New York Philharmonic Celebrates Pride

 

I can't say enough about the Pride concert staged by the New York Philharmonic yesterday at Lincoln Center. I purchased tickets on a bit of a lark -- we typically kick off the limp-wristed season with the Queerty party, but alas, no invitation arrived, so I bought this instead -- and didn't really pay too much attention to the details. And what details they were!

In addition to the acclaimed orchestra -- one of the Big Five -- the program featured Tony-nominated vocalist Jenn Colella; Noah J. Ricketts, whom we loved as Frankie Hines, the drag queen love interest of Marcus (Jelani Alladin); and the New York City Gay Men's Chorus.

While it would be safe to assume anything this lineup performed would be wonderful, it was made that much sweeter by a special set list of works by gay composers and lyricists with a NYC twist, curated for the night by conductor Ted Sperling's husband.

Highlights included Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man"; Leonard Bernstein's "Times Square"; Cole Porter's "I Happen to Like New York" (exuberantly performed by Colella); "Everybody Says Don't" (gender-flipped by Ricketts); "Don't Rain on My Parade" (basically gender-flipped by Colella); Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's "I Wish I Were in Love Again" (another Colella showstopper); Tchaikovsky's "Valse"; as well as some more modern numbers -- a Laura Nyro composition, a song from "Hairspray" and Alicia Bridges's "I Love the Nightlife," which the choir boys completely ran away with.

In addition to the world-class performances, the night was made even more special by the warm and caring leadership of Sperling, who struck the perfect tone for where we are, embracing the celebration of Pride while also encouraging the audience to let the arts act as a salve for these troubled times.

Matías Tarnopolsky, Philharmonic president and CEO, gave a moving opening statement, during which we learned that "Celebrate Pride!" has officially been renewed, with hopes of its becoming a longtime NYC Pride tradition.

Following the show, everyone was invited to an after-party on the terrace -- the weather was as gay-friendly as the music -- where we had a great time catching up with some old friends and making a few new ones.

Since moving a stone's throw from the city's preeminent performing arts center, I have been trying to determine exactly what kind of related "queen" I am.. While it's no secret that I'm no theater queen, my nascent status as an opera queen may have to step aside for the orchestra queen growing inside me!

Tennis Tuesday

You can get a better idea of what this clay-court specialist plays with HERE.

Remains of the Day (06/16)

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Fight Back: This theatrical experience has no actors or audience. But it could be starring ... you

FI&SBN: Always a treat to see Gilbert Baker's iconic Pride flag waving in the wind

GCN: ACT UP remembers science-minded HIV/AIDS activist Iris Long

ICYMI: Andrea Pellegrino got robbed without his own Tennis Tuesday post

Japan Times: Japanese government OKs basic plan to raise LGBTQ awareness

Boystack: Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell looks back on the history of Broadway Bares, the annual burlesque spectacular that has raised more than $$31 million for HIV/AIDS causes

Variety: Irish TV host and style guru Darren Kennedy plays wingman in "Heyy Gay!," a new social-media dating series that pairs gay men for blind date 

Deadline: "Celebrity Autobiography" is one of my favorite shows at a cheap cabaret. But I can't say I'm surprised it's closing months early on Broadway, where it debuted without any updates from the version I've seen a half dozen times.

SCMP: How this Hong Kong executive lost 70 pounds in 8 months through "exercise and a diet overhaul"

NPR: Paul Rudnick discusses his new novel, "The Tuxedo Society," a fun thriller that imagines an LGBTQ spy agency

ABC7: And people actually wonder why professional male athletes still don't come out of the closet

Attitude: David Geffen and ex-husband David Armstrong yacht together after divorce

USA Today: Let me get this straight, “queers”: it was horrible and opportunistic when corporations showed us support during Pride and now that they’re pulling back because of the authoritarian regime, that somehow proves you were “right”? 

Hot Cat of the Day: The whole city is still speechless

"Final Set": Damian and I caught a screening of the new Chris Evert-Martina Navratilova documentary at the Tribeca Film Festival, and let me start by saying I never wanted it to end. Because of my deep affection and admiration for these two women, I knew I would love it no matter what. But director Rebecca Gitlitz and producer Jenna Ricker -- who spoke afterward -- managed to take a well-documented story and reveal new things that even the biggest fan on earth (aka: me) didn't know. My face still hurts from smiling and my eyes are still swollen from crying. Premiere June 26 on Netflix. 

Borscht Chastity Belt: The hilarious Nadya Ginsburg unleashes Madonna, Cher and her own inner wild child in "Feral Fatale," a musical comedy cabaret on July 23 at the Cutting Room that is packed with songs, stand-up and unapologetic feminine rage. Tickets available HERE.

Weekend Tennis Roundup

Titles for Kamil Majchrzak, Ben Shelton, Donna Vekic and Robin Montgomery. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.

New York Groove: Knicks Win First NBA Championship in 53 Years

The Knicks win it all for the first time since my buddy(!) Walt “Clyde” Frazier brought it home in 1973 (and 1970). I have never watched a basketball game in my entire life, but I couldn’t be happier for my beloved NYC!🗽🎉❤️ 

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SCMP: 5 Mpox cases linked to Hong Kong "premier" gay sauna, contact tracing under way

RIP: Pioneering gay artist David Hockney dies at 88 ... and Gene Shalit, longtime 'Today' show movie critic, dies at 100

Instinct: Formula 1 driver Ralf Schumacher marries longtime love Étienne Bousquet-Cassagne

Speedo Sunday: But does the 'stache match the swimsuit?

