Art Events
American Realness: Abrons Arts Center presents 46 productions of 20 dance, theater & performance works over 10 days. Jan. 5–15, Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand St., abronsartscenter.org.
Peter & The Wolf: Isaac Mizrahi narrates Prokofiev’s classic, performed by the Juilliard Ensemble, as Jason Hackenwerth creates a mobile installation with thousands of balloons. Ends Dec. 18, Peter B. Lewis Theater, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave., 212-423-3587; 2:30 & 4, $35.
PopRally Presents RELIQUARY HOUSE—An Evening with Oneothrix Point Never & Nate Boyce: The multimedia performance piece created specifically for MoMA features reconstructions of works by Anthony Caro, Jacob Epstein & others, in which the sculptures are digitally transformed into “kinetic apparitions.” Dec. 17, 11 W. 53rd St., moma.org/poprally; 9:30, 18+.
The Sixth Voice 4 Vision Puppet Festival: Theater for the New City presents this 11-day celebration of puppetry with theatrical works (some for adults & others for the whole family), film, live music & even a puppet gallery. Ends Dec. 18, 155 1st Ave., 212-254-110, theaterforthenewcity.net.
Music & Opera
Avery Fisher Hall: Alan Gilbert conducts the NY Philharmonic in Haydn’s “Symphony No. 88” & works by Schubert & Ravel, with mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie Von Otter. Dec. 28–30, 10 Lincoln Center Plz., 212-875-5656, nyphil.org; $33+.
Carnegie Hall: Musica Sacra gives its annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” Dec. 20 & 21, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, 57th St. at 7th Ave., 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org; 8, $25+.
Immanuel Lutheran Church: Pomerium performs in “Creator of the Stars—Christmas Music from the Old World,” featuring Gregorian chants & large-scale polyphonic Renaissance works from DuFay, Palestrina & others. Dec. 28, 122 E. 88th St., 212-967-9157, midtownconcerts.org; 1:15, free.
Metropolitan Opera: The Met presents Humperdinck’s English-language “Hansel & Gretel.” Opens Dec. 16, 70 Lincoln Center Plz., 212-362-6000, metopera.org.
St. Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church: The Canticum Novum Singers & Parthenia perform works by Josquin, Morley & others. Dec. 16 & 17, West End Ave. at 87th St., 914-763-3453, nyvirtuoso.org; 8, $25.
Jazz
2012 Winter Jazzfest: Over 60 ensembles perform at 5 West Village venues—(Le) Poisson Rouge, Sullivan Hall, Kenny’s Castaways, Zinc Bar & Bitter End—in this jam-packed 8th annual 2-day festival. Jan. 6 & 7, winterjazzfest.com.
Blue Note: Smooth jazz sax sensation Kenny G performs. Jan. 10–15, 131 W. 3rd St., 212-475-8592, bluenote.net; 8 & 10:30, $45+.
City Winery: Whitley & The Hard Times perform the music of Ray Charles. Dec. 23, 155 Varick St., 212-608-0555, citywinery.com; 8, $15.
Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola: Wynton Marsalis headlines two special New Year’s Eve sets, playing the music of Jelly Roll Morton & King Oliver. Dec. 31, Broadway at 60th St., 5th Fl., 212-258-9595 (reservations by phone only); 7:30 & 11, $350+.
Iridium: Singer/comedian Terese Genneco & her 8-piece band perform with vocalist Nicolas King. Dec. 27, 1650 Broadway, 212-582-2121, theiridium.com; 8 & 10, $25.
Dance
American Ballet Theatre: The company performs Alexei Ratmansky’s new production of “The Nutcracker.” Dec. 14–31, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 718-636-4100, Peter Jay Sharp Building, 30 Lafayette Ave., Brooklyn, abt.org.
Dance Gotham: A dozen companies from across the country—& one from Italy—perform original works in the 6th annual festival. Jan. 7 & 8, Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Pl., 212-352-3101, skirballcenter.nyu.edu; $10.
The Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet: Dancers from the academy perform in “Mostly Bournonville & Petipa,” featuring seasonally relevant excerpts from both choreographers’ works. Dec. 16, Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org; 7:30, $35.
Johannes Wieland: Wieland’s company—joined by over 50 red-haired women—performs “newyou – I think you might be in deep denial.” Dec. 21 & 22, Merce Cunningham Studio, 55 Bethune St., 11th Fl., tickets@johanneswieland.org; 9, $20.
New York City Ballet: The company performs Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”—a holiday must-see. Ends Dec. 31, David H. Koch Theater, 20 Licoln Center Plz., 212-496-0600, nycballet.com.
Theater
Blood & Gifts: A CIA agent arrives in 1980s Pakistan, engaging in a darkly humorous spy game with other secret service agents, Pakistani military, Afghan mujahideen & a host of other political figures. Ends Jan. 8, Lincoln Center Theater’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St., 212-239-6200, lct.org.
Hypnotik – The Seer Will Doctor You Now: A Viennese hypnotist beckons subjects to reveal their innermost secrets to a spellbound audience. Dec. 21–Jan. 15, Theater for the New City, 155 1st Ave., 212-868-4444, newstagetheatre.org.
One Thousand Blinks: An underachieving Englishman takes a foreign “teaching” job & instead learns important lessons about sleep-deprivation & long-distance love. Opens Jan. 12, 59E59 Theaters, 59 E. 59th St., 212-279-4200, 59e59.org.
The Philanderer: The Pearl Theatre Company presents George Bernard Shaw’s witty satire about a man caught in a tug of war between two lovers. Opens Jan. 10, 131 W. 55th St., 212-598-9082, pearltheatre.org.
Rumplestiltskin: Stella Den Haag presents a family-friendly, contemporary update of the creepy Dutch classic. Jan. 6–8, The Duke on 42nd St., 229 W. 42nd St., 646-223-3010, newvictory.org.
Under the Radar Festival: The 8th annual 12-day festival brings new theater works from all over the world to The Public Theater, HERE, La MaMa & other local venues. Jan. 4–15, undertheradarfestival.com.
Wearing Lorca’s Bowtie: This multi-disciplinary work recalls the 9-month period that Federico García Lorca spent in New York in 1929 through the eyes of 15 artists of the present, meditating on the economic crises of both eras. Ends Dec. 17, The Duke on 42nd St., 229 W. 42nd St., 646-223-3010, dukeon42.org.
