Opera Saratoga has announced a new festival model for large scale summer performances in 2022. The season will include big performances of the Barber of Seville, Petite Messe Solennelle, Sky on Swings, Sweeney Todd, and many more.
The performances will take place across June and July across multiple venues throughout the region. Opera Saratoga summer season plans on embracing partnerships with the Proctors in Schenectady; The Egg in Albany; Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs; The Round Lake Auditorium in Round Lake Village; The Barn at French Mountain in Lake George Village; and The Mansion Inn in Rock City Falls.
Opera Saratoga’s Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson spoke on the new season model saying,
We began asking, with so many remarkable theaters in our region, might we be able to better serve our mission by reconceiving our Summer Festival in a way that doesn’t limit us to a single venue? While we remain committed to producing in Saratoga Springs, as the opera company of the Capital Region, our goal is to provide access to our Summer Festival programming in the same way we are able to do with our year-round programs. We are incredibly excited by the opportunities of this expanded Festival model, and grateful for the opportunity to partner with so many like-minded organizations across the region to make it possible.
Lawrence Edelson
The summer season will start with Petite Messe Solennelle on June 2 and June 3 at 7:30PM. The show will be presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Round Lake Auditorium featuring music by Gioachino Rossini. The season will wrap up with The Barber of Seville – IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA on JULY 8 at 7:30PM and JULY 10 at 2PM. The show will be produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors featuring music by Gioachino Rossin.
Tickets for the 2022 Summer Festival will be available through Festival Passes and Single Tickets. Festival Passes, which provide a 20% discount on single ticket prices and priority seating for all productions and events, will be available beginning February 1, 2022. Single Tickets will go on sale March 15, 2022. Audience members will be required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for all performances, and masks will be required based on prevailing conditions at the time of the Festival. All policies may be adjusted in response to changing conditions, and based on the specific requirements of each venue.
For more information on the Opera Saratoga’s new festival model visit their website.
The full lineup for Opera Saratoga Summer 2022 is listed below:
PETITE MESSE SOLENNELLE
June 2 and June 3 @ 7:30pm
Presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Round Lake Auditorium
Music by Gioachino Rossini
A BROADWAY CABARET
June 12 @ 2pm and 7pm
Presented by Opera Saratoga in partnership with The Mansion Inn
A JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION WITH SIDNEY OUTLAW
JUNE 19 @ 2:30pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors
SWEENEY TODD – THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET A MUSICAL THRILLER
JUNE 29 and JUNE 30 @ 7:30pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with the Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
SKY ON SWINGS
JULY 7 @ 7:30pm and JULY 9 @ 2pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with The Egg
Music by Lembit Beecher
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE – IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
JULY 8 @ 7:30pm and JULY 10 @ 2pm
Produced by Opera Saratoga in Partnership with Proctors
Patti Smith was awarded the key to NYC by Mayor Bill de Blasio just weeks before the end of his term on December 27, 2021.
Patti Smith at Central Park Summerstage 10 by S. Malinski
The Key resembles the large skeleton key that opens the back door of City Hall, but is purely symbolic and it does not open any locks or doors in reality. It is a symbol of civic recognition and gratitude reserved for individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement.
Although Patti Smith was actually born in Chicago, Illinois she has considered NYC as her adoptive city having grown up in South Jersey. Her love for the city is known wide and far so her receiving this symbol of civic recognition was obviously a big deal for her. Her reaction to this honor was saying,“I wish I could give New York City the key to me, because that’s how I feel about our city. With all its challenges and difficulties, it remains—and I’m quite a traveler—the most diverse city in the world. To receive this at 75, it makes me look even more forward to the next 25 years.”
De Blasio spoke of his decision to bestow the key to Patti Smith,”To me, Patti Smith has an authenticity that you just didn’t find… in that many places,” noting that she’s been called the “godmother of punk.”
