Opera That Bridges the Divide

New Lessons on an Old Hand

"Cézanne's Card Players," at the Metropolitan Museum, is the first monographic show there devoted to the artist in more than half a century, and contains some revealing reassessments of his work.

A Symbol for the New Egypt

To save the Alexandria Library from damage during the recent unrest, Egyptian youths joined hands and formed a human cordon around the building. It's become a symbol of tolerance and openness in that country.

Not Just Wares for Ladies' Boudoirs

Once dismissed for being too fussy and gaudy, new scholarship has led Béatrice Quette to reassess cloisonné's standing among china's decorative arts.

A Master in a Lesser Crowd

The Whitney Museum's "Modern Life: Edward Hopper and His Time" is as much a chronicle of the artist's contribution to the evolution of American art as it is a story of the institution's development of its collection.

MFA's New Art of the Americas Wing . . .

Designed by Foster + Partners, the new wing is an unassailably logical solution, superbly executed and singularly lifeless—redeemed only by curatorial and installation expertise.

• Photos: Art of the Americas, in Boston

. . . And the Changed World of Museums

The new Art of the Americas Wing puts proper emphasis on art above architecture, but in doing so highlights shortcomings in the museum's own collection.

Cartographers of Worlds Big and Small

Williams Meyers on current exhibitions of Pentti Sammallahti, Hai Bo and "From the Picture Press."

How to Talk Back to a Chinese Master

At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, "Fresh Ink" engages old and contemporary art in conversations that enrich our experience of both.

Modern Echoes of the Renaissance

Pairing compositions by Bach, Desprez, Lassus and de Victoria with new works by contemporary composer Robert Kyr, the Conspirare chorus gave emotional depth to music that often appeals more to the head than the heart.

American Jews' Story Told in a New Home

Both inside and out, the National Museum of American Jewish History manifests the tension in the institution's mission.

Gehry Leaves Risks to the Kids

Frank Gehry's latest creation gives the New World Symphony in Miami a permanent new home. It's a safe design, with emphasis on the interior experiences rather than exterior flourishes.

Risks Work for Artists, but Not for Galleries

A heavy debt load borrowed on high-risk financial instruments pushed the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco to the brink of bankruptcy. This could have been avoided.

Return to the Grim and Dark

In Britain 250 years ago, Salvator Rosa was the name on every collector's lips, while Caravaggio was unrecognized. The Kimbell Art Museum's current exhibition of 36 Rosa pictures shows us why the attention was deserved.

When One Act Colors a Lifetime of Work

When an artist dies of an early suicide, the quality of the material is often overlooked because it is immediately more valuable. Call it the Sylvia Plath Effect or the Diane Arbus Syndrome.

How Authors Move Their Own Merchandise

In an increasingly crowded marketplace, writers are taking matters into their own hands and promoting their own books, sometimes with the help of iPods and sex toys.

A Dining Room's Feast for the Eyes

A splendid 1,700-year-old mosaic floor accidentally discovered during highway construction in Israel gives us a sumptuous glimpse into the domestic lifestyle of a local merchant.

Museum Evokes the Future of Filmmaking

Thomas Leeser's redesign of the Museum of the Moving Image is a bold architectural reinterpretation of the institute's current and future role, especially in the video and digital arts.

• Lights, Camera, Astoria
• How Film Transforms Our Reality
• Must-See Presentations at the Museum

How Film Transforms Our Reality

From the moment they enter the redesigned lobby of the Museum of the Moving Image, visitors are reminded of how screen images can summon seductive alternate worlds.

• Designed to Evoke the Future of Filmmaking
• Lights, Camera, Astoria
• Must-See Presentations at the Museum

While Pompeii Crumbles

Structures in the ancient Roman city have been collapsing in recent months, and many more across Italy are in danger of the same fate.

Works of Creative Destruction

When the Menil Collection offered Vija Celmins the opportunity to select the subject for an exhibition of her work, she surprised by choosing a set of less-known early works that differ radically from her later ones.

MIT 150 Celebrates What Nerds Wrought

To mark the institute's sesquicentennial, MIT Museum has assembled 150 objects that encapsulate the work and culture of the school.

A World Where Less Made More

'Rietveld's Universe,' at the Centraal Museum Utrecht, shows the designer's development from furniture maker to town planner and architect of more than 100 buildings—in a setting that shows his work put into practice.

Lost in Found Objects

"Kurt Schwitters: Color and Collage," at the Menil Collection, seeks to increase the obscure Dadist's name recognition.

