Culture Picks: June 9

There is definitely something for everyone this week, from free and family-friendly outdoor concerts to an Alvin Ailey favorite streaming for a limited time only. Don’t miss any of it!

Alvin Ailey’s Revelations
On-demand until Sunday, June 19
Ailey All Access is pleased to share a recent recording of Mr. Ailey’s beloved Revelations, performed at Ailey’s December 2021 Opening Night Gala. Using African-American spirituals, song-sermons, gospel songs, and holy blues, Revelations fervently explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul.
Watch Alvin Ailey’s “Revelations” on YouTube

Carnegie Hall presents Concert for Ukraine
On-demand until June 22
Featuring: Angel Blue | Michael Feinstein | Sullivan Fortner | Denyce Graves | Evgeny Kissin | Isabel Leonard | Midori | Itzhak Perlman | Cécile McLorin Salvant | Chris Thile | Jessica Vosk | Adrienne Warren | Members of Ensemble Connect | Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York | Richard Gere, Host
Carnegie Hall’s all-star benefit Concert for Ukraine, hosted by Richard Gere, is now available to stream on-demand across their digital platforms, including carnegiehall.org, Facebook, YouTube, and Carnegie Hall+. Proceeds from this one-night-only event—including 100% of ticket sales—supported Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid nonprofit organization that provides urgently needed medical supplies to relief groups on the ground in Ukraine. Carnegie Hall was proud to host this historic concert in solidarity with the people of Ukraine—and deeply grateful to the incredible artists and music lovers making this impactful event possible.
Watch “Concert for Ukraine” on the Carnegie Hall website

PBS presents
American Masters: Joe Papp in Five Acts
On-demand through July 2
From The New York Times: In 1954, Joe Papp founded what would become the Public Theater and championed a new way of thinking about American theater as more expansive, more diverse, and more immediate. This documentary traces his life and work, as well as the dueling allures of vitality and volatility. “Five” is a bit unstuck in time; this is its broadcast debut, but it was released more than a decade ago, and some of its interviews were clearly conducted several years before that. And yet Papp’s questions about the relationship between art and capitalism, about the premise of a public theater — and really, the premise of a public — feel at least as fresh and urgent as they did 60 years ago.
Watch “Joe Papp in Five Acts” on PBS.org

ALL ARTS presents
In Concert with CMS: Bach, Wolf, and Brahms
On-demand
Enjoy chamber works performed by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The program features Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, the Escher String Quartet performing Wolf’s “Italian Serenade” for String Quartet, and Brahms’ Trio in E-flat major.
Watch “In Concert With CMS” on ALL ARTS

The London Symphony Orchestra presents
The 2022 BMW Classics
Livestream on Saturday, June 11, at noon
Then on-demand for a limited time
Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra offer a free concert for an audience of thousands in one of the world’s most iconic public spaces, Trafalgar Square, and to thousands more watching the live stream on YouTube. The program opens with George Gershwin’s Cuban Overture. Then, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason marks his debut live performance with the Orchestra, playing two masterpieces for cello and orchestra, Bruch’s Kol Nidrei and Bloch’s Prayer from Jewish Life. This is followed by the world premiere of FAIYA! a specially commissioned work by Ayanna Witter-Johnson. This dance-inspired piece written for a mixed-ability orchestra brings together LSO musicians with 55 young musicians from east London as part of the LSO On Track partnership, and 18 students from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. For the final work the upbeat tempo returns with a second Gershwin classic, An American in Paris.
Access the live stream of the London Symphony Orchestra from Trafalgar Square on YouTube

The Greenburgh Public Library presents
Opera Talk: The Great Arias (Part 1)
Saturday, June 11, at 2 pm
This installment, the first of three, will explore arias of French, German and Russian composers sung by Jonas Kaufman, Juan Diego Flores, Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, Fritz Wunderlich, Frederica von Stade, Kiri te Kanawa, Renee Fleming, Jussi Bjoerling, and more. Hosted by Frank DeLigio.
Visit the Greenburg Library’s website for more information

