Culture Desk

Tom Strini’s Culture Desk takes on both traditional performing arts in and around Milwaukee and a few things that fall into the bigger idea about art and life.

The 2009 Nohl Fellowship winners

The 2009 Nohl Fellowship winners

The Nohl Fellowships are something like the Academy Awards for Milwaukee artists. Meet this year's winners.

Review: Philomusica Quartet
Review

Philomusica Quartet

String quartet in residence at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music plays a strong concert of 20th-century music.

Review: MSO’s happy Mozart, epic Shostakovich
Review

MSO’s happy Mozart, epic Shostakovich

Young conductor Shi-Yeon Sung makes an impressive debut, pianist Jeremy Denk renders civilized Mozart.

This week at the MSO: Shi-Yeon Sung
This week at the MSO

Shi-Yeon Sung

Shi-Yeon Sung, at 34, left Korea for Europe, European classical music and conducting.

Review: Simone Ferro at Danceworks
Review

Simone Ferro at Danceworks

Ferro's new dances yield strong ensemble works, weak solos.

Review: MSO’s dark Bluebeard, sunny Mozart
Review

MSO’s dark Bluebeard, sunny Mozart

Chihuly's sculptures respond to Bartok's intense opera score after a psychological fable.

Review: Musique, plasir at Chamber Music Milwaukee
Review

Musique, plasir at Chamber Music Milwaukee

Music by Honegger, Gaubert, Milhaud and Ravel is aural joy.

Preview: Simone Ferro’s Danceworks show
Preview

Simone Ferro’s Danceworks show

Simone Ferro, of the UWM dance factory, goes home to Brazil for inspiration and home to Milwaukee for collaborators.

Steve Murphy’s fall; MSO Chorus at St. Anthony’s

Steve Murphy’s fall; MSO Chorus at St. Anthony’s

We heard a big crash during the MSO Chorus concert Saturday at St. Anthony's Church. It was Steve Murphy.

Review: Michael Pink’s new Cinderella
Review

Michael Pink’s new Cinderella

Dance and narrative merge nicely in the Milwaukee Ballet's latest fairy tale.

Video Interview: Michael Pink on his new Cinderella ballet
Video Interview

Michael Pink on his new Cinderella ballet

The Milwaukee Ballet's Michael Pink, a natural storyteller, bends the old fairy tale to make it work for dance.

Strini update: First Stage posts surplus
Strini update

First Stage posts surplus

Dig into a bowl overflowing with artsy news items.