The Pared Minimum

"John Pawson: Plain Space," manages to escape the preconceptions that burden shows on architectural minimalism while staying true to the approach of the man often called "Mr. Minimalism."

Evolution of a Sculptor

"On Becoming an Artist," at the newly refurbished Noguchi Museum, allows us to compare the works of famed sculptor Isamu Noguchi with those of his colleagues.

A Retrospective's Tale of Two Cities

"Abstract Expressionist New York," a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art, paints a fragmented picture of this distinctly American movement.

When Subjectivism Ruled

Two current exhibitions return us to the years when photography nervously believed it had to define its goals and possibilities.

The Show That Ate Buffalo

For a show of this scope and scale, "Alternating Currents" is not only surprisingly good and various, but representative of its region and the broader trends of contemporary art.

No Typical Texas Church

Originally intended as a smaller piece of an enormous but still unbuilt cathedral, the Interfaith Peace Chapel was the last building Philip Johnson designed.

Iberian Treasures in Chalk and Ink

"The Spanish Manner," at the Frick Collection, is really two complementary exhibitions of drawings: an erratic overview, mainly of 17th-century artists, and an in-depth look at Francisco Goya.

Chronicles of a Medium in Crisis

At New York's New Museum, 'The Last Newspaper' considers the fate of print journalism.

The Frick at a Glowing 75

At a time when museums large and small are in various states of transition, the mansion and collection established by Henry Clay Frick serenely endures.

Travels of a Restless Mind

John La Farge may be better known for his stained-glass windows, but a trip to the South Pacific in the late 1800s revealed that he was also an accomplished painter.

Drawn Toward Enlightenment

The paintings in "The Sound of One Hand: Paintings and Calligraphy by Zen Master Hakuin" have such an off-the-cuff quality that it's easy to imagine the master reaching for his brush while chatting with a student.

Scaling the Stairways of Historic L.A.

Once designed for easy access to trolleys and streetcars, they're now a gateway to many of the city's hidden treasures.

Postmodernism's Pivotal Figure

In seeking to make modernism more humane, contextual and familiar, James Frazer Stirling moved architecture beyond faux history, funky colors and insider jokes.

Setting the Stage for Renewal

Architect Bing Thom's update and expansion of Harry Weese's Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. is an imaginative $135 million project that local planners are hoping will spur a $2 billion neighborhood makeover.

A Crayon Heir's Cache

A new suite of galleries at the San Diego Museum of Art has rescued the extensive Binney collection and made it the cornerstone of "Temple, Palace, Mosque," an installation of the permanent collection.

On Photography

William Meyers on current exhibitions from the George Eastman House, Dawoud Bey and Teun Voeten.

Japanese Cinema's Great Composer

For only the second time in its 40-year history, New York's Film Forum spotlights a composer whose scores have helped shape movie history. It's part of Carnegie Hall's ambitious JapanNYC festival, and runs from Dec. 3 through 16.

For Yesterday's Stars, Life Is Still a Cabaret

Cabaret, which has long attracted audiences eligible for Social Security, is now drawing more and more performers from the same age group.

In Search of Beauty

"Flowers of the Four Seasons," at the Berkeley Art Museum, draws 112 pieces from one of the greatest private collections of Japanese art in the U.S. to highlight the culture's pursuit of "beauty" in all things.

Nature With a German Accent

Is there such a thing as German Impressionism? Didn't everything begin with Manet, Monet, Degas, Cézanne and their colleagues? The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, gives us the answer.

Fine Art Exhibitions

Lance Esplund on current exhibitions of Thomas Nozkowski, Anthony Caro and John Walker.

Diana and Other Delights

For the first time ever, audiences in the U.S. can view two masterpieces of the Goddess Diana, both painted by Titian, at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

Morgan in a New Light

J.P. Morgan's 1906 Italianate marble villa—part of the Morgan Library & Museum—gets a comprehensive makeover for the first time since the crusty financier lighted up his first cigar in his study.

A Roundup of Photography Exhibits

William Meyers on exhibitions of David Vestal, Leon Levinstein and Paul McDonough.

Gossart's Journey

It's no surprise that the Metropolitan Museum of Art continues to flout received wisdom in mounting expensive, magisterial retrospectives. Yet a Jan Gossart exhibition remains an odd, remarkable choice.

Mysteries Carved in Stone

Olmec art is massive and impressive. But we know surprisingly little about it.

