Anthony Davis wrote for dance first, so he sees his music as driving action. To the traditional forms of European opera, he brings the music of his people, African Americans. Charles Mingus and Duke Ellington are honored in his work. He likes to provide for improvisation, so that each performance is unique. The Central Park Five premiered in Long Beach Opera last year.

Since we have to do without live theater for the foreseeable future, however, theater on my sofa can be an excellent replacement.

Artist Susan Nichter shares another way to cook cod.

This preparation of boneless leg of lamb entails overnight marination. The Greeks prefer to serve it fully cooked.

I look to a painting on my wall by the 17th century Dutch painter, Pieter de Hooch. It is a domestic scene of a mother calmly peeling turnips in a corner while a child enters the threshold carrying a flask and a plate, smiling down at a little dog looking up in anticipation. I am relieved.

While Pippy Giuliano is a vegetarian she superbly prepares meat for her husband Yuri. This is a breakfast or dinner that they both enjoy.

Erica is an artist/ photographer who lives on Cape Cod. We keep up with her on Facebook.

Rembering when George Segal first exhibited at Dick Bellamy's Green Street Gallery on May 8, 1962

MASS MoCA is in pain as are all of us. Joe Thompson appeals for our help. For now in North Adams its MASK MoCA.

We Shall Not be Moved was a hit at the 2017 Opera Philadelphia Festival, a must-attend event held in Philadelphia in the fall. It is available on Facebook, Sunday, May 10 at 7pm.

The Al Hirschfeld Foundation is proud to announce the first in a series of online exhibitions exploring the work of one of the most iconic artists of the last century. On May 11, the Foundation will open a special exhibition for these times: "SOCIALLY DISTANT THEATER: The Solo Show As Seen By Hirschfeld", a collection of 25 drawings, paintings, collages, and prints documenting a half century of one person shows. This special digital exhibit will be online for six weeks through June 20.

There were incidents of racism when a school group visited the Museum of Fine Arts on May 16, 2019. Attorney General Maura Healey has negotiated an agreement between the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston’s Helen Y. David Leadership Academy. The settlment comes with an apology as well as a commitment of $500,000 to address issues of racism

YoungArts brings us artist’s self-designed concerts from home. In the interior soundscape of his home, Conrad Tao presents his own compositions and Arnold Schoenberg’s among others. His electronic composition, sometimes mixed with the piano and at others alone, provides an extension into other sound universes. The outside world is omni-present through a window which extends the room into trees and skies.

Victoria Bond was born to be a musician. Her grandfather was a composer and conductor. Her father was an operatic bass, and her mother, a concert pianist. She found the piano herself. When her kindergarten teacher scolded her mother for pushing Bond too hard, her mother explained that she was trying to hold her back, but could not.

The artist and arts administrator, Arthur DeBow, is a renowned home cook with many Facebook fans. This is a meal he prepares one or two times each month.

Tanglewood is cancelled for live performances but will continue on line.

Simien Mountains, known as "Roof of Africa", is an ecological hot spot for endemic species such as the gelada monkeys. Gondar highlights the architectural glory of the once capital of Ethiopia for 200 years. Bahir Dar is located in the southern shore of Lake Tana, which harbors many islands home to ancient monastic churches with completely painted interiors related to Ethiopian Orthodox liturgy.

It's rhubarb time. This is an old New England recipe that I have made a few changes to.

The second part of Giacomo Puccini's Suor Angelica, is given a deep and satisfying production. Kirill Petrenko, seeking a way to share insights and experiences with young artists, gives us an unexpected and beautifully produced opera. The singing is first-rate throughout. The production, which includes danced gesture and videos, suits the story.

We had just watched Anthony Bourdain’s series, A Cook's Tour, while he visited Morocco: Casablanca, Fez, and finally the last town before reaching the desert, the Sahara. His meals there reminded us of the soup or stew that you are about to prepare – it’s most delicious!

We have enjoyed amazing dinner parties with Liz and Brian Cunningham. Our loft neighbors and friends are hunkered down in Seattle until lord knows when. Knowing Liz they are dining well.

Robert S. Cox, head of Special Collections and University Archives (SCUA) at the UMass Amherst Libraries for the past 16 years, died May 11 after an extended illness. He was 61 years old.

Live streaming from Sweden, where Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, artists sit six feet apart in an empty hall. Sweden, unlike many neighboring European countries, has not imposed quarantine on its population. Instead the government has called on citizens to "take responsibility" and follow the recommendations of the health authorities. "We are not doing business as usual in Sweden," said health minister Lena Hallengren. People over the age of 70 and those deemed "at risk" are encouraged to stay at home, and high schools and universities, which have been closed since mid-March, are being encouraged to offer distance learning courses. The concert halls have opened, to artists, not audiences.

Theater for the New City has currently scheduled over 150 performing arts organizations, independent artists, poets, puppeteers and film makers for its 25th annual Lower East Side Festival of the Arts, which will be mounted virtually for the first time May 22 to 24, 2020. All events and performances will be seen on the theater's website, www.theaterforthenewcity.net. Events will stream for three days, from 6:00 PM Friday, May 22 to 11:59 PM Sunday, May 24. Attendees will be able to select disciplines and artists from the website's online timetable and index.

Frittata is a standard tapas item in Spanish bars. It's super easy and versatile to do at home. The basic ingredients are eggs, onion and potato. Beyond that anything goes. We cooked with peas, kalamata olive and capers. There are lots of other options. In an iron skillet there was enough for two meals.