De Blasio has been bestowing keys to a number of public figures apart from the legendary Patti Smith. Some of the public figures include legendary music producer Clive Davis (who helped stage the ultimately Mother Nature-interrupted “Homecoming” concert in Central Park), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his indefatigable support for the city.
Watch the full video of Patti Smith receiving this key bellow:
For more information on this Patti Smith being awarded a Key to NYC by Mayor Bill de Blasio read Pitchfork’s article on it here.
Rees Shad and the Convo Combo and are returning to Caffe Lena on January 8th, 2021. Shad is no stranger to the Saratoga Springs club, in 1984 he did open mic nights there. The founder and namesake of Caffe Lena, Lena Spencer, is credited by Shad himself as being the foundation to the start of his career.
Manhattan native Rees Shad has a discography of over 30 albums. He worked for many years as a sideman and studio musician before releasing things of his own. His newest record One Glass at a Time will be performed at the show.
The Convo Combo features drummer Bobby Kay and bassist Jeff Link, who both come together to aid Shad to create a performance akin to that of live jazz, with their twist, providing classy ambiance to any nightclub.
Speaking of the new album, Shad is incredibly proud of the jazz-influenced record.
Taken incrementally, the stories from One Glass at a Time are crafted to resonate and intensify as the lyrics and melodies sink in. This might or might not be an overarching story…the listener might suspect it. The process should be interactive. I’m hoping to help lay the crumbs that they will want to follow…striving to light up listeners’ imaginations.
Rees Shad
Many critics have praised Shad and his music, the Boston Herald saying, “As loamy as 10 yards of Midwestern topsoil and his complex is a nest of small-town relationships … Unexpectedly literate & moving.” The Dallas Observer also had quite a bit to tell, “Unfair to describe this work in terms of another – it’s that personal, that complete, and that well done.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fkr34GEuWZM
Rees Shad and the Convo Combo play a song.
Tickets to see Rees Shad and his Convo Combo live at Caffe Lena can be found here, with proof of vaccination required.
With the adage “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade” in mind, Phish will perform three full sets this New Year’s Eve, live from the Ninth Cube. Phish will take the stage promptly at 8:30PM ET on December 31st for a show that will be performed without an audience and webcast for free on Phish’s YouTube channel and LivePhish.com, with a simulcast on Phish Radio on SiriusXM.
For the dinner part of this Dinner And A Movie, four recipes are included, all with lemon as a key ingredient. Instead of sucking on a lemon, dive into the recipes below, which include Trey Anastasio’s own recipe for Lemonade, a Whole Roasted Chicken with Lemon, a Lemon Pasta vegetarian entrée, and for dessert, Lemon Bars.
Always a charitable affair, the Dinner and a Movie series has distributed nearly $900,000 in donations via the WaterWheel Foundation since the start of the pandemic to help non-profits around the country (and beyond). SiriusXM has generously underwritten production costs to make this webcast free, and donations will be raised during the evening to support those in need. The WaterWheel Foundation will be raising money for a handful of non-profits close to the Phish community. Donate at anytime at phish.com/waterwheel.
There will also be three limited edition posters available from the originally slated shows for the Madison Square Garden run for sale beginning Thursday, December 30 via Phish Dry Goods, along with additional event merch. Proceeds from these poster sales will be donated to The WaterWheel Foundation and more details will be shared soon via Dry Goods.
Shortly after New Year’s Eve, video of this performance will be available on the SXM app.
Giant Bowl of Lemonade
1. Get handed lemons 2. Make lemonade 2b. For “electric lemonade”, add desired ingredients 3. Enjoy!
Whole Roasted Lemon and Herb Chicken – Serves 4
Ingredients: 2 lemons 1 bulb of garlic 2 yellow onions ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 whole chicken (3.5-4 lbs) ½ tsp minced fresh rosemary (plus an extra sprig or two)* ½ tsp minced fresh thyme (plus an extra sprig or two)* ⅓ cup chicken stock 2-3 whole carrots 2-3 potatoes (preferably Yukon Gold) Kosher salt Fresh ground black pepper *You can use dry herbs in replace of fresh, or omit if you prefer things simple.
