BASTA: Only God can make a tree BASTA: Only God can make a tree

“Hey. Sorry to trouble you. I was wondering if I could have a word with my client.”

on May 23, 2018 at 2:16 PM
BASTA: Ballet up to the bar BASTA: Ballet up to the bar

Doomed Lucia di Lammermoor was only halfway through her Mad Scene at the time of the incident. 

on May 04, 2018 at 2:18 PM
BASTA: Altro sangue scorrerà! BASTA: Altro sangue scorrerà!

For tonight’s distinguished premiere of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Algonquin Opera, there would in fact be far more blue hairs in the audience than blue collars.

on April 27, 2018 at 4:43 PM
BASTA: Yet more buzz BASTA: Yet more buzz

Even dauntless Evan Ingersoll felt his nerves beginning to mount.

on April 20, 2018 at 9:00 AM
BASTA: You must take the ‘C’ train BASTA: You must take the ‘C’ train

After an early Saturday shift bar-backing at Aura Bar, Evan had trotted over to his friend Jesús Halévy’s for a late-night slumber party à deux.

on April 12, 2018 at 1:41 PM
BASTA: Bang bang, he shot me down BASTA: Bang bang, he shot me down

Evan clicked over to the his favorite music critic’s weekly column, “Slings and Arias.” 

on April 06, 2018 at 2:33 PM
BASTA: O luce di quest’animus BASTA: O luce di quest’animus

Walls of tinted glass engirdled a heated portico-terrarium, where two figures could be seen polishing off the last of their Crêpes Suzette.

on March 26, 2018 at 12:59 PM
BASTA: Witness for the persecution BASTA: Witness for the persecution

“Have you seen the lawsuit yet?”

on March 19, 2018 at 1:15 PM
BASTA: Once more from the top BASTA: Once more from the top

They all wished, for reasons at once superstitious and deeply misguided, to avoid over-rehearsing the sextet.

on March 12, 2018 at 9:19 AM
BASTA: Significant mother BASTA: Significant mother

At last, Jesús Halévy had found the right size. The small ecru sweater was buried beneath a stack of extra-larges at the Macy’s on Herald Square.

on February 28, 2018 at 9:00 AM
BASTA: Stridono lasso BASTA: Stridono lasso

Supernumerary callbacks for the Big Apple Singing Theater Association’s spring production of Bison Don’t Cry were held later that night at the Mariachi Playhouse.

on February 21, 2018 at 11:16 AM
BASTA: The overt and the subliminal BASTA: The overt and the subliminal

As if the corner of Broadway and 53rd weren’t already busy enough, Evan Ingersoll couldn’t believe the line leading into the Mariachi Playhouse where BASTA tryouts were held.

on February 12, 2018 at 2:03 PM
BASTA: Super, tanks for asking BASTA: Super, tanks for asking

The day of the big BASTA audition, Evan found the flier Paul Upczuk had passed him the previous weekend at Aura Bar.

on February 05, 2018 at 1:21 PM
BASTA: Call me by your game BASTA: Call me by your game

It was already nearly two o’clock in the morning, late for a work night, and Nixon Ben Mahmoud was ashamed to find himself crying real tears.

on January 29, 2018 at 1:34 PM
BASTA: Press your luck BASTA: Press your luck

Jerold Offerman had spent the day readying the Algonquin Opera orchestra for a high-profile, high-stakes revival of Lucia, and things weren’t going well with the glass harmonica.

on January 22, 2018 at 12:56 PM
BASTA: Boots and Saddle BASTA: Boots and Saddle

The guy in the green plaid shirt motioned Evan over within seconds of spotting him at Aura. Evan rolled his eyes, checked his abs, and sidled up to the bar.

on January 15, 2018 at 2:23 PM
BASTA: Evan can wait BASTA: Evan can wait

Weekends at Aura Bar on 53rd and Ninth are typically big money makers for the morons who run the place. Jonjon and Yoni.

on January 08, 2018 at 10:35 AM