PERFORMING ARTS
‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’
William Shakespeare’s romantic comedy about woods enchanted by fairies is brought to life by two-time Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth and actress Christina Ricci at the Classic Stage Company. Directed by Tony Speciale, Neuwirth plays the fairy queen Titantia and Ricci plays the love interest, Hermia.
Classic Stage Company, 136 E. 13th St.,
Now–May 20, 2012
Tuesday’s 7 p.m.; Wednesday–Saturday 8 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday 3 p.m.
Tickets: $75–$125
www.classicstage.org
Soprano Sandrine Piau and Pianist Susan Manoff
This acclaimed French soprano and pianist perform a wide range of works by Mendelssohn, Faure, Chausson, Strauss, Bouchot, Poulenc, and Britten. Piau’s voice “sends shivers down your spine” according to the Guardian.
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall
Thursday April 26 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $43–$52
www.carnegiehall.org
Wagner’s Ring Cycle
Richard Wagner’s epic four-opera cycle tells the story of ancient Gods’ generations-long quest to regain a magic ring. Director Robert Lapage told the Metropolitan Opera: “I try to be extremely respectful of Wagner’s storytelling, but in a very modern context. We’re trying to see how in our day and age we can tell this classical story in the most complete way.” There are two staggered performance cycles left this season. The first installment is 2.5 hours, and the others are 5–6 hours.
The Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center
April 26–May 12
Times vary
Tickets: $45–$875
www.metoperafamily.org
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Formed in 1985 by students from the College of Music in Freiburg, Germany, the award-winning Freiburg Baroque Orchestra makes a study of playing baroque music on original instrument. They will perform Bach’s complete Orchestral Suites Nos. 1–4. Gottfried von der Goltz plays violin and directs.
Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater, Lincoln Center
Tuesday, May 1, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $45–$77
lc.lincolncenter.org
All Robbins Ballet
The New York City Ballet will perform four ballets all choreographed by Jerome Robbins (1918-1998) including “In the Night” with music by Chopin; “The Cage” with music by Stravinsky; “Andantino” with music by Tchaikovsky; and “In G Major” with music by Ravel.
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center
Saturday May 5 at 2 p.m., Sunday May 6 at 3 p.m., Tuesday May 8 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $29–$149
www.nycballet.com
NYC Chamber Orchestra and Masterworks Festival Chorus
A grand performance with full orchestra and chorus, New York City Chamber Orchestra and Masterworks Festival Chorus will perform Vivaldi’s “Gloria” and Mozart’s “Regina Coeli” in an afternoon performance and various works by Brahms, Mozart, Morten Lauridsen, and Lukas that evening.
Stern Auditorium, Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall
Saturday, May 5
2 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $50–$110
www.carnegiehall.org
FINE ARTS
Rembrandt’s World: Dutch Drawings
Considered one of the greatest painters of all time, Rembrandt van Rijn lived at the height of the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. This exhibition features over 90 drawings by Rembrandt and many of the leading artists of this period. The works are from the private collection of Clement C. Moore and this marks their first public exhibit together.
The Morgan Museum and Library, 225 Madison Ave.,
Now through April.
Adults: $15.
Children under 12: Free
www.themorgan.org
Patricia Watwood: Myths and Individuals
Patricia Watwood’s contemporary classic paintings, many of them masterful lifelike portraits, are on display at The Forbes Galleries. Watwood writes, “I chase what artists in the past have also chased—a celebration of the human form, a passion for and humility before nature, a belief that metaphor and narrative can help us puzzle out the mysteries of our time here on earth, and a belief in the emotional power of the common visual language of representation.”
The Forbes Galleries, 62 Fifth Ave.,
Now through June 9, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Admission is free
www.forbesgalleries.com
The Dawn of Egyptian Art
Drawing on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and the collections of 12 other U.S. and European museums, this exhibit takes us back to a time (circa 4000–2650 B.C.) before the Pharaohs, who are commonly associated with Egyptian history. Through paintings, sculptures, and reliefs made for their shrines and tombs, viewers can learn about ancient Egyptian beliefs.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Now through Aug. 5
Tickets: $25, Children under 12 free
www.metmuseum.org
19th Century Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction
Sotheby’s will offer for auction a wide selection of 19th century furniture, decorative arts, and sculpture. Among the 208 lots in the sale is a Joseph-Émmanuel Zwiener’s Parisian commode described as “A fine and Large Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Satiné and Bois de Bout Foliate Marquetry Bombé Commode,” circa the 1880s, and estimated to go for $70,000–$100,000.