The Beacon Sloop Club presents
The Annual Strawberry Festival
Sunday, June 12, from 12-5pm
Rain or shine
Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park, 1 Flynn Dr., Beacon, NY
This is a fun, free, family-friendly event and all are welcome! Two solar-powered music stages will provide live music throughout the day. Numerous vendors will be selling food and crafts. Organizations will be on hand to provide important information about their various programs and services. Sloop clubs and environmental organizations will feature displays of local river history and the environment as well as information about their organization. Families can enjoy free activities for children and a dedicated children’s stage. Some of the amazing all-volunteer talented performers include Arm of The Sea Theater, Beacon Songsmiths, Bindlestick Bill, Eric Person Quartet, Jonathan Kruk, Judith Tulloch Band, Last Minute Soulmates, Lydia Adams Davis, Roger The Jester, and Spook Handy. And all of this is on the shores of the magnificent Hudson River. The Beacon Sloop Club’s boat, the Woody Guthrie, will be taking guests on free sails from the Beacon Harbor. The public may sign up for a free afternoon sail to relax and experience the beauty, power, and grandeur of the Hudson (weather permitting). Sign up at the Beacon Sloop Club table starting at noon.
For more information call 914 907-4928 or visit www.beaconsloopclub.org

The New York Philharmonic presents
Concerts in the Parks
June 14 – 19, times and locations vary
Marking the return of the beloved series following two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, Jaap van Zweden conducts four free outdoor concerts in the Bronx (June 14), Manhattan (June 15), Queens (June 16), and Brooklyn (June 17). The program will include works by Wagner, Dvořák, Bruch, and two NY Phil Very Young Composers. In addition, Philharmonic Musicians will perform a Free Indoor Concert in Staten Island (June 19).
Learn more about Concerts in the Parks on nyphil.org

WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab Concert Series presents
Justin Austin: American Perspectives
Livestream Monday, June 13, 7pm
As part of WQXR’s Artist Propulsion Lab concert series, baritone Justin Austin and friends will gather for an evening of discussion and song, exploring both what it means to be an American, and perform music from and across the many different cultures of the United States. Music performed by baritone Justin Austin, soprano Simone Paulwell, and pianist Tamara Kim, with panel discussion by composer Ricky Ian Gordon, composer Bora Yoon, Ray Evans Harrell, and tenor George Shirley.
Watch and listen to “Justin Austin: American Perspectives” on The Greene Space

Aspen Armchair Virtual Recital Series presents
A Recital By Michelle Deyoung, Mezzo-Soprano, and Jeremy Reger, Piano
Livestream Tuesday, June 14, 8pm
Then on-demand for three days
The Armchair Concert series comes to a close with Aspen favorite, Michelle DeYoung. DeYoung has established herself as one of the most exciting artists of her generation, appearing at the finest opera houses of the world, from the Metropolitan Opera to La Scala. For this virtual concert, she has put together a beautiful recital program that centers around Austrian composers with an introspective set of songs by Alma Mahler, songs about the night by Erich Zeisl, and Gustav Mahler’s classic work Rückert-Lieder.
Watch and listen to the Aspen Armchair Concert featuring mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung and pianist Jeremy Reger piano

The Bach Choir of Bethlehem presents
Bach at Noon
Tuesday, June 14, at noon
The program features members of The Bach Choir and Bach Festival Orchestra performing three works by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Third Orchestral Suite, BWV 1068
Ouverture – Air – Gavotte I – Gavotte II – Bourée – Gigue
Cantata BWV 34, O ewiges Feuer, o Ursprung der Liebe
Access “Bach at Noon” on Bach.org

Festival of New York presents
Museum Mile Festival
Tuesday, June 14, 6-9pm
Kick off your summer at The Met! Check out our current exhibitions, create, catch a performance, and visit the newly opened P.S. Art exhibition featuring art by K–12 students. All activities are free, and no registration is required. Can’t join us in person? Experience prerecorded Museum Mile Festival activities online. Museum Mile Festival is part of Festival of New York, a citywide celebration featuring 200+ diverse organizations with events from Memorial Day to Labor Day 2022.
Learn more about the Museum Mile Festival on MetMuseum.org

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Culture Picks is a weekly feature celebrating the performing arts. The arts are back and there is so much to take in, both live and virtual. Cultural connoisseur and PAC staff member Coni Guhl is here to help you sort through it all. Each week we will post her curated selection of events featuring the artists you know and love from The PAC Center Series, work being done by Purchase alums, plus a sampling of arts experiences you just can’t miss. Enjoy!

All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.