Premiere Commission Celebrates 10 Years of New Music at (Le) Poisson Rouge

In order to really take you somewhere a performance has to open a window to another, higher plane of existence. This is that show.

This weekend saw the New York première of Philip Glass' complete Piano Etudes. Produced by Glass’ long-time collaborator Linda Brumbach, the dazzling showcase divided the 20 etudes equally among the ten performers.

To open the second half of its 50th anniversary season, Boston Ballet presents a trio of contemporary works that showcases the company’s ever expanding repertory and deepening talent pool with Close to Chuck Reborn.

On Thursday evening, not a seat was vacant in Alice Tully Hall for The Holy Visions, the inaugural concert of Lincoln Center Festival’s three-day performance series honoring John Zorn’s impending birthday. The series is just a small installment in Zorn@60, an international celebration of one of New York’s most revered avant-garde composers and musicians, who will turn 60 on 2 September.

John Zorn doesn’t look 60. He looks 35, or whatever age it is where you’re still just about young enough to get away with wearing baggy camouflage pants. “And that’s how it’s done!” he yells through his mic at the end of the first half, over huge applause and cheering from this passionate Barbican audience.

Songs and symphonies from Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, concluding with a vision of “heavenly life” from Gustav Mahler.