Sotheby’s New York, 1334 York Ave.,
Wednesday, April 25, 10 a.m.
Requires registration
www.sothebys.com
European Paintings Auction
Bonhams offers a vast array of works in its European paintings auction. The 185 lots range in price from $3,000–$90,000, and date from the 16th to 20th centuries. Notable works include Frédéric Soulacroix’s (1858–1933) delightful painting “Tea Time,” which is estimated to go for $30,000–$50,000.
Bonhams New York, 580 Madison Ave.,
Wednesday, April 25, 1 p.m.
Requires registration
www.bonhams.com
Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale
Coming as far away as France, England, Belgium, Sweden, and Italy, New York Botanical Garden’s Antique Garden Furniture Show and Sale brings together 30 of the leading dealers in authentic garden antiques. Massive terra-cotta oil jars—one ancient Roman, and one mid-19th century—a garden by the sea, and French-themed booths are listed among this year’s highlights.
New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx
Friday–Sunday, April 27–29, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission to show with All-Garden Pass: $20, children $8
www.nybg.org
19th Century European Art Viewings and Auction
Sotheby’s spring sale of 19th century European art includes masterpieces such as William Bouguereau’s “Girl with a Pomegranate” (estimate: $500,000–$700,000), John William Godward’s “A Fair Reflection” (estimate: $400,000–$600,000), and James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot’s “The Morning Ride” (estimate: $2million–$3 million).
Sotheby’s New York, 1334 York Ave.,
Sale: Friday, May 4, 10 a.m.; Viewings: April 27–May 3, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. (opens Sunday at 1 p.m.)
Viewing is free, Auction requires registration
www.sothebys.com
FAMILY
‘Monkey King’: A Story from China
A children’s exhibit exploring the classic Chinese tale of the ‘Monkey King.’ The mischievous supernatural monkey decides to mend his ways by embarking on an epic journey across China to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures from India. For ages 4 and up.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan, The Tisch Building at 212 W. 83rd St.,
Ongoing, Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday until 7 p.m.
Admission: $11 for everyone over 12 months old
www.cmom.org
‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’
C.S. Lewis’s 1950 novel about a magical wardrobe that transports four siblings to another world is inventively staged using only two actors. “Sure to keep children and grown-ups enthralled … magical,” said Broadway World. Appropriate for ages 6 and older. 45 minutes, no intermission
St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St.,
Now through May 26, 11 a.m.
Tickets: $35
www.narniaoffbroadway.com
Puppet Parade
An interactive installation that allows you to use your arms to puppeteer larger-than-life creatures that are projected onto a large screen. Also at the New York Hall of Science are 3-D theater presentations on the ecosystem of the ocean and on the largest tornado-research project ever assembled.
New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens
Now through May 6
Tickets: $11, children (2-17): $8
www.nysci.org
Sakura Matsuri Festival
Amid the beauty of cherry tree blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, celebrate Japanese culture with Taiko drumming, Mindu folk dancing, samurai sword fighting, Bonsai demonstrations, tea ceremonies, and children’s workshops.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
Saturday April 28, Sunday April 29, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Admission: $15, Children under 12 free
www.bbg.org
Salzburg Marionette Theater
This nearly 100-year-old Austrian marionette theater company will delight children with performances set to piano music by Debussy and Schumann. Works include Debussy’s “Children’s Corner” comprised of six short pieces that were composed for his 3-year-old daughter Chouchou.
Zankel Hall, Carnegie Hall
Saturday, May 5, 7:30 p.m., Sunday May 6, 1 p.m.
Saturday tickets: $60–$75, Sunday tickets: $9–$15
www.carnegiehall.org
Submit Arts Events
The arts at their best are not purely for entertainment or the reinvention of art itself. Rather, they strive forward with traditional forms, toward technical mastery, and place the highest value on moral virtue and the spiritually sublime.
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