dilettante at large Archives

Music

MADAME BUTTERFLY (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman April 30, 2024 1 Comment

with so many opportunities to put a political foot wrong, MADAME BUTTERFLY is a minefield. Opera Philadelphia has sidestepped the obvious dangers.

culture

2024 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman March 2, 2024 No Comments

You don’t have to tend your own plot to enjoy the gorgeous colors and scents at the 2024 Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

Music Reviews

THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA (Academy of Vocal Arts): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman February 23, 2024 No Comments

DAL continues her musical education with this stunning chamber opera at the Academy of Vocal Arts.

Arts Visual Arts

LUNAR NEW YEAR AT PMA: A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman February 13, 2024 No Comments

The Philadelphia Museum of Art celebrated the Chinese new year with some fascinating special events on Sunday

Arts Visual Arts

OF GOD AND COUNTRY (PMA): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman May 20, 2023 1 Comment

The DAL is having quite a week! First the Orchestra and then the Museum: Philadelphia’s finest institutions providing much enjoyment. Philadelphia Museum of Art has…

Music

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA’S GREAT STAGES GALA: A Dilettante at Large review

Toby Zinman May 18, 2023 No Comments

DAL is pleased to report that this gala was more fun than glam. Oh, there was the occasional gown and a sprinkling of black ties,…

culture

THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman March 4, 2023 No Comments

You’ll find much beauty in the vast halls of Convention Center.

Music Theater

DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review

Toby Zinman February 17, 2023 No Comments

Our dilettante at large reviews Academy of Vocal Arts’ South Philly themed production of Donizetti’s comic opera

Music Reviews

Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman February 6, 2023 No Comments

The Dilettante at Large is at large again, writing about the culture as an enjoyer rather than an expert. Her latest pleasure was Opera Philly’s…

Theater

BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman November 21, 2022 No Comments

Where are the great acts I remembered? The trained cats? the galloping horses? the iron men? the Wheel of Death?

Theater

MODIGLIANI UP CLOSE at the Barnes: A dilettante at large reviews

Toby Zinman October 18, 2022 No Comments

Modigliani at the Barnes Foundation is a ravishing exhibition in a ravishing venue.

Theater

RIGOLETTO (Opera Philadelphia): A Dilettante at Large reviews

Toby Zinman May 3, 2022 No Comments

Dilettante at Large (Toby Zinman) has awakened from her long pandemic slumber, and is once again writing about stuff she knows little about but enjoys, unlike theater which she knows quite a lot about and doesn’t always enjoy.

Fringe Festival Fringe reviews Music Reviews

LET ME DIE (Joseph Keckler): 2019 Fringe review

Toby Zinman September 26, 2019 No Comments

Spoilers puts it mildly: She dies. He dies. They die.

Music

CANDIDE (Philadelphia Orchestra): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman June 23, 2019 No Comments

A dilettante at large Toby Zinman reviews Candide by Leonard Bernstein.

Music Reviews

A dilettante at large reviews RIDERS TO THE SEA/ EMPTY THE HOUSE (Curtis Opera)

Toby Zinman May 5, 2019 No Comments

Theater critic extraordinaire Toby Zinman continues her forays into other art forms with a visit to Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theatre to see two one-act operas presented by the Curtis Opera Theatre