Author Archives: dannyashkenasi

Unknown's avatar

About dannyashkenasi

I'm a composer with over 40 years experience creating music theater. I'm also an actor, writer, director, producer, teacher and general enthusiast for the arts.

BEYOND / JENSEITS – An Encounter with the Conductor

Posted on March 14, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Above is a picture of myself, my mother Catherine Gayer and family friend Helga Krauss after the New York stage premiere of Beyond, the little night opera Helga and I wrote for my mother. This is Part 3 of sharing … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Musicabilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Attack of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on March 10, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

The 6th installment of my submissions to the New Yorker Magazine cartoon captioning contest. My streak of not being chosen as a finalist continues unabated! … got a little political with that one.

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Literary Lyricism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BEYOND / JENSEITS – A Life in Review

Posted on March 6, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Welcome to the second post about the little night opera “Jenseits” AKA “Beyond” I composed for my mother, Catherine Gayer. Helga Krauss wrote the libretto, which I translated into English. Read and listen to the first post here, and follow … Continue reading →

Posted in Chamber Works, Musicabilia, The Teaching Artist | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Wig Made From My Hair

Posted on March 3, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

That is a picture of a wig that was made with my hair. Hair I donated. Multiple pony tails in zip lock baggies I shipped off to an organization called Hair We Care. Their mission statement is “to help maintain … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Cinema Scope, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

BEYOND / JENSEITS – an Opera for my Mother

Posted on February 29, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Twenty years ago family friend and screenwriter Helga Krauss and I created a one-act opera for my mother, Catherine Gayer (AKA Catherine Ashkenasi, her maiden name being her stage name). Helga wrote the libretto and I composed the music. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Chamber Works, Musicabilia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

MOM’s NEW YORK TIMES BIRTHDAY PUZZLE

Posted on February 25, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

My mother Catherine spent two weeks in New York with us in February. Her birthday was celebrated during her visit. And one birthday present was a puzzle of the New York Times front page of the day she was born. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginnings, Live! On Stage, Notes in the News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Astor Place Reflections

Posted on February 21, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wild, Spark-tacular Fire Run of Barcelona

Posted on February 17, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

It’s called Correfoc. It is a popular Catalan tradition consisting of “a parade of infernal characters that chase people with fireworks“. It was one of the wildest events we attended during Barcelona’s La Mercé festival. Diables and Bestiari, adults and children … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dancing Giants of Barcelona

Posted on February 10, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

The day after the display of the Castells the La Mercé festival featured giant puppets dancing in Placa de Sant Jaume in Barcelona. Huge puppets surrounded the plaza, then were marched by their handlers – balancing figures many multiples of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Verticles

Posted on January 31, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Amazing Human Towers of Barcelona

Posted on January 28, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

When Ed and I scheduled our time in Barcelona (to attend the Love and Hope Film Festival), we didn’t realize we would be there for the La Mercè festival, the biggest weekend of festivities of the year in Barcelona. So many … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Revenge of my own personal NEW YORKER CARTOON captions

Posted on January 15, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

And we’re back, for a fifth installment of my never-a-finalist New Yorker cartoon caption contest submissions. Well, the jury is still out on finalist status of my last two submissions. I’ll update if one of them gets chosen. But don’t hold your … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Literary Lyricism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wing Shots

Posted on January 5, 2024 by dannyashkenasi
Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Edward Elder Wins FFTG Award!

Posted on December 30, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

The FFTG Awards have been announced and “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” was nominated for six awards and won one, for my husband Edward Elder for Best Supporting Actor! The FFTG Awards announced the nominees and winners … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema Scope, Notes in the News, Poe Musicabres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Moon Over Brooklyn

Posted on December 27, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Eagle-eyed Brooklynite sleuths may be able to trace the route I took taking these pictures one past Thursday afternoon…

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Opera Lights

Posted on December 24, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

Holiday season favors the splendor of lights. So how about I share photos of the splendid chandeliers hanging in the Met Opera? “Most photographed chandeliers in the world”, the woman next to me said wryly as I raised my phone to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts-a-Poppin', Two-fisted Touristing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment