th – June 26th

A love story between Lise and a young farmer, Colas, is the centerpiece of this ballet choreographed by Frederick Ashton. This ballet had its world premiere in 1960.

The translation of the title is The Wayward Daughter. Clearly her parents aren’t too keen on her taste in men. Or in this case, her widowed mother.

Ashton based this work on a 1789 ballet by Jean Dauberval. The music was adapted by John Lanchberry from an 1828 score by Ferdinand Hérold.

Marianela Nuñez dances the role of Lise. Carlos Acosta dances the role of Colas. The role of Lise’s mother is danced by William Tuckett.

Il Trittico – San Francisco Opera – June 13th – June 14th

Puccini’s trilogy of operas seems popular this month. Last week the Royal Opera in London made their 2012 production available. This weekend San Francisco Opera makes their 2009 production available for viewing.

The three operas are Il Tabarro, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. For details on these three operas, check out our Royal Opera House preview here.

Cast in this trilogy are soprano Patricia Racette (who performs in all three pieces), contralto Ewa Podles, tenor Brandon Jovanovich and baritone Paolo Gavanelli. Patrick Summers conducts this James Robinson production.

San Francisco Opera’s production received glowing reviews.

Live from Covent Garden – June 13th – 2:30 PM EDT/11:30 AM PDT

This is the first of three live performances from Covent Garden since it had to temporarily close. It takes place on Saturday evening in London.

The event is being streamed live and has an impressive line-up.

Benjamin Britten: On this Island op.11 (1937, to five poems by W.H. Auden), performed by soprano Louise Alder

George Butterworth: Six Songs from A Shropshire Lad (1911, to poems by A.E. Housman), performed by tenor Toby Spence

Ballet Interlude: New pas de deux, choreographed by Wayne McGregor to Richard Strauss Morgen! op.27 no.4 (1894, to the poem by John Henry Mackay). Louise Alder (soprano) and violinist (tbc). Performed by Francesca Hayward and Cesar Corrales

Mark-Anthony Turnage: Three Songs (2000, to texts by Stevie Smith, Thomas Hardy and Walt Whitman), performed by baritone Gerald Finley

arr. Benjamin Britten: The Crocodile (1941, to a traditional text and melody), performed by Gerald Finley

Gerald Finzi: Fear No More the Heat o’ the Sun op.18 no.3 (1929, to a text by William Shakespeare), performed by Gerald Finley

George Frideric Handel: ‘Tornami a vagheggiar’ (from the opera Alcina, 1735, after a story from Orlando furioso), performed by Louise Alder

Georges Bizet: ‘Au fond du temple saint’ (from the opera Les Pêcheurs de perles, 1863, to a libretto by Eugène Cormon and Michel Carré), performed by Toby Spence and Gerald Finley

Vanessa – Glyndebourne – June 14th – June 21st

Composer Samuel Barber won the Pulitzer Prize for his 1958 opera that features a libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. The world premiere was at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

This Glyndebourne production took place in 2018. Keith Warner directed and the orchestra is conducted by Jakub Hrůša.

Barber’s opera is a psychological drama about family relationships. The title character (sung by Emma Bell) finds herself alone after her boyfriend, Anatol, has left her. She pulls away from the world leaving her with only her mother (Rosalind Plowright) and her niece (Virginie Verrez) for company. Their world gets upended when Anatol’s son (Edgaras Montvidas) shows up twenty years later.

Jeremy Jordan – Seth Rudetsky Concert Series – June 14th – 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT

Seth Rudetsky travels across the country with Broadway stars for evenings of conversation and songs. Unable to take his shows on the road, he’s bringing them to our homes.

This week’s performance features Jeremy Jordan who starred in the musicals Bonnie and Clyde and Newsies (for which he received both Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations). He was also featured in the television series Smash.

The live performance takes place as listed above. If you cannot watch that performance, there is an encore presentation on June 15th at 3 PM EDT/12 PM PDT. These are not free events. Tickets are $25 not including service fees.

Upcoming concerts will feature Seth with Jessie Mueller (Beautiful), Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Melissa Errico (Passion) and Audra McDonald (Porgy and Bess).

Life in a Pandemic: “One Day At a Time:” Norman Lear and Rita Moreno in Conversation with RuPaul – 92Y – June 14th – 7:00 PM EDT/4:00 PM PDT

Legendary television producer Norman Lear and living legend Rita Moreno will discuss the many lives of the reboot of One Day at a Time with RuPaul. This is a live-streaming event presented by the 92Y in New York.

I find it unlikely that any of these three need introduction, but here goes. Norman Lear is the five-time Emmy Award winning creator of such shows as All in the Family and Maude. He has also won a Peabody Award and has been awarded a Kennedy Center Honor.

Rita Moreno is an EGOT. She won two Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award, an Oscar for West Side Story and a Tony Award for The Ritz. She also happens to have a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a National Medal of Arts, a SAG Lifetime Achievement Award and is also the recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor.

RuPaul is the six-time Emmy Award winning host and producer of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Tickets are required for this event which is not free. The price of each ticket is $20. You must be registered in advance in order to get access to the event.

Before we close out our Best Bets at Home: June 12th – June 14th, here are a few reminders:

Friday’s at Five from SF Jazz features Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turrisi. This takes place at 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT on June 12th.

The Metropolitan Opera programming this weekend features their April 2020 At-Home Gala on Friday and Saturday. Sunday is the 2011-2012 production of Handel’s Rodelinda with Renée Fleming.

The musical Allegiance streaming on Broadway on Demand has been extended through June 23rd. You can get details at our preview here.

Here ends our list of your Best Bets at Home: June 12th – June 14th. Enjoy your weekend. Stay safe and healthy!

Main Photo: Elizabeth Powell and Ulrik Birkkjaer in Björk Ballet at San Francisco Ballet (Photo ©Erik Tomasson/Courtesy of SF Ballet)

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