By the time the midwinter meetings of The American begin, the New York musical season is in full swing with a catalogue of offerings both wide-ranging and deep, and with the bonus that comes with music that is “in season.” Some events may be sold out by the time this appears, but there is a good chance that even for the most popular attractions seats will be available by telephone (except where otherwise noted, all numbers are in area code 212).
The Messiah can be heard on December 12 and 14 at St. Thomas Church (757–7013, ext. 3003), a short walk from the Waldorf; on December 15 at Avery Fisher Hall (875–5030), featuring the National Chorale, a sing-in; and on December 15 and 17 at Carnegie Hall, with the Masterwork Chorus (201–361–5266). Canticum Novum will offer a Christmas concert at St. Ignatius Church (362–8719). The same group, with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and conducted by Charles Mackerras, will sing Berlioz's L'enfance du Christ at Carnegie Hall (247–7800). The Boston Camerata will present A Medieval Christmas at Florence Gould Hall (355–6160). I Musici will offer a Christmas concert of the Italian baroque at Avery Fisher Hall (875–5030). The Aulos Ensemble will perform a concert in front of the Neapolitan Christmas tree at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (570–3949). In addition, St. Bartholomew's (Park Avenue at 50th, 751–1616), Riverside Church (222–5900), and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (662–2133) will present Christmas season/winter solstice concerts.
During December 9–17, at Lincoln Center (Centercharge 721–6500), the Metropolitan Opera will feature Mahagonny, Un Ballo in Maschera, La Bohème, Die Meistersinger, and Die Zauberflöte.
The New York Philharmonic will present an all-Orff program and a concert with soloist Kathleen Battle.
The Great Performers Series will include appearances by the Cleveland Quartet, Murray Perahia, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.
The New York City Ballet will dance the Nutcracker.
Jazz at Lincoln Center will present a young people's concert and an orchestral concert conducted by Wynton Marsalis.
At Carnegie Hall (247–7800), the New York Pops will offer A Holiday Celebration, the Boston Symphony Chamber Players will present an all-Beethoven program, and the Vienna Boys Choir will appear in concert.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art chamber music concerts (570–3949) feature the Beaux Arts Trio, the Guarneri Quartet, and the Musicians from Marlboro.
At the 92nd Street Y (996–1100), chamber music will be performed by the New York Chamber Symphony and the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robison Trio.
The Manhattan School of Music (749–2802, ext. 428) presents a new production of Weisgall's Six Characters in Search of an Author.
The Japan Society (752–3015) stages Woman in the Dunes, dance theater inspired by the novel by Kobe Abe.
For jazz fans, tenor saxophonist James Moody (a veteran master who doubles on alto and flute) and rising tenor star Joshua Redman appear at the Blue Note (475–8592). Drummer Roy Haynes, another veteran master, leads a group at the Village Vanguard (255–4037), while Eric Reed is at Iridium (582–2121). For lovers of cabaret, the Carlyle (744–1600) presents Bobby Short in the Cafe and Barbara Carroll in the Bemelmans Bar. Unavailable as we went to press were the names of performers appearing December 9–17 at the Bottom Line (228–6300), CBGB and OMFUG (982-4052), and S.O.B.'s (243–4940).
Charles Goodstein