MUSIC
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2018
7:00 PM

Americas Society
680 Park Avenue, Upper East Side, Manhattan

Free
http://www.momentaquartet.com/mf4/

The second installment in this annual festival featuring shows curated by each of the excellent Momenta Quartet's four members.  The big news at this show -- curated by violist Stephanie Griffin -- is guest artist soprano Ariadne Greif, a true star in the NYC New Music firmament, who will sing in Griffin's chamber arrangement of that peak of Western music, Isolde's Liebestod (you may wonder how there could be a chamber arrangement of that refulgent piece -- but Liszt's piano transcription, which by some fantastic coincidence happens to be playing as I write this, works pretty fucking well).  Beyond that, a collection of new or newish pieces by a bunch of composers I'm not familiar with -- but you can trust this curator (and this quartet).  Anyway, Ariane is worth the trip.  Regrettably, the free beverage at this show has been changed from beer to wine.

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT:  My real advice is get the hell out of that neighborhood.  But if you must stay, I'll note that you can order à la carte at the bar at Restaurant Daniel -- and the current menu features that most succulent of game birds, grouse.  I just wish they didn't give it such an overelaborate ballotine-like treatment, when you really just want it roasted with bread sauce.