How Arvo Pärt can help us through Lent
The innovative modern composer does not abandon hierarchy, but acknowledges its inescapability
Culture
The good, the bad and the ugly in books, exhibitions, cinema, TV, dance, music, podcasts and theatre.
March 2, 2022
Will the real Robert Pattinson please stand up?
The moody actor isn’t an indie innovator or a Hollywood star, but a mix of both
March 1, 2022
Ilya Kaminsky’s poetry in a time of war
Those attacking the Ukrainian-American poet for making light of crisis are misreading him
February 27, 2022
Pop music isn’t getting better — and that’s okay
It’s for dancing and working out, not making some great artistic statement
February 23, 2022
The last stand for intelligent films?
The Christopher Nolan picture ‘Oppenheimer’ is going to be a big deal. Could it even save the movies?
February 20, 2022
Sibelius speaks
Books and ArtsA new recording of a rare piece by Jean Sibelius is out
Precarious and thrilling
Books and ArtsMilton Avery was able to carve out his own path, distinct from modernism’s march through history
Carnegie plus one
Books and ArtsAfter 130 years, Carnegie Hall decided it could use a virtual stage
Going Greco-Roman in Boston
Books and ArtsWhat Would Seneca Do?
Swing for me
Books and ArtsThe experience of seeing George Furth and Stephen Sondheim’s Company is something like inadvertently joining a swingers’ party
Naples and nurture
Books and ArtsThe Hand of God reviewed
Witches brew
Books and ArtsThe Tragedy of Macbeth reviewed
February 19, 2022
American celebrity culture has become exhausting
There are simply too many stars demanding our attention
February 16, 2022
When did pop culture stop being fun?
From Bel-Air to Frasier, we’re losing our sense of humor in favor of ‘social consciousness’
February 14, 2022
Ivan Reitman wasn’t afraid of no ghost
The Ghostbusters director’s style effortlessly captured the fun and cheer of life
February 9, 2022
The Oscar noms are out but does anyone care?
The Academy Awards have come to matter less
February 8, 2022
Is Euphoria too bleak to be good?
The show claims to be honest but its hopelessness may be leading teens astray
February 3, 2022
Will the real Pamela Anderson please stand up?
The actress and model has confounded expectations and taken control of her own story
January 31, 2022
J.P. Morgan and our gilded age
The house of Morgan — the literal house of Morgan — is tying itself into knots to ‘prioritize’ all things black
January 28, 2022
The Gilded Age is a Bridgerton-esque disappointment
Some of the acting has promise but the show is a reminder that Julian Fellowes has passed his prime
January 26, 2022
Don’t cancel Damon Albarn for attacking Taylor Swift
He was wrong and the Swifties swarmed him, but there’s value yet in his critique
January 24, 2022
Hogarth framed
Books and ArtsGreat artists like Hogarth are getting the trigger-warning treatment
John Wayne behind the blue line
Books and ArtsThe Seventies weren’t John Wayne’s decade, and that was fine by him
Serve and volley
Books and ArtsKing Richard reviewed
Nanny bait
Books and ArtsMrs. Doubtfire reviewed
Returning to live gigs
Books and ArtsWhen Covid rampaged through the world like a Viking raid of death-cult realtors, the world was suddenly shorn of live music
Get with the program
Books and ArtsBoth in Pittsburgh and Miami, I was struck by the rousing enthusiasm that the symphony and soloists evoked with their temerarious playing
January 21, 2022
Hollywood awards shows have become boring
Let’s just hope Spider-Man doesn’t sweep all the Oscars and Golden Globes — then we’ll know we’re in real trouble.
A fond remembrance of Meat Loaf
The singer once christened ‘the uncoolest man in the universe’ delivered Big Rock Drama in spades