The Pride of a Prep School

The Addison Gallery of American Art opens a renovated building and a new wing with a spectacular exhibition

Soldiers Armed With Pencils and Paint

Two exhibitions remind us that on the battlefield, the pencil sometimes captures more than the camera.

Bright and Shiny Things

"Red Luster" may look like a beauty pageant of objects chosen for their color, sheen and good looks. But the real fun at the Newark Museum of Art is in drawing the web of connections that link these works together.

He Paints the Past

Military images dominate American history painting because wars represent critical moments in politics and culture. "For Us the Living" shows us the work of Mort Künstler, considered the dean of Civil War painting.

Scenes From All Over the Map

William Meyers on current exhibitions of Alfred Stieglitz, Tina Barney and Ed Kashi.

Before TV, Theater Was in the Home

Long before film and television, not to mention video games, legions of children stirred their imaginations and broadened their knowledge with toy theaters made of paper.

A Landmark Jewel Box Loses Its Biggest Gem

In New York, a perverse form of preservation wreaks architectural destruction just as effectively as a wrecking ball, only in a more subtle and insidious fashion.

Four-Square Reformer

Examine some of the finest furniture designed by the epitome of American Arts & Crafts style and explore his contributions to the reform of interior design in "Gustav Stickley," at the Newark Museum.

Nice Wing, Pity About the Art

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art's latest addition, the Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, is what museum curators have often claimed to long for. The art inside, however, falls short.

• Interactive: L.A.'s Art Hot Spots

From Old Masters to the Cartoonish

Eykyn Maclean's Alberto Giacometti retrospective is intimate, elegant and alive, and Andrew Butterfield and Fabrizio Moretti have organized "Body and Soul," an exhibition of 12 recently discovered masterpieces.

Grammy Nominations Bury the Best of the Year

Once again, the annual awards show proves that it's ultimately a celebration of marketing and promotion rather than musical excellence, aimed at selling more product regardless of quality.

• Vote: Who Should Win a Grammy?

Patience Is the Heart of 'A Winter Tale'

Bobby Long's new album of folk-blues announces the arrival of a promising talent.

A Violinist on a Mission

Long before the era of megavolume amplifiers and string-bending Stratocaster guitars, the instrument that really rocked the concert stage was the violin. Violinist Jennifer Koh cranks it up a notch in a solo recital at the 92nd Street Y.

On the Road to Recognition

In a just world, Dolorean's new album would bring the group the kind of wide-spread fan support and critical acclaim it's been denied for 10 years.

• Tune In: Fools Gold Ring

Songs From the Old City on the Seine

Paris's Île de la Cité was once a city within a city, an intense intellectual environment with its own art and politics. The early-music ensemble Sequentia presents a series of concerts dedicated to the polyphonic music produced there.

This Is Not Your Usual Pop Résumé

Abigail Washburn's new album, 'City of Refuge,' shows how versatile contemporary American folk music can be when it's played earnestly yet with a sense of adventure.

• Song Clips:Burn Through | City of Refuge

Allman's Latest Blues Were a Source of Hope

Gregg Allman underwent painful liver-transplant surgery shortly after recording 'Low Country Blues.' Looking forward to the release of the album helped him heal.

• Song Clips: Blind Man | Checking On My Baby

Louis Prima: Leading Man, Comic Relief

He was one of the great avatars of an era in pop music when comedy was as important as romance, when even top stars like Frank Sinatra and Doris Day were expected to sing both novelties and ballads.

Beware Gen Xers Who Can't Let Go

Rock acts from the 1980s and '90s are increasingly paying tribute to themselves. It's a trip down memory lane, and fans are lapping it up regardless of artistic merit.

Does Elvis Still Matter?

"The Complete Elvis Presley Masters" serves as a reminder of how vital was the early music of Presley, but it doesn't help much in answering the question of his present relevance as a musician.

Billy Taylor, the First Jazz Spokesman

Over the course of a 70-year career, Billy Taylor helped the world learn to take jazz seriously.

Quincy Jones Still Hears the Big Band

Had Quincy Jones never met Michael Jackson, he'd still be one of the biggest names in American pop-music history. The legendary musician talks about producing for the greats, and of the next frontier in music.

• Tune In: 'Soul Bossa Nostra'

A Lifetime Dedicated to Dear Lieder

Hugo Wolf's 150th birthday passed under the shadow of bigger names who also celebrated anniversaries this year. The composer's obscurity belies his contributions to German art songs.

