Two events in NYC tonight mark John Cage's ninety-fifth: at the Kitchen, Avant Media presents multimedia realizations of Four6, Winter Music, Atlas Eclipticalis, and Song Books (the last three simultaneous); and at Saint Mark's in the East Village various luminaries read aloud tributes to Cage. Plus, WNYC has a 24-hour, 33-second tribute starting at noon... New York City Opera again launches its season with $25-a-seat Opera for All performances, beginning with La Bohème on Thursday night. Remaining nights are sold out.... When, some time ago, I decided to rename classical music Awesome Music, an uncomprehending world failed to embrace my nomenclatural revolution. But it would appear that awesomism is beginning to catch on. This Friday New Amsterdam Records is putting on a concert of Awesome Music Live, featuring performances by Judd Greenstein, Mark Dancigers, William Brittelle, and Tristan Perich. Tickets are $7.... Advance warning to Chicagoans: the International Contemporary Ensemble presents eleven concerts in eleven days starting September 22.... New blogs: composers Miguel Frasconi and Matthew Whittall.... Corey Dargel's show Removable Parts opens this weekend at HERE Arts Center. I will report next week on what promises to be a weird and wonderful operetta of voluntary amputation.
