Music/Theater

World’s Oldest War Story Plays Out in “An Iliad” at McCarter; Solo Show with Contemporary Twist

Donald Gilpin

The audience at McCarter’s Matthews Theatre last Saturday night rose to its feet, gradually, first one at a time then en masse, to applaud Stephen Spinella’s 100-minute solo performance of An Iliad, adapted from Homer by Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare.

The powerful impact of the experience was apparent, but for whom was that applause intended? And who is most deserving of acclaim for delivering to the listeners in the audience the meaning of that epic war story?

Princeton University Orchestra Opens Season in Preparation for Overseas Tour

Nancy Plum

After more than 30 years of leading the Princeton University Orchestra, conductor Michael Pratt probably still looks forward to what will walk in the door at the start of the school year and what the Orchestra will be able to draw on for its extensive repertory of challenging works. What the Orchestra has this year is an army of strings — 30 violins, ten violas and celli, and seven double basses. Mr. Pratt put these strings to good use this past weekend as the University Orchestra opened its season with an eye toward a winter break tour to the United Kingdom. Mr. Pratt linked the U.S. and U.K. in Saturday night’s concert in Richardson Auditorium (the performance was repeated Sunday afternoon) with the music of three prominent composers from both sides of the Atlantic.