May 2017: The Arts

Performing Arts.

–The Maximal Minimal: Beats, Patterns, Meditation festival kicks off at the Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, the hottest new spot in the world for music at the moment; the focus is on “minimal music,” with several works by Steve Reich (who will attend and speak) and Philip Glass – May 11 -14

–Star choreographer Justin Peck premieres a new ballet set to a score by the alt-rocker Sufijan Stevens at the New York City Ballet – May 12

–At the NY Philharmonic, Alan Gilbert premieres Wing on Wing by Esa-Pekka Salonen, and a new work by Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir – May 19-23

–Bolshoi and ABT principal dancer and heartthrob David Hallberg – after a 2 ½-year hiatus recovering from an injury – returns to the New York stage in the American Ballet Theater’s Whipped Cream – May 22 – July 1

–The Vienna Philharmonic marks its 175^th anniversary with a free concert in the gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace – May 25

–At the Paris Opera: Alban Berg’s Wozzeck – May 2, 5, 9, 15; Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin – May 16, 19, 22, 25, 28; and Verdi’s Rigoletto – May 27, 30 & June 2

–The World Science Festival kicks off a weeklong 10^th anniversary celebration in New York; Jazz at Lincoln Center marks the occasion with a concert featuring Renee Fleming, Joshua Bell, and dance troupe Pilobolus – Time, Creativity and the Cosmos – narrated by physicist Brian Greene; 50 other events take place all over the city – May 30 – June 4

Visual Arts.

–The Studio Museum in Harlem creates a sculptural quartet with inHarlem: Kevin Beasley, Simone Leigh, Kori Newkirk, Rudy Shepherd; four installations in four iconic historic parks – through July 25

–The New Museum presents a mid-career survey of the work of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, the Ghanaian-British portraitist whose work was short-listed for the Turner Prize – May 3

–The 6th edition of the Frieze New York modern and contemporary art show is on Randall’s Island – Preview Day is May 4, open to the public May 5-7

–TEFAF New York features modern and contemporary art and design at the Park Avenue Armory – May 4-8

–At the Met in New York, 38 masterworks from the Thaw Collection of American Indian Art at the Fenimore Art Museum will be on display; the exhibit features creations in a range of media and encompasses over 1,200 years of artistry – May 9 – Oct 8

–New York’s Forum Gallery shows paintings from Linden Frederick; 15 well-known fiction writers contribute short stories based on individual works – May 11

–The 57th Venice Biennale opens: this year’s multi-artist exhibition is entitled VIVA ARTE VIVA; there will be 87 national pavilions (insiders say the US, Swiss, Polish and Italian ones are the most buzzed about). The vernissage (aka preview days) are May 10 – 12, awards and inauguration are May 13; open to the public May 13 – Nov 26

–The Accademia in Venice will present the works of painter Philip Guston, the first time an American artist has been featured there; the exhibition will relate the artist’s work to that of five poets he loved: D.H. Lawrence, W.B. Yeats, Wallace Stevens, Eugenio Montale and T.S. Eliot. – May 10 – Sept 3

–The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, showcases more than 350 artifacts highlighting the artists’ influence on music, fashion and design – May 13 – Oct 30

–Nuit des Musées is an all-nighter at museums all over Europe, with free museum entrance, special programs, and closing times in the wee small hours of the morning – May 21

–Robert Rauschenberg: Among Friends at the MOMA showcases 250 of the artist’s collaborations with his contemporaries, including de Kooning, Jasper Johns and Susan Weil – May 21 – Sept 17

–The International Center of Photography in New York celebrates the 70^th anniversary of the cooperative photo agency with Magnum Manifesto, featuring works by Cartier-Bresson, Capa and many other activist photographers – May 26 – Sept 3

–MASS MOCA opens its renovated Building 6 with long-term installations from Jenny Holzer and others; in the same space, a James Turrell retrospective will feature nine immersive light environments – May 28

See other May 2017 events:
Travel
Food & Drink
Planes, Yachts & Autos
Fitness & Sports
Fashion & Design
Entertainment

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