Matthew Rubbelke (left) as Ward the Dance Instructor and Tyler Michaels (center) as Bobby Vee. Photo by Rick Spaulding. Each verse of Don McLean's famous song "American Pie" invokes "the day the music died". This day, February 3, 1959, has gone down in pop culture history as the tragic end of
Author: Basil Considine
Basil Considine is the Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Arts Reader. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego.
Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017.
FEATURE: On the Launch of The Book of Mormon
INTERVIEW: Mill City Summer Opera’s New Artistic Director
Crystal Manich, the recently named Artistic Director of Mill City Summer Opera. Photo by Laura Marie Duncan. Next summer, Mill City Summer Opera will open its festival season under new leadership: Crystal Manich, the company's recently named artistic director. Manich has directed operas across the United States and in far-off cities
REVIEW: Nostalgic, Light-Hearted Holiday Inn Hits the Spot (Chanhassen Dinner Theatres)
A scene from Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' production of Holiday Inn. Photo by Tom Wallace. Is your idea of a good night at the theatre a light-hearted tale, pleasant music, interesting dance, and no weighty thoughts at the end of the day? If so, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' new production of Holiday Inn is
REVIEW: Long La Rondine Worth the Wait (Minnesota Opera)
Celine Bryne as Magda, Leonardo Capalbo as Ruggero, and the Minnesota Opera Chorus in Minnesota Opera’s new production of La Rondine. Photo by Cory Weaver. There is a temptation that directors and designers face to re-encapsulate or reframe an old stage work for today's audience. Sometimes it is about trying to highlight
NEWS: Crystal Manich to Take Reins at Mill City Summer Opera
Today, Mill City Summer Opera announced the appointment of Crystal Manich as its new artistic director. Manich, a lauded stage director, will take the artistic reins for the company's 2019 season and direct its production of Mozart's Così fan Tutte. Read an interview with Crystal Manich on directing. Manich takes over
INTERVIEW: Cantus on Lorelei and Cross-Country Concertizing
The Boston-based Lorelei Ensemble, which joins Cantus for a concert this Thursday at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. This Thursday will witness a rare choral event: the Twin Cities-based, all-male vocal ensemble Cantus sharing a program with the celebrated, Boston-based, all-female Lorelei Ensemble. The two ensembles will join forces
REVIEW: Stunning Hamilton Erupts on Hennepin (Orpheum/Hennepin Theatre Trust)
Joseph Morales and Nik Walker as Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, in the second national tour of Hamilton. Photo by Joan Marcus. The most remarkable thing about Hamilton is not that each song is so good. The most remarkable thing is that each element – the striking choreography, the immense variety
