Actually, I’ve never been let down by any Music from Marlboro Ensemble presented by Peoples’ Symphony Concerts over the years, but the group that performed at Washington Irving High School on Saturday, April 26, 2014, was about the best I’ve heard. The core group was a string quartet made up of violinists Itamar Zorman and Robin Scott, violist Samuel Rhodes, and cellist Brook Speltz. The normal procedure at the Marlboro Music Festival summer program is … <Read More>
Another State Heard From on Marriage Equality – Indiana
Marriage Equality advocates in Indiana were very strategic in their litigation, holding off filing cases until after the legislature had adjourned, after kicking the question of a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage down the road another two years by passing a version of the proposed amendment that differed from that approved in the last session. A bunch of new cases were filed earlier this year, and they have been consolidated before U.S. District Judge Richard … <Read More>
“Noah” – The Film (Caution: Plot Spoilers)
It may seem strange to mention “plot spoilers” in connection with a cinematic presentation of one of the most famous old stories from the Book of Genesis, but anybody whose familiarity with the story of Noah derives solely from that source is going to encounter some surprises in this film. One could be outraged, especially if one believes that “The Bible” is presented as a literal source of history of Divine Inspiration with which one … <Read More>
“All the Way” by Robert Schenkkan with Bryan Cranston at the Neil Simon Theatre
One expects light comedy at the Neil Simon Theatre, but sometimes one gets heavy drama. At least that is the case with “All the Way,” Robert Schenkkan’s dramatization of the first year of Lyndon Johnson’s presidency, November 1963 through November 1964. Johnson was propelled into the presidency unprepared with the sudden assassination of John F. Kennedy. Bringing his masterful legislative talents to bear, he pushed through several key pieces of the Kennedy legislative agenda that … <Read More>
New Music Collective Concert on April 18, 2014, at Spectrum (NYC Lower East Side)
I was invited to attend the concert presented under the auspices of New Music Collective at Spectrum on April 18 by Glen Roven, composer-conductor-record producer extraordinaire. We became acquainted when Glen was commissioned to contribute a song to the 5 Boroughs Music Festival’s Songbook and I attended one of the presentations of that project. His GPR Records is making an important contribution to preserving and advancing American art song as performed by exciting young performers. … <Read More>
The Oklahoma Marriage Argument in the 10th Circuit
Today a panel of three judges from the 10th Circuit heard arguments in the Oklahoma marriage case. The trial judge had ruled (1) that he didn’t have jurisdiction to decide whether Oklahoma’s ban on recognizing same-sex marriages contracted in other states was constitutional, because the only defendant in the case, a county clerk, had no role in the recognition of out-of-state marriages, and (2) that the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex couples marrying in the … <Read More>
Art Leonard’s Cultural Diary – March 22 through April 16, 2014
I’ve had a busy few weeks, both in terms of attending things and in terms of work having to get done, as a result of which there is a big pile-up of programs for me to write about, so herewith a diary of brief comments about the events I’ve attended from March 22 through April 16. I have omitted comment about the Jeremy Denk piano recital at Peoples’ Symphony Concerts, which I wrote about separately … <Read More>
India’s Highest Court Declares Equal Rights for Members of India’s Transgender Community
In a historic decision, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court of India, ruling on a petition brought by the National Legal Services Authority on behalf of members of the transgender community, has declared that among the human rights protected by the Indian Constitution are the rights of individuals to State recognition of their gender identity and sexual orientation, and to be free of official discrimination on these grounds. The original petitioner was joined by … <Read More>
Federal Judge Strikes Down Ohio Marriage-Recognition Ban as “Facially Unconstitutional”
U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black, who ruled in December that Ohio’s ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states was unconstitutional in connection with recording marital status and surviving spouses on death certificates, today expanded his ruling in the context of a second lawsuit brought by married same-sex couples seeking recognition for purposes of birth certificates. However, Judge Black didn’t restrict his ruling to that issue, instead finding that Ohio’s recognition ban was unconstitutional … <Read More>
Jeremy Denk Piano Recital at Peoples’ Symphony Concerts
Tonight Jeremy Denk presented an intriguing piano recital as part of the Arens Series of Peoples’ Symphony Concerts, presented at Washington Irving High School’s nicely-refurbished auditorium. Denk presented an eclectic program of Mozart, Ligeti, Byrd and Schumann.
As a long-time attender of Peoples’ Symphony programs, I feel like I’ve watched Denk grow up at the keyboard, since he has appeared several times over the years. Now a mature artist, he hasn’t lost that childlike wonder … <Read More>