Instructions: Take chicken out of the refrigerator. Remove giblets if there are any in the cavity (we won’t be using them, but you can cook for your dog!). Rinse the chicken in water, and pat thoroughly dry. Leave out while you prepare the lemon-herby goodness to bring the chicken close to room temperature.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees with the rack in the lower third of the oven. Set out a roasting pan or large cast iron skillet that can hold your whole chicken.
Mince 3 garlic cloves, and mix with the herbs and 3 TBSP of olive oil and 2 hearty pinches of salt. Make sure the chicken skin is well dried. Push one finger under the skin on the breast of the chicken to separate, and spoon half of the herb mixture in between the meat and the skin. Rub the remainder on the outside of the chicken. Season the outside generously with additional salt and pepper. (Using chicken breasts instead of a whole chicken? Do the same thing, but they will take less time to cook).
Cut the rest of the bulb of garlic in half horizontally (so each clove is cut in half), and rub with olive oil. Slice the whole lemons in half. Peel the onions and cut into quarters. Put half a lemon inside the chicken, then put the other lemon halves, onion, garlic and remaining herb sprigs in the bottom of the roasting pan, and put the whole chicken on top (either on a rack, or sitting on top of the lemon, onion and garlic). Cut carrots and potatoes into large bite sized chunks. Toss with a little olive oil and scatter around the chicken. Pour chicken stock into the bottom of the pan.
Roast for approximately 45 minutes. The skin should be golden brown and the juices should run clear when you poke a knife into the leg joint. If the juices are rosy pink, roast for another 5-10 minutes and check again. Or, if you have a meat thermometer, when the inner thigh registered 175 degrees.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Tip the chicken to drain any juices from the cavity into the pan. Carve chicken on a cutting board and transfer to a platter. Then pour all the juices, roasted vegetables and tasty bits over the chicken or serve the jus alongside for those who want it. Squeeze the roasted garlic from the bulbs over the vegetables, or just serve the halved bulbs on the side of the platter.
Lemon Pasta Serves 6
Ingredients: 12 ounces wide egg noodles Juice and zest of 2 small/medium lemons (wash lemons before squeezing) 1 cup heavy cream Kosher salt, to taste Lots of freshly ground black pepper.
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add noodles, and stir to separate. Cook according to package or until tender. Drain, then return to the cooking pot.
2. Just before noodles are done, in a small saucepan combine the lemon zest, cream, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, or until cream comes to a boil.
3. Pour cream mixture over drained noodles, and add the lemon juice. Stir to coat. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until all the liquid is absorbed, about 1 to 2 minutes. Season with additional pepper, if desired.
Note: the pasta is delicious on its own, but feel free to add green vegetables to the pasta at the end if you like: a handful of baby arugula, broccoli or broccolini – chopped and doused with olive oil and roasted at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, steamed or sautéed asparagus, chopped parsley, chives, etc.
Optional variation: if you’d like, add freshly grated parmesan.
Lemon Bars
Makes 16-20 squares in an 8×8 or 9×13 baking dish for squares, rectangles or triangles (or 9” pie pan or tart pan for wedges).
Ingredients: Crust: 1 cup cold unsalted butter 2 cups all purpose flour ¼ cup powdered sugar (plus more for sprinkling on top at the end) ½ cup sweetened, shredded coconut (or unsweetened coconut, plus add ¼ cup more sugar) 1 tsp vanilla Pinch of salt
Filling: 5 eggs 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest (from 2-3 washed lemons) ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (hint: zest lemons first, then squeeze them) 1 ½ cups granulated sugar ⅓ cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder Pinch of salt
Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8×8 (for thicker squares) or 9×13 (for thinner squares) baking pan. To make them easier to remove, lay a piece of parchment paper inside the pan, and then butter the parchment paper too.
