Perry Tannenbaum

Perry Tannenbaum

Perry Tannenbaum has been covering the performing arts scene in Charlotte, NC, since the inaugural issue of Creative Loafing in 1987, and continuing at Queen City Nerve when its inaugural issue was published in 2018. He also contributes regularly to American Record Guide, Broadway World, All About Jazz, JazzTimes, and Classical Voice North America. Beyond Charlotte, he regularly reviews Spoleto Festival USA and the New York City scene - Broadway, off-Broadway, Lincoln Center, classical concert venues, and jazz clubs. A devout believer in the busman's holiday, Perry has also published review roundups from the Aspen Music Festival, Santa Fe Music Festival, Verbier Festival, Spoleto Italy, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Edinburgh International Festival, BBC Proms, Stratford Festival of Canada, Shaw Festival, the Jazz Cruise, and the Savannah Music Festival. He is a member of the Music Critics Association of North America and the American Theatre Critics Association.

Born in New York, where he completed his undergraduate work at Queens College of CUNY, Perry holds an MA in English from Western Washington University. He has been a Southerner since 1972 when he came to teach at the University of South Carolina and study writing under the guidance of poet James Dickey. He traces his love of music to his parents, who met at the Met in the early '40s and were proudly loyal - and opinionated - subscribers until his father's death in 2012 at the age of 97. Mom, now nearing 101, resides in Charlotte these days, still listens to Met broadcasts religiously, and subscribes to both Opera Carolina and Charlotte Symphony.

Perry's love of music has withstood successive frustrating attempts to master piano, clarinet, and guitar. With more success, he has tackled acting roles with Innovative Theatre and Children's Theatre of Charlotte. He has sung in musicals staged at Rock Hill Little Theatre and Columbia's Town Theatre. He is still called frequently into service at Temple Israel, where his aging baritone remains in reasonable vicinity of the traditional cantillation for Torah and Haftarah readings on Shabbat and the cantorial melodies of morning prayers on the High Holy Days.

Articles by Perry Tannenbaum:

Result Count: 364 (viewing articles 1 through 25)

CP's Connor Series Ends on a High Note with Two Potent Piano Quintets

Chamber Music, Chamber Orchestra, Instrumental Ensemble, Music, Orchestral Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  September 17, 2023

Hit the Wall Reminds Us of the Continuing Relevance of the Stonewall Riots

Musical Theatre, Theatre Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  August 19, 2023

ILA Summer Fest Overachieves With Semi-Staged Tales of Hoffmann

Chamber Music, Chamber Orchestra, Music, Opera, Orchestral Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  July 5, 2023

Charlotte Bach Fest Opens With Christmas-in-June Verve and Plenty of Brass

Chamber Music, Chamber Orchestra, Choral Music, Festival, Music, Vocal Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  June 9, 2023

Through 4/23: Opera Carolina Revitalizes La Traviata, Finding Fresh Drama at Key Moments

Music, Opera Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  April 20, 2023

Charlotte Symphony and the JCSU Concert Choir Lift Every Spirit at Brayboy Gym

Band, Brass Band, Music, Orchestral Music, Percussion Ensemble, Performance Art, Vocal Ensemble Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  March 21, 2023

Bach Akademie Grandly Introduces Monteverdi at Myers Park Presbyterian with Venetian Vespers

Chamber Music, Chamber Orchestra, Music, Performance Art, Traditional Music, Vocal Ensemble, Vocal Music, World Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  March 4, 2023

Ryan and CSO Launch 2023 in American Style with Wisp of Freedom-Fighting Ukraine

Music, Orchestral Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  January 13, 2023

Rhiannon Giddens Returns to Charlotte and Leaves Plenty of Music in the Air

Americana, Crossover, Folk Music, Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  November 5, 2022

Stunning and Grand, Opera Carolina Meticulously Recreates the Original Designs of Tosca

Music, Opera Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  October 13, 2022

New Charlotte Symphony Season Brings New Sounds and Welcome Echoes

Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  October 7, 2022

Delayed More Than Two Years, Saint-Saëns' "Organ Symphony" Gets a Powerhouse CSO Performance

Music, Orchestral Music, Organ Recital Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  September 30, 2022

Pandemic Suite CD by La Fiesta Jazz Quintet Features Local Jazz Greats

Jazz Media Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  September 8, 2022

Joy and Grasso Revive the Kings and Queens of Bebop at Middle C

Band, Jazz, Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  August 27, 2022

Common Thread Presents an Uncommonly Well-Constructed Racial Comedy

Theatre Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  July 15, 2022

Music and Museum Delivers a "Kaleidoscope" With Four Quartets

Chamber Music, Music Review by Perry Tannenbaum,  May 22, 2022