Spector of Christmas Present

Forty-seven years after she took part in rock and pop's greatest Christmas album, Ronnie Spector returns with "Ronnie Spector's Best Christmas Ever."

• Tune In: 'Best Christmas Ever'

Crying a River for Years

Celebrating "Cry Me a River," a song that dramatizes darkness and lust for revenge.

Dance Music in Tradition of Bach

Deadmau5 may be reluctant to identify himself as a bona fide musician, but crisp, clearly articulated patterns are found in many of his relentless and gleeful dance tracks.

• Tune In: 'Animal Rights'

Nurturing Creativity in the Next Generation

World-renowned concert pianist Byron Janis on some important lessons he's learned, as a teacher and a student.

Protector of Jazz's Soulful Melody

With his incredible respect for melody and lyrics, tenor saxophonist Houston Person instills a touch of humanity in his music.

After 'The E.N.D.' Comes 'The Beginning'

You might think they got the chronology wrong, but after their last album commented on the end of one pop-industry business model, the Black Eyed Peas's new album marks the rise of the next.

• Video: Fergie Talks About Her Fans
• Song Clips: Just Can't Get Enough | The Time (Dirty Bit)

A Pianist Invents Himself, Again

Two years ago, an illness nearly silenced jazz pianist Fred Hersch; it couldn't touch his talent.

The White Light Spectrum

One person's spiritual experience is another's head-scratching incomprehension.

Asleep at the Wheel for 40 Years

A concert reunites many of the 90 musicians who have at some time been members of the band—along with longtime friend and supporter Willie Nelson.

Anderson Avoids the Late-Career Tull

On a rare solo tour, the classic-rock trailblazer offers a less familiar sound.

Reinventing Big Band Jazz

Composer Maria Schneider draws from Latin America—and even a bird—to bring nuance to the music of her orchestra, which is playing the Jazz Standard this Thanksgiving week..

Does the Organ Matter?

Lincoln Center's $1 million refurbishing of Alice Tully Hall's 4,192-pipe organ is complete. But will audiences get a chance to hear it?

Grinderman Serves It Up Raw

Nick Cave and his quartet Grinderman, a lean experimental ensemble free to play what it wants, release a new disc.

. . . And in a Later, Long-Lost Film

Once visible only in art houses, "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones" is now out on DVD.

Billy Sherrill, Icon and Iconoclast

The famed country-music producer-songwriter—notorious for shunning the spotlight—is finding 2010 to be the year he can avoid country's highest accolades no longer.

A Harmonious Bridge Over the Atlantic

A new group comprising Cuban and Malian musicians, AfroCubism, sprang from the successful Buena Vista Social Club project.

A Jazz Man With His Own Vocabulary

Once confined to the margins of the scene, saxophonist Henry Threadgill returns to the stage.

Moogfest's Difficult Dilemma

A festival that used to be a low-wattage, one-day affair celebrating the legacy of Robert Moog, inventor and electronic-music pioneer, may have outgrown its original mission. That's not all bad.

A Jazz Pianist's Inventions

As Jesús "Chucho" Valdés began the Pablo Milanés composition "Los Caminos," his 4-year-old son sat on his lap, tracing the movements of his long fingers. It was a touching coda to a dazzling performance, hinting at history.

Hegarty Leaves the Lights On

The leader of chamber-pop masters Antony and the Johnsons brings his melodies and emotions to the White Light Festival this weekend.

The Color of Music

New York-based pianist Eteri Andjaparidze and lighting designer Jennifer Tipton to join forces in "Spectral Scriabin" at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in Hell's Kitchen.

Greenwich Village Revisited

A new collection of Bob Dylan demo recordings reveals a songwriter in bloom.

Writing Death's Gentle Aria in the Face of Despair

"The Emperor of Atlantis," a thinly veiled satire of fascism, nevertheless holds out hope that the hearts of tyrants may be changed. That this opera was written in a concentration camp only makes the piece sadder.

Titans Shaking Hands, But Still Worlds Apart

A Remarkably Inventive A Cappella Premiere

Taking Gilbert & Sullivan Seriously

If She Only Had a Heart

A Light in the Forest of This Debussy Work

Harsh World Rendered Visually

Productions Better Heard Than Seen

Janacek Saves a Season

The Music of Modern Mania

Wedded With Wit

Catching Up With Leonard Bernstein

An All-Too-Bloodless Coup

When Remorse Isn't Good Enough

Joan Sutherland: The Queen of Bel Canto

In 'Il Postino,' Postman and Poet Meet