In a food processor (or stand mixer) combine all of the crust ingredients. Pulse and mix until well combined and the mixture begins to clump together. Put the dough into the buttered pan and gently press it to cover the bottom. (If using a tart or pie pan, push dough to cover the sides too.)
Bake the crust until just golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven but leave it on.
While the crust is baking, prepare the lemon filling. Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl and beat on low or whisk until smooth. Pour the filling into the hot crust and bake again until the filling is just set, about 20-35 minutes. Check them at 15 minutes.
When you shake the pan slightly, the filling should be mostly set, but still quiver in the center a bit. If not set, bake a few minutes more. (If using a 8×8 pan with a thicker layer of filling it may take longer). Do not over bake.
Let cool completely in the pan. You may refrigerate to help them set and cook quicker. Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar, then cut into squares or triangles. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. If powdered sugar has been absorbed into the lemon filling, dust again with more powdered sugar just before serving.
Amid cancellations and postponements, David Byrne has announced he will put on a special run of “American Utopia” shows back at the St. James Theatre on Broadway from Dec 28-30, 2021 and Jan 1-2, 2022.
Making this decision was not a light one, but comes after several company members of the Tony Award-winning Broadway show tested positive for COVID-19. Byrne announcing there would be a few changes as a result of this, but the good news is the inclusion of new “Unchained” versions of songs from the show.
Fortunately, the vaccinated band members and crew who have tested positive don’t have severe symptoms and are staying home following the CDC guidelines. Unfortunately, they can’t come to the theatre for the next week or so, which means we’ve chosen to make some creative changes to enable us to put on a show.
David Byrne
Performances of American Utopia will feature songs from the Talking Heads as well as some of the solo catalog of David Byrne and will be supplemented by songs already in the show that cannot be performed without the missing company members. Byrne continued, saying “I know it’s going to be a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ experience, that will only be seen for a few performances. We are ready to have a good time!” wrote Byrne.
Tickets for American Utopia are on sale through April 3, 2022 here. Read more on American Utopia here, with the schedule for the special run of shows is as follows:
Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 8PM
Wednesday, December 29, 2021 at 8PM
Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 5PM and 9PM
Saturday, January 1, 2022 at 5PM
Sunday, January 2, 2022 at 3PM
For information on what’s playing every day on Broadway, visit bwaytoday.com.
Doc’s Restaurant has announced a New Year’s Eve dinner & comedy show in partnership with The Park Theater in Glens Falls on December 31, 2021. The event will include a 3-course prix fixe menu and performance by comedian Sean Donnelly.
Doc’s Restaurant is located in downtown Glens Falls and will be offering two fixed seatings in it’s dining room featuring a holiday à la carte menu at 5pm and 8pm only. For more information and to reserve your table, visit here or call 518-792-1150.
The New Year’s Eve Comedy Show will be featuring a ‘Comedy After Dark’ performance starring acclaimed comedian, Sean Donnelly. This event includes a champagne and cocktail hour, along with a 3-course prix fixe menu curated by executive chef, Matthew J. Delos. Tickets: $99.00 (includes tax, gratuity and complimentary champagne). Champagne & Cocktail Hour: 6pm. Dinner & Dessert: 7pm. Showtime: 8:15pm. For more information and to purchase tickets to New Year’s Eve Dinner & Comedy Show, visit here or call 518-792-1150.
Sean Donnelly
Doc’s Restaurant new COVID-19 Protocol went into effect 12/13/21, all Doc’s Restaurant patrons must wear a mask at all times regardless of vaccination status unless eating or drinking.
The Park Theater COVID-19 Protocol is dedicated to ensuring a safe and welcoming entertainment venue for all attendees and employees. The Park Theater is requiring proof of full vaccination upon arrival, and encouraging wearing masks indoors when not eating or drinking. Acceptable proof of vaccination include Excelsior Pass, Excelsior Pass Plus, SMART Health Cards issued outside of NYS, full-course vaccination through NYC COVID Safe app, a CDC Vaccination Card, or other Official immunization record.
