The Einstein of Sex: Homo-Sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld newly considered

Two fine new books about Magnus Hirschfeld have been published; Daniel Brook’s “The Einstein of Sex: Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, Visionary of Weimar Berlin” and Brandy Schillace’s “The Intermediaries: A Weimar Story.”

Nicky Spence, troubadour: Talented tenor records Fauré and Ravel

Tenor Nicky Spence just ushered out the “Gabriel Fauré Year” with an illuminating new recording of the composer’s song cycle, “Le bonne chanson” and other songs, and is also one of many talents to record, anew, the complete songs of Maurice Ravel.

‘Eugene Onegin’ up against the wall: Director Laurent Pelly tames Tchaikovsky’s opera

Far worse things happen to characters in other operas by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, but “Eugene Onegin” sweeps the competition for its depiction of crippling interpersonal damage. Belgium’s La Monnaie offers a new staging on DVD from Naxos.

Stephen Hough's Piano Concerto: Sonic nostalgia and new works

Since we last regarded Stephen Hough in these pages, the out pianist has become Sir Stephen, and his work as a composer has come into its own with his latest release, his 2023 Piano Concerto and two solo-piano suites.

'The American No' - Rupert Everett's story & script collection's an unusual mix

Gay actor Rupert Everett has authored another book, "The American No," a collection of seven stories and a screenplay that seem perfectly calculated to entertain in hard times.

Samson Tsoy's 'Inmost Heart' - masterful takes on Bach, Brahms & more

Samson Tsoy's "debut" recording, "Inmost Heart: Bach, Brahms, Busoni & Reger" (Linn Records) is far more than a calling card. Tsoy has weighed in with a program that takes a compelling view of a central aspect of the music of Johannes Brahms.

Reynaldo Hahn rethought: Moving his music from salon to concert hall

Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective, with tenor Karim Sulayman, offer a new recording of seven songs (in new arrangements) and the Piano quintet and quartet by composer Reynaldo Hahn.

'Mothers and Sons' - Adam Haslett's disturbing new novel

For those of us who consider the appearance of a new novel by Adam Haslett the equivalent of getting a new gospel, the authorial voice in "Mothers and Sons" is both familiar and strange.

'Leonardo da Vinci' - Documenting the supreme Renaissance Man

Ken Burns documentaries are their own category. There are documentaries, and then there are Ken Burns documentaries. Burns' latest, with Sarah Burns and David McMahon, "Leonardo da Vinci" (PBS), crowns his achievements to date.

Yuval Sharon's 'A New Philosophy of Opera' - New insights on the venerable art form

Ideas tumble out and collide in Yuval Sharon's "A New Philosophy of Opera" (Liveright). The out American director, deemed a maverick by many, steps off stage to deliver his manifesto about keeping putatively imperiled opera alive.

Charles Ives at 150: Jeremy Denk plays the piano works

In honor of composer Charles Ives' 150th birth anniversary, Nonesuch is releasing a two-disc set of Jeremy Denk's previous recordings of the Violin Sonatas, with Stefan Jackiw, and, newly re-mastered, his 2010 recording of the piano sonatas.

Grace notes: Michael Tilson Thomas' compositions box set

Michael Tilson Thomas is a mega-musician who never goes away, literally or otherwise. Among the numerous ways his 80th birthday (December 21) is being celebrated is the new Pentatone release of a rich four-disc set of his compositions.

Davóne Tines's 'Robeson' - a debut album like no other

Bass-baritone Davóne Tines's debut album, "Robeson" not only reflects his artistry; it's also one no other singer could match. While transmogrifying "art music," he offers homage to gay Black singer Paul Robeson and composer Julius Eastman.

'Small Rain' - Garth Greenwell's remarkable new novel

Garth Greenwell's generous, expansive new novel, "Small Rain" (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) is built on the author's own experience of a dozen-day stay in the hospital, gazing into the maw of death from an infrarenal aortic dissection.

Verdi's 'Macbeth' - The 'Scottish play' in Salzburg

Giuseppe Verdi's "Macbeth," the first of his three great Shakespeare operas, was an enormous success when new (1847) but fell out of fashion for the better part of a century. A recent production may have changed that.

August Thompson's 'Anyone's Ghost' - a genre novel with a twist

August Thompson's "Anyone's Ghost" shows that there's still life in the currently overdone genre of drug-fueled, sex-driven, gay coming-of-age stories.

'Seeing through' - Composer Ricky Ian Gordon's sex, drugs, and opera memoir

"Seeing Through: a Chronicle of Sex, Drugs, and Opera" is a long-winded but often touching first-person memoir by the prodigious American composer, Ricky Ian Gordon. If gossip is the fruit of love, Gordon is usually tender in his mentions of others.

The Olympics: the operas - Two productions of "L'Olimpiade" in Paris

Christophe Rousset led his ensemble Les Talens Lyriques in a concert performance of Domenico Cimarosa's opera, "L'Olimpiade" (1784), at the Royal Opera-Versailles and on tour, having recorded the piece in Paris from December 18 to 22.

Four-handed harmonies - Schubert, Desyatnikov, Cage piano recordings

Two new superbly-recorded discs by Bertrand Chamayou, Pavel Kolesnikov and Tsoy Samson, pianists renowned for their concert work, show what's possible when the meters are running.

Nicholas Phan's 'A Change Is Gonna Come' - Stellar new recording of American protest songs

As I listened, repeatedly, to Nicholas Phan's new CD, "A Change Is Gonna Come" (Azica Records), a collection of American protest songs, it occurred to me that it's been a while since I've heard someone's singing called "honest."

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