NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Venturing back to live performances and finding a classical music institution in rude health can be like putting on a pair of old jeans and discovering, with relief, an easy fit. With over 20 hours’ worth of performances, you could see one familiar look after another — all of them hallmarks of the fabled, free Bang on a Can Marathons in New York City. But here, in a two-day, paid-ticket environment, there was more time for each musician’s set to take on an individual character. And even though a few artists copped to first-day-back jitters, most appearances unfurled with crisp, defiant polish — as if they’d spent no time away from audiences.

Source: New York Times August 02, 2021 17:48 UTC