For more information on Doc’s Restaurant’s New Year’s Eve Dinner & Comedy Show visit their website.
Grateful Retreats has announced a get away event featuring The Dire Wolves, set to take place from January 11 – 16, 2022 in Tulum, Mexico.
The event will celebrate the Grateful Dead community in the jungle paradise of Tulum. It will feature music with intimate live jam sessions by well known artists. People attending can explore wellness practices like meditation and yoga in the company of like-minded people. Learn from renowned healers, groove with talented musicians and hang at the beach at sunset with new friends. The retreat will supply catered gourmet meals and beautiful scenery while participants celebrate the “Ripple” of wellness, music and kindness in our lives over a peaceful week in a joyful community!
The retreat will be taking place at the Paledora Eco-resort which is located 15 minutes outside of Tulum, just minutes from the last protected beach of the Riviera. It has a private cenote on site and a hidden cave at the nearby sister campus, this magical jungle paradise creates the perfect place to disconnect and reconnect through music and wellness practices. It will feature 10 bedrooms, spread across 3 unique jungle homes, delicious local cuisine prepared by in-house chefs, a large yoga studio and event palapa on site, and a beautiful natural pool to soak in or lounge by during the heat of the day.
View this and more Grateful Dead shows from across the years in New York State with our interactive map below!
The amenities include a five night stay at beautiful Paledora Eco-Resort in Chemuyil, Tulum, Mexico. An all-inclusive catered gourmet meals with vegan options available. Workshops and lectures by renowned wellness experts and intimate jam sessions with The Dire Wolves. Private concert at the retreat venue and daily yoga and meditation classes.
The retreat will feature performances from The Dire Wolves Play DEAD: Al Schnier and Vinnie Amico of moe,, Jason Hann of String Cheese Incident, and Mark Joseph of The Big Wu.
For tickets and more information visit Grateful Retreats website.
Happy Holidays from the team at NYS Music! We hope you enjoy the time with family, friends and colleagues, and stay safe throughout the season.
photo by Steve Malinski
The curveball of the past few weeks has led to music plans being scuttled for the safety of small gatherings.
photo by Zach Culver
Even though shows and events have been cancelled across the Empire State and eastern half of the country, we hope this season brings joy and merriment to those closest to you, as we prepare for a winter thaw in 2022.
photo by Steve Malinski
Our gift to you is a selection of Christmas songs from musicians across the Empire State, and over the years. No matter where or how you celebrate, Happy Holidays from the team at NYS Music!
And of course, the classic performances of Darlene Love on Late Show with David Letterman
Less than a week before they were slated to take the stage at Madison Square Garden, Phish announced today that due to the concerns over the wave of COVID-10 Omicron variant that is sweeping through New York City and elsewhere, the MSG shows will postpone to April, rather than being outright cancelled.
Phish will honor all tickets for the December 29-January 1 shows at MSG on the rescheduled dates of April 20-23, marking the first time Phish has played New York City in April since 1994 at the Beacon Theatre. Get the Webcast here.
The band said in a statement:
With the Omicron variant of Covid-19 surging in New York City, we have made the very difficult decision to reschedule next week’s run of shows at Madison Square Garden.
The health and safety of Phish fans, our crew, and venue staff is paramount in our minds. While Phish has played shows this year as the pandemic has continued, this variant’s ability for rapid transmission is unprecedented.
We are also mindful that a significant number of people travel for these shows and then return to their communities, and we want to avoid accelerating transmission of the virus.
Finally, even with the strictest of tour Covid protocols, the prolonged exposure of a four-night indoor run (plus the days of preparation and travel) to critical crew and staff considerably increases the possibility of having to shut the shows down once they’ve started.
We’re fortunate to have found a four-night window in The Garden’s schedule, and the shows will now take place April 20-23, 2022, including a three-set show (as originally planned for New Year’s Eve) on April 22.
