Forget the top hat
Russian-born, London-based conductor Vasily Petrenko tackles some heavy music with the venerable Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. But he dances with the ensemble so nimbly and has so much fun on the …
By LAWRENCE COSENTINO's Latest Articles
Rediscovering night
Complete darkness, like complete silence, is a rare thing. In the modern world, you have to go to great lengths to go totally dark. Last week, workers were pushing the envelope of …
‘Everybody is a superstar’
For 25 years, Lansing-based pianist and recording engineer Sergei Kvitko has worked behind the scenes, helping other musicians sound their best. Most of the time, he keeps his head down and his ears …
Chill winds and garlic bread
Despite the risk of turning off the old guard, new music peeks through the window fairly often at the Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s regular concerts, but it doesn’t usually break the window. …
Wreckers and builders
Three towering names appear on billboards around town promoting Friday’s Lansing Symphony Orchestra concert: VERDI, MILLER, BRAHMS. LSO composer-in-residence Jared Miller is proudly planted in …
Local energy, world-class art
Two of Lansing’s key cultural institutions celebrated big birthdays in 2025. The Capital City Film Festival marked its 15th year this spring with 140 film screenings and related events at venues …
Remixing reality
When Lansing artist Chelsea Roberts started the Lansing Collage Club in May, she didn’t know what the response would be. She invited ten close friends, just to avoid embarrassment. Over 30 …
Come for the calm, stay for the thrills at Fenner Nature Center
A couple of weeks ago, I was walking past the monarch butterfly house at Lansing’s Fenner Nature Center when a breathless 4-year-old girl hailed me from afar, leaving the rest of her family …
‘Think about ice cream’
On sheet music or a sheet cake, “dolce” means “sweet.” When Jimmy Chiang, kapellmeister of the Vienna Boys’ Choir, wants “dolce” from his singers, he uses …
Never out of date
There’s been a lot of off-script crying at recent Michigan State University Opera Theatre rehearsals Ricky Ian Gordon, one of America’s most celebrated theater and opera composers, …