Jay Nordlinger

I like writing the phrase “Icelandic pianist”—or “Icelandic” anything. “Icelandic” is a beautiful word, and exotic sounding. Over the years, I have written “Kristinn Sigmundsson, the Icelandic bass,” and “Anna Thorvaldsdottir, the Icelandic composer.” And “Víkingur Ólafsson, the Icelandic pianist.”

This is Year 250, as most people know by now—the 250 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Kaija Saariaho, a Finn, was one of the most prominent composers of our time. She died in 2023, at seventy. Last night, the Metropolitan Opera staged her final opera, Innocence, which premiered in 2021.

On a recital by the pianist Khatia Buniatishvili in Carnegie Hall.

Has a review of Eugene Onegin —that is, a performance of Tchaikovsky’s opera, based on Pushkin’s novel-in-verse—ever begun with the Nanny? Well, this one will.

On recent performances at Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center.

Alan Shipnuck has very good timing. His new book is a biography of Rory McIlroy, the golf champion. It was published last month, two days before the Masters tournament. McIlroy won the Masters last year. That was surely the "hook" of the book, its impetus.

On recent performances at Carnegie Hall & Lincoln Center.

Whatever she was doing, the congresswoman reminds us of the glory of regional speech.

On a concert of the Vienna Philharmonic, with Tugan Sokhiev on the podium and Lang Lang at the piano.