Ticket holders can request a refund anytime over the next 30 days, beginning today, if they cannot commit to the rescheduled show date. If a refund is not requested during the allotted time, tickets will be valid for the new show date. Please note: If you purchased from an authorized ticket sales channel (Ticketmaster, Phish Tickets, CID or venue website) these ticketing partners will be contacting all buyers shortly with further instructions.
Thank you all for your understanding. Stay healthy and safe, take care of each other out there and please get vaccinated and boosted if you haven’t already.
No word yet if Phish will stream archival shows in place of the anticipated New Years run at Madison Square Garden.
The April shows would mark the second ever ‘Island Run’ of shows, although unofficially so.
The rescheduled shows also mean that Phish will start the rescheduled dates on 4/20/22. Phish has not played on April 20 since 1994, so there’s that.
The sound of New Orleans will make its way across New York State in Spring 2022 as The Soul Rebels embark on “Epic Vibes Tour” with stops in Buffalo, Waterloo, Albany, Brooklyn and Westhampton Beach.
The Soul Rebels recently announced they will be taking part in fellow New Orleanian Trombone Shorty on his Summer 2022 Threauxdown Tour. Their Epic Vibes Tour runs from December 2021 through April 2023, with shows on the West Coast, the Northeast, a monthly residency in Memphis and a healthy amount of shows in New Orleans.
The brass band continue to ride high off the release of their latest album Poetry In Motion. The eight-member collective appeared on Def Jam artist Dave East and Nas’ “Godfather 4” single, Big Freedia and Icona Pop’s “Pipe That”, and reached fans with original singles “Greatness” which was featured as ESPN’s official College Hoops theme anthem, and “Good Time” featured on Netflix’s #BlackAF and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!
The Soul Rebels have impressed viewers with two recent appearances on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series with Wu Tang Clan frontman GZA, headlined the global TED Conference, and appeared on the official soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ hit comedy Girls Trip.
Soul Rebels Epic Vibes 2022 Tour
12/17 Memphis, TN RAILGARTEN 12/22 New Orleans HOUSE OF BLUES 12/31 New Orleans MAISON 1/14 Memphis, TN RAILGARTEN 1/15 Baton Rouge, LA CHELSEA’S 1/22 New Orleans BLUE NILE 2/11 New Orleans DBA 2/16 San Diego, CA MUSIC BOX 2/17 Los Angeles, CA TERAGRAM BALLROOM 2/18 San Francisco, CA THE INDEPENDENT 2/19 Oakland, CA THE NEW PARISH 2/20 Felton, CA FELTON MUSIC HALL 2/23 Seattle, WA NECTAR LOUNGE 2/24 Olympia, WA CAPITOL THEATER 2/25 Portland, OR PDX JAZZ FESTIVAL 2/26 Bellingham, WA WILD BUFFALO 2/27 Victoria, BC UPSTAIRS CABARET 3/24 Waterloo, NY THE VINE @ DELLAGO CASINO RESORT 3/25 Philadelphia, PA BROOKLYN BOWL 3/26 Washington, DC 930 CLUB 3/27 Pittsburg, PA THUNDERBIRD CAFE 3/29 Buffalo, NY BUFFALO IRON WORKS 3/30 Albany, NY LARK HALL 3/31 Boston, MA BIG NIGHT LIVE *w/ GZA & Talib Kweli 4/1 NYC BROOKLYN BOWL 4/2 NYC BROOKLYN BOWL 4/3 Millersville, PA PHANTOM POWER 4/6 Bridgeport, CT PARK CITY MUSIC HALL 4/7 Fall River, MA NARROWS CENTER FOR THE ARTS 4/8 Greenfield, MA HAWKS AND REED 4/9 Westhampton Beach, NY WESTHAMPTON BEACH PAC 4/10 Ventura, CA SKULL & BONES 4/23 New Orleans DBA