Music

Maybe you've read Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. Perhaps you've seen the movie. But seeing this tale of life and love during the Civil War put to music composed by Jennifer Higdon and libretto by Gene Scheer, puts it in a whole new perspective! Especially when you have the privilege of seeing it performed by Opera Philadelphia at the Academy of Music, a theatre that was fully operational years before the Civil War even started!

After a much-publicized leak - draw your own conclusions - of the tracks from "Rebel Heart,"  Madonna has decided to release the first six songs, giving her most rabid fans something to chew on while they wait for the winter release of the full album. 

DJ Eddie Martinez may have started his DJ career in New York City, but he is poised for worldwide success very soon. Whether you've seen him in New York or in Asbury Park's Sand Blast, you know that there is nothing quite like a dance floor with superstar Eddie behind the decks.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra's "Saturday Night OUT" at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on May 3 featured Brahms' First Symphony and Danielpour's Clarinet Concerto. This special event was described as "Enjoy the sounds of the NJSO, followed by a champagne and dessert reception for ticketholders who are LGBT community members and friends."

Actually the British came and went, with Richard Thompson performing at New Jersey Performing Arts Center with special guest, his son Teddy Thompson, on March 15th. Teddy is in love with American music.

Kean University hosted the Blind Boys of Alabama in concert at beautiful Enlow Hall on February 9. Five- time Grammy Award winners and winners of two Lifetime Achievement Awards, one from the Grammys, and one from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Blind Boys of Alabama are Gospel legends who have been singing since 1944.