Rob Besserer

George Mason University is a bit of a trek when discussing arts organizations in the DMV area. If Saturday night's School of Dance Fete and Gala Concert is any indicator, then this trek is worth making. Celebrating the strides Mason's (still young) dance program has made in recent years, the evening was a unique combination of educational panels and dance showcases. With four moving performances capping off the evening, Mason's dance program cements itself as one to not be underestimated.

It didn't strike me until the lights were going down for the start of CARMEN last Thursday that this was the second night in a row that Met audiences were being transported to the same town in sunny Spain. Truth be told, “sunny” is hardly an adjective I'd hardly use to describe Bizet's tragedy in the shadow of the bullring, while it's just about right for dizzy events of Rossini's charmer, IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, which I'd heard the night before.

Bartlett Sher's production of Rossini's IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA is one of the best of the Gelb years at the Met, with its sliding-doors set by Michael Yeargan and luscious costumes by Catherine Zuber. It was great when it opened with an all-star cast--headed Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Florez and Peter Mattei--and remains sturdy even when some of the casting is a little wobbly.

Writer and director Jim Findlay examines our relationship to plant life in the black comedy Botanica.

Writer and director Jim Findlay examines our relationship to plant life in the black comedy Botanica.

Writer and director Jim Findlay examines our relationship to plant life in the black comedy Botanica.

Writer and director Jim Findlay examines our complicated relationship to plant life in the creepy, futuristic black comedy Botanica.

The New York Philharmonic's upcoming production of György Ligeti's 1975-77 opera, LE GRAND MACABRE, will feature the newly-created role of Atmosphericist, to be played by actor/dancer Rob Besserer, from May 27th to 29th. In this silent role - which was conceived specifically for the production - Mr. Besserer will serve as the performer of the 'live animation' taking place on stage, as created by director/designer Doug Fitch.

In one of the signature events of the New York cultural season, Alan Gilbert and the Philharmonic give the much-anticipated, fully-staged New York premiere of György Ligeti's satirical 'anti-anti-opera.'

The New York Philharmonic's upcoming production of György Ligeti's 1975-77 opera, LE GRAND MACABRE, will feature the newly-created role of Atmosphericist, to be played by actor/dancer Rob Besserer, from May 27th to 29th. In this silent role - which was conceived specifically for the production - Mr. Besserer will serve as the performer of the 'live animation' taking place on stage, as created by director/designer Doug Fitch.

The New York Philharmonic's upcoming production of György Ligeti's 1975-77 opera, LE GRAND MACABRE, will feature the newly-created role of Atmosphericist, to be played by actor/dancer Rob Besserer, from May 27th to 29th. In this silent role - which was conceived specifically for the production - Mr. Besserer will serve as the performer of the 'live animation' taking place on stage, as created by director/designer Doug Fitch.

The world of the famed French artist Toulouse-Lautrec comes to life when Lincoln Center Theater's production of BELLE EPOQUE, a new work by Martha Clarke and Charles L. Mee, directed by Ms. Clarke, opens this Sunday (November 21) at 6:45pm at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. BELLE EPOQUE is the second production of Lincoln Center Theater's 20th Anniversary season.