A Quilt So Vast You Will See It From Heaven
World Premiere Opera in Houston: INTELLIGENCE Matching La Scala in Italy (which began in 1788), Houston Grand Opera now ties the record of premiering 75 new operas. The latest entry…
Austin Symphony and the Glories of Rome
Rome still rules. Those looking for the foundation of American law need seek no further than the Twelve Tables, the basis of Roman law promulgated in 449 BCE. At the…
HALLOWEEN BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 is
about Scotland’s Darkest Secret This is not just a book about witches, but about Scottish witches! And Halloween is mentioned many times. Author Allyson Shaw, who has written much about…
Mayor Watson of Austin
During a recent appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson outlined his agenda for the future, and his take on politics. He pushed back against the recent…
HISTORY OF IDEAS
In the history of ideas, no one stands taller than the philosopher John Locke (1632-1704). To quote from a recent book by Marco Sgarbi, Locke was persuaded that it is…
Kern & Rachmaninoff: A Magical Duo
Famed pianist Olga Kern brought the house down at the Long Centre this weekend. Her performance of the four Rachmaninoff piano concertos was a smashing way to begin the new…
The Girl Who Became Legend
If your life is lacking a bit of whimsy, this musical is for you. The Girl Who Became Legend saw its world premiere at the Zach Theatre on Sept. 15.…
GERSHWIN at the Zach
George Gershwin made an appearance at the Zach Theatre in Austin last week. Well, it wasn’t actually George (he died in 1937), but the next best thing: Hershey Felder in…
PIPELINE
The word ‘pipeline’ does not generally embody any sinister connotations, but in this play by Dominique Morisseau, it is very sinister indeed. The Pipeline under scrutiny is the “school-to-prison” one,…
Steel Magnolias
In her directorial debut, Kelsey Layton has a big success on her hands. Steel Magnolias, which is playing at the Bastrop Opera House, is a sheer delight. “I’m used to…