The Randy Report: Has anyone heard of much less watched "Finding Fire Island," which apparently has a new season coming? 

PinkNews: 10 years after the Pulse nightclub shooting, survivors say their recovery may never truly be over 

MetroWeekly: A New York jury convicted Dmitriy Popov of first-degree manslaughter as a hate crime in the killing of dancer O'Shae Sibley, while acquitting him of second-degree murder

Greg in Hollywood: Glenn Close is finally getting an Oscar

Pride: The hunks of "Off Campus" compare their spicy sex scenes to "Heated Rivalry"

Instinct: Paul Anthony Kelly is entering "The Housemaid" universe

Out: Everything gay soccer fans should know about the World Cup

Them: Administration confirms it’s restoring LGBTQ youth crisis line it eliminated last year

Advocate: Trans troops ask judge to protect everyone targeted by U.S. military ban

Your Ex: "Boots" star Max Parker posts sexy viral shirtless selfie at WeHo Pride

Hot Cat of the Day: Good morning, Harvey! (Do some people actually wake up without a wild animal draped across their bodies?)

Song of the Day: Carly Simon announces first album of original songs in 18 years -- and the lead single called "Howl" is quite good! 

Fatal Falls: Caught a screening of "Niagara" (1953) over at the Film Forum's festival to mark the 100th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe. It was one of her rare films I had never seen -- it's really good! -- and what a surprise to learn that the hunk she's scheming with, played by Richard Allan, turned out to be gay in real life! 

Dial "M" for manhole

"Bang My Box": A review of the new Robin Byrd documentary, coming soon to HBO Max

Young Man in Bar #3: John Starr recalls when he was (briefly) in Arthur Hiller's "Making Love" (!982), widely considered the first mainstream Hollywood studio feature to (sort of) depict a gay romance in a sympathetic, positive light.

On the Rag, Vol. 911

 

This week's rag 'n' mag roundup features Filipe Renan, Nicholas Galitzine, Dermot O’Leary, Louis Tomlinson, the founders of a lifestyle brand inspired by '80s erotica and more BELOW.

Discovering Puccini's ‘Turandot’

Should mention that we caught Puccini's "Turandot" at the Metropolitan Opera last week and I haven't stopped thinking about it since. 

Although I'm not confident enough in my knowledge to say it is now my favorite opera to date, it definitely felt different from any other work I've seen -- and had me wondering why. 

What I came up with is that "Turandot" feels less like a traditional opera and more like an epic fairy tale -- larger in scale, more stylized in its characters, more spectacular in its staging and more modern in its music than the operas I've seen. ("Macbeth," "Carmen," "La Traviata," "The Barber of Seville," "The Marriage of Figaro," "La Boheme," "Aida" and "Tristan und Isolde.")

I was especially drawn to Liu -- rather than the titular diva -- who struck me as the drama's true emotional center, bringing a humanity that the larger-than-life title character lacks. (Maybe not the highest bar given that, as the New York Times notes, Turandot and her suitor remain largely unfazed by the death and dismemberment they instigate -- standing atop a figurative pile of corpses when they finally share true love’s kiss. But at least Turandot had incredible headdresses!) 

The production ended on June 7 -- sorry for my tardiness -- but the qualities that made it stand out aren't unique to this staging, so keep an eye out for future productions if a different kind of opera sounds appealing to you.

 

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Greg in Hollywood: Steve Kmetko interviews “Adam 12” star Kent McCord, one of the hottest men to ever star on TV 

The Caftan Chronicles: 10 years after the Pulse massacre inspired the creation of Gays Against Guns, co-founders Kevin Hertzog and John Grauwiler reflect on grief, activism and the long fight against gun violence

Page Six: "Saved by the Bell" alum Mark-Paul Gosselaar, 52, titillates fans in crop top and booty shorts 

Washington Blade: Nancy Pelosi reflects on four decades of LGBTQ advocacy

ACLU: How current efforts targeting LGBTQ Americans echo tactics used during the Cold War-era Lavender Scare, when thousands were pushed out of government service

PinkNews: Rugby star Kane Williams comes out as gay: "I’ve been fighting a war within"

NYP: Son of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon admits to choking woman during sex as part of no-jail deal

People: Patrick Wilson says he turned down "fake" prop weights for viral workout scene in "Cape Fear"

Erasing 76 Crimes: A new survey suggests Ghanaians are far from united behind a proposed anti-LGBTQ bill, challenging claims that the legislation reflects overwhelming public support

Truthout: As anti-LGBTQ censorship expands, these cities have cancelled Pride this year

Instinct: Justin Trudeau's 18-year-old son is also a hot piece of ass

Attitude: Steven Spielberg names “Philadelphia” his favorite LGBTQ-themed film, calling the groundbreaking Tom Hanks drama a “breakthrough” and a watershed moment in Hollywood

Hot Cat of the Day: Pudding is a real Daddy's girl 

Tennis Tuesday: Blake Dawson

Quench your thirst with three more pics BELOW.

Greenport Getaway

Just back from a perfect birthday weekend on the North Fork, a place I’ve wanted to visit for years.

Today is the actual “big” day, and I’m spending it doing what makes me happiest of all -- in my chosen city with my husband, my cat and a biography of a fascinating woman from the past (Libby Holman). 

The book happens to be a birthday gift I received from a dear friend some four decades ago, which I recently rediscovered in a box and am only now getting around to reading! xo

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Weekend Tennis Roundup

 

As random as this year's French Open was, at least two known quantities -- Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva -- wound up winning. Full report plus all the ATP beef that